The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-21
REPUBLICS OF THE South
General Prosperity and Peace Reign
in Most OF Our Little
Sisters.
Venezuela Expecting the Oonsum-
nation Of Reciprocity With
Uncle Sam.
Ur"guay's Standing Army Reduced
Financial Condition Of BraziI-Causte-
mals and Honduras nt Peace.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The Venezuelan
government is preparing for the consum :
nation of the reciprocity treaty with the
United States, and news that it has been
effected is likely to be received in Washing
ton before the end Of February. The pro-
posed treaty has been under considera tion
in Caracas for over month, and all its
provisions have been carefully examined in
the interest of Venezuelan commerce. The
sentiment of the mercantile and financial
community is in favor of reciprocity sys-
tenn that shall be advantageous to the coun-
tryi but there ig no desire that all it's bene-
nss shall accrue to the United States. There
~ widespread interest in the extension O f
trade between Laguayra and New York.
There are but flying rumors from Ar
oentine concerning the January inundation
at Cordoba. There appears to be no doubt.
however. that 1t wrought great destruction
IN the city and that many lives were lost
by 1t. 10 add to the financial and COM
mercial troubles of the country, the maize
crop of the regions along the Rio dc Ia
Plata has suffered greatly from the ravages
OF locusts and the long continued drought
The military establishment of Uruguay,
which is the smallest republic in South
America. with a population Of but little
over half million, has been reduced. 1t
has had 1000 troops belonging to the three
branches of the service, but it's standing
army now consists of 1000 infantry. The
littIo country is we'll supplied with rails
roads and has prosperous commerce.
In Peru there is great satisfaction over
the appointment of ex-President Caceres as
minister to England and France. During
his four years. term Of the presidency,
which expired last year, he rendered men,
orable services to his country as states
man and a soldier, and it is expected that
he will shine as diplomatist in Europe.
The financial condition of Brazil ia more
promising than it was some time ago, and
the government has been able to make
liberal terms for the conversion of a por-
tion of the internal debt and the reduction
OF the rate Of interest. The appointment
of ministers to Brazil by all the chief gov
ernments of Europe has served to increase
the popular confidence in the republic, and
Senator Jeordao who recently visited the
United States, is not the only Brazilian
who is enthusiastic over his coHntry's pros
pects. The immigration from Italy and
from Poland is still in progress. The Ital-
1ans are industrious and successful. and
make desirable citizens. The newcomers
from Poland, over 10000 of whom have
landed since the Polish immigration began,
are found to be less desirable. Their
dreams are not realized; they are discon-
tented: they do Eot like to live in the for
ests; they cannot abide the climate. and
many Of them are anxious to leave the
country. 1t is true that the agents of the
German Steamship company, by whom
they were induced to go to Brazil, held out
false promises. The Polish immigration
will not be kept up.
The British consul at Bogota, in Colom-
bia, has recently given an account of his
visit to the leper settlement at Aqua di
Dios. It contains $40 lepers and twice as
many other people, all of whom live to-
gethsr, and in no case has the disease ever
been contracted there by contagion. The
settlement is 1 400 feet above the sea level,
and leprosy is greatly alleviated there,
The latest advices from Guatemala and
Honduras give reason for hoping that hos
tilities between the two countries may be
prevented.