The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-08
The spanIsh Lanpunre.

From time to time we hear a great deal
with regard to the development of the
trade between the United States and the
Central and South American states Only
a short time ago a number of merchants
from New York and elsewhere went to
Central and South America to look over
the field and see what could be done in the
matter of extended trade relations. And it
has not been a great while since promi-
nent men of our own state were writing
articles to the newspapers about the ad-
vantages of direct trade with the LATIN
American republics, the arguments COM
ing fast and strong about the time of the
Atlanta exposition. One great drawback
to the development of this trade as referr-
ed to in a recent consular report to the
state department, is the fact that so few
Of the business men of this country speak
the Spanish language. The consular agent
the lack of knowledge of the language on
the part of American business men has
had more to do with preventing the de-
velopment Of the trade than adverse tar
if duties. He calls attention to the fact
that, although Canada has a population
of less than 100000, more business is done
with that country by the United States
than with the whole of Central and South
America.
In view of the facts, several of the lead
ing trade papers are urging that the school
authorities give more attention to the
teaching of the Spanish language in the
schools. In certain sections of the south
western part of this country It is impos-
sible for a young man to obtain COM
mercial position of trust and profit unless
he can speak Spanish fluently. In the
states bordering on Mexico Spanish is the
language of probably half the people, and
in Mexico, Cuba and Central and South
America, Spanish is the language of the
country. Nearly all of the colleges of this
country have course Of Spanish study.
But the colleges do not turn out men
| enough. What is wanted is Spanish in the
high schools, says the Manufacturer, in
order that young men who cannot afford
a college education may be fitted to become
business agents in Spanish speaking coun-
/ eAAS7s AAN A@hoAAsh lCh6ut 10 DOW spoken
through France and Germany to a consid-
cradle extent But 1t is the exception TO
find am English speaking native of a Span
ish-American country. II this country de-
sires to wrest from Great Britain, France
and Germany the rich trade of the Latin
American states, says the Manufacturer.
the people of this country must first make
| themselves familiar with the language and
customs of the people whose trade they
| wish to secure.
From a literary point Of view, not a great
deal would be lost by paying more atten-
ton in the schools to Spanish and less TO
French and German. The literature of
Spain is rich, and has as strong claims
upon the student as that Of either Ger
many or France Besides, It is said to be
more easily acquired than either of the
other languages mentioned, and a practi-
cal knowledge of 1t, to use the Manufac-
turer's language, us going to be more pro-
itable than familiarity with those more
northern European tongues to which It is
now the fashion in this country to give so
much time"