The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-05
LEARN SPANISH AND PROSPER.
An American COnsuI's Advice TO
Merchants and Students.

An American COnsuIs Advice TO
Merchants and students.
From the New York Times.
An interesting report on the Importance
OF a knowledge Of the different languages
in connection with trade has been made
by United States Consul Donnely, resi-
dent in Mexico. He says that the United
states does more business with the 5000.
900 English-speaking peoples in Canada
than with the 10000 900 and more Spanish
speaking people in South America, al
though the latter people are more natu-
rally our allies, all being parts Of one
great American republic Yet, notwith-
standing this, and even in the face Of the
fact that their ports are much nearer to
ours than to those Of Europe, Europeans
get there ahead Of US and take the trade
because they know the language OF the
country better than we do. Consul Dom
nelly has the following interesting re-
marks to make concerning Mexico:
within few hours ride by rail from
our frontier are 100000 people-One-half
the population Of England people adj
vancing rapidly In all the arts OF ciYili-
cation, people who Will soon require as
necessities what are now Injuries who
Will be housed fed, and clad as well aa
would be II worked with that skill and
industry and tireless Ygor which have
made our domestic trade the wonder Of
the world But it Is not so worked Ig-
norance OF the language makes our usual
business methods impossible. The Span
ish tongue builds about the country, for
the tariff
ITO many Of our merchants, Mexico
appears TO be as remote as China or
japan, and they strive for her trade BY
methods that might serve with countries
OF the orient. They depend upon con-
TO be of any avail, should have the full
time and best energies of competent
Spanish-speaking agents Almost daily
the mail brings to my Office letters con-
tanning circulars which l am requested
to distribute among Mexican merchants.
Some of these are English and are ut
terly useless; the rest, IN Spanish have
even less effect than circulars at home
Would any manufacturer of mining
machinery send as agent to Cripple Creek.
for instance, some Russian emigrant,
whatever his fuency in his own tongue
who is ignorant Of English? Yet Ameri-
can agents and principals. too, came TO
Mexico from the United States, knowing
as little Spanish as Sanscrit. Good talk
ers, these around home no doubt; bur
once across the Rio Grande, the alert
Keen quickwitted American is stricken
dumb and tongue-ted He readily turns
his American dollars into Mexican pesos,
but he cannot turn his English into Span.
ish. He goes through the land envying
the graduate of ar institute for the dear
He may do some business-money and
goods talk-but money and goods, be their
merit ever so great, nowadays need the
advocacy Of ready tongue. Be 1t known
that In the strengthening competition
in Mexican markets. circulars won't do.
nor letters, nor the friendly offices OF
consuls. Mexican trade must be talked
for, and Il must be talked for ia Spanish
THE infiuence of language on trade is
well understood i'm America; nowhere
else is it 50 powerfully exercised. Talk