The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-20
SENTIMENT TO THE SOUTH OF Us

II the South and Central American re.
puhijcs syd,pathize with Spain to the ex-
tent that Is reported and entertain a feel.
ing OF jealousy and hostility toward tn
United States, the fact is hut another evi
denct of the inability OF the Spanish race
10 handle the great problems OF govern
ment or see It's own best interests
The London Spectator INDUCED In some
comment week or two ago that ought TO
be read and treasured by all the peopoa "a
the south OF u.s. American defeat or humil
inlioh In war with any European power
would mean the absorption W conqueet OF
Central and South America by France and
Germany and Great Britain The Specta-
tor among other things eaid
The continent thirsts foi the power OF en-
terlng Spanish America the feeling beinp
particularly strong In France aud Germany
In Franco hecuuse General Grant hustled her
out OF Mexico. In Germany owing to h r
economic situation. Germany j. helng eat n
up by her millions, and the lands which would
hold them all are closed 10 preserve American
IeVcrsionary interests. Brazil would hold i've
German populations, and Ia protected FROM
invasion only by the long shadow which the
Great Hepublo casta all down the western
Continent n that shadow Is lfted-~lf that
Is. IL becomes clear that tho United States IA
at zen only nm ordinary power with which an
other frEt class power can contend OF equal
terms Spanish America will be mcclure.
The Post referred to this matter a. short
time since, hut II Is becoming prominon,
again In view OF the announcement thai
there are frie ndly ports on this side of tn,
Atlantic in which the Spanish fleets car
hide and coal In the latter emergenc,
this anti American feeling is of aoriou
concern to VS.. But as DANGEROUS as 1t ma,
be to MS, II is Of far more danger to Cen,
trail and South Americans. II they valu,
their Independence and would maintain
their territorial integrity. During the civi
war when II was thought we were ner
manently embarrassed France was quicl
to attempt the conquest OF Mexico and to.
day American defeat or weakness woult
be the signal for forward movement b,
Germany against IIayu and of France Oh
the Northern boundaries of Brazil!
The short-sightedness of the Spanish
Americans. therefore, In entertaining nm
kindly sentiment toward the United States
Is at once apparent There ia no basis TO,
tho expressed fear that the unlten state
| ma; want to overrun and seize the coun
| trlea to the south Such an idea has beer
cnnningly disseminated by the Euronoapl
Tor purpose, AS q matter OF fact. how.
over, American victories. increased Ameri.
can power and added American prestic
VIII mean the assured and continued inde
pendence and security of all nations ia th,
| Western hemisphere.
| But the spanIard, wherever he Ia fo,,n,
Is creature OF prejudice and lmpu,so
densely ignorant and bieoted, and we could
not expect tho Southern republics to take
| broad statesmanlike view of the preat
| questions underlying the supremacy and
| solidity OF American Influence on this sid,
| OF the world. II antl-American foelinp
should become too pronounced to the south
| OF us, 1t might become necessary TO send
the eagle southwark for our own protection
and thus justify Spanish American fears
But the people down there. and not n splri
OF conquest here. would be responsible fo
such an event.