The Portland daily press., 1899-10-21
YANKEE SN0BS IN SOUTH
AMERICA.
Latin Republics Say Americans Are
DisrespeetfaI and Patronizing-cha
acter OF Our.consuis.

Tbs feelings Of the Latin republics Ct
America towards this country, as yisitors
from the southern continent bear witt
neEs. are not Just now of the most trust
fui character. Various reports represent
the Unitsd States In different degrees
OF blackness, b1tal agree in suspesting
the country Of Intention toward agxr an
dizsment and assumption OF power.
Some call this feeling q natural out
growth OF the imperlalist policy, soma
say that 1t Is q fictitious sentiment propa-
gated by those who wish to discourage
commerce from this country, and still
others. but fewer In number, are willing
to admit that there Is something to pro.
duce the fesiIng In the direct relations
existing beiwe,n this country and the
South American republics. e. Glare.
French, viceconsul at Colon, gives an
opinion to this latter effect. which an
American, through his own position in
the matter, would be unlikely to realize,
while the offended South American him.
self, with European bred pride, would
be morally certain not to mention 1t.
MIR. Glare. in conversation with an
Evening Post reporter, explained the sit
uation to the following effect:
81 believe the feeling Of distrust which
exists among the Latin republics today
may be traced directly to the feeling of
contempt which the American cannot
refrain from showing for those with
whom he comes In contact. The South
American does not feel alarmed because
the United States wishes to hold Cuba
and the Philippines after coming by them
through the natural processes OF war and
conquest. But what stirs up fear In his
treast is the manner In which TIE Amer
leans treat those over whom they have
come to have sovereignty. Take the poll
cy of this country In the Philippines
where, whatever TIE right of this cou n
try TO sovereignty, the rights of the Fill
pinos rs men born, according to ths old
ett American principle, ut lelst free and
equal, are being sacrificed to the pride of
the army, which is now trying to subiu-
gats the land. But might as well re-
fer also to the ordinsry relations which
exist between the Americans and their
southern neighbors today.
"The Americans In the southern CONT
nent do not realize how plainly they show
their disdain for the people with whom
| they are thrown. The PEOPLE Of South
America ore glad to have capital and
enterprise from the North. and they vel
come such friendly services al were ten
derei by this county In the Venezuelsn
matter, but this Americ ans, after they
have invested their capital AMI shown
thair enterprise and offered their good
services, allow themselves TO express atn-
timents Of contempt for the people with
| whom they have been dealing, which
| entirely counttract the sens, Of good feel
| Ing which has keen arrived at Eesore.
Germans, French and other foreigners
make no unkind observations on the de-
ficiencles Of the people; but the Amer
cans, ofttimes unconsciously no doubt
show with perfect unreiiRement that Il ey
consider their South American associates
beneath them.
sit Is the common belief with visitors
from this country that our southern peo-
pie are below them In morals, and they
believe this because, whom they go to a
South American republic, the records of
must of the citizsns are a matter of pub
lilo knowledge. The republic contains
altogei her perhaps $685. 900 psopl3, AZ
4 many as are In Paris, or New York, and
of these 2, 500. coo are of the lowest clasi
leaving 500, 900 people by whom the char
| acter Of the country is to bs fairly esti-
mated. OF these perhaps 100000 ara the
4 highest c1ass-And see what you have
A community which IL so small, taken
| together, that 1t can know itself thor.
loughiy, and in which II man Is not
| known personally, he is MT least known
| by reputat on. Your countrymen come
| in upon such community, where the
faults of every body are easily public
| property, and think that because such
faults are known trey must be- worse and
| more numerous than the faults Of your
psople In this country. They fall TO see.
or refuse to acknowledge, that each little
republic Is small stage where every act
| Of immortality IL seen at once by every
person in the audience. They do not
| hesitate to heap contempt upon the heads
| of those whom they think worthy of Ii,
and those who have been treated disdain-
fully take the slight and with IL feel
Ing CT bitterness. This adage runs that
thers is no use trying to catch flies with
vinegar.
which says: Courage doss not exclude
politeness.' To them the Americans sesm
| to have a roughness which the European
nations are without so into an office
here to lend telegram, and ask ques-
ton Il the boy. he answers me grrffly,
and have to r3mindshim that he owes me
the politeness of an answer. ASK the
street car conductor where his car gees
he answers me in the same way. He
starts his car off before u woman has
stepped on, and puts MARRIOTT becaufe
| way in the hotels. Every hotel clerk
seems to feel 1t his duty to disregard the
Inquiries OF his guests and tell them as
little cf what they icquiTe Is he can.
| All this is unnatural to people descended
from the stock OF southern Europe. and
when the Americans practice it upon
them. feeling of disgust inevitably
arises. A little more courtesy and con
sideration would go great way WITH
thu penpl, o. the southern republics.
mot tke least offenders In Jhes, re-.
spects eonsiIla and other represent
tatives the United Statss send to
the south American republics. When
Americans are gentlemen, no psopie are
more delightful to deal with, but the
country does not send that kind to repre-
sent 1t G ,ne-ally. Iii oonsuls and vio,-
consuls are people who have got into
office through political influence or in
trique, and oiten utterly ipcspabls Of
failiilsng their duties. not to mention
carrying ihsmse elves toward the psople as
the rules Of International courtesy sre-
quire. Some do not eyen show aoluaint.
xr1fk h. -