The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-21
The Rumored Latin-American AlIi-
anOe.

ance.
According to some recent kilograms from
Buenos Ayres the outcome OF our war with
Spain has caused South Americans to fear
that the United States may be entering
upon a career of conquest. 1t Is also said
that, with view Of resisting the appre-
hended aggression on our part, several in
fluentlal public men propose the formation
OF an alliance between Argentina, Brazil
and Chilli.
We do not believe that an alliance for
such purpose will ever be formed, because
the experience OF Mexico and Venezuela
has taught all Latin-Americans to dstln-
Ruish between friends and enemies. Espe-
cially would the assumption OF an attitude
Of suspicion and hostility toward this
country be an act of stupendous folly on
the part OF Brazil and Argentina, whose
vast and thinly settled territories are GER
tain to be coveted in the course OF the twen-
tieth century rs outlets for the surplus
population of Europe.
If we may judge OF the future from
the past, the Latin-Amercan common
wealths are much more likely to fight one
another than to combine against the United
States. There was no reason in the nature
of things why the Spanlsh-speaking COM
munities, at all events, should not follow
the example OF the thirteen English colonies
and unite in a stable confederation. All
attempts, however, to construct a federal
government on an extended scale have
failed. The Central-Americans have re-
pudiatei political connection with Mexico,
and only for n short time would tolerate q
union among themselves. Equally futile
WAS tho effort to consolidate Ven ezucla, Co
lomba ard Ecuador in n single federal
State. Bolivia has sct it's face against
coaesutn1 with Peru GU tho one hand
ar With Argentina on the other. The rela-
lions Nrtwren Ghiii and Arg. ntina although
the fnrmur country wss delivered from
spanish iuisrule By tho latter, have andom
lcan rcriia. and were recently 40 strained
that war WIS nvcitcd only by an agreement
10 submit their frontier dsput" TO arbitra-
zion. An'nosity had long existed between
Peru and 'hii before the outbreak of the
war, whirh cost tho former republic the
province Of Tarapn"a and the districts of
Jacna and hrica.
AS foI the Portuguese and tho Spanish,
they are no moro likoly to fuse in the
New World than they are In the Old.
In 1880, Portugal was annexed by force to
Spain, but, in 1910, when Spain had grown
weak, the Portuguese rebclled successfully
Tho PortuGucsc-spcaking Inhabitants OF
Brazil and the Snanish-spcaking natives Of
Argentina long fought savagely over the
territory known formerly as the Banda ORR
entail, and now rs the independent republic
of Uruguay. More recently, the conflicting
claims that grew out Of the Joint movement
OF Brazil and Argentina against Paraguay
kept alive the traditional enmity between
Portuguese and Spaniards. The Brazilian
province of Rio Grande do Sui has been for
three-qunrtcrs of n century in n stata Of
almost chronic insurrection against the
Rio Jauoiro government, because there is a
large Spanish as well 40 u German element
IN its population.
So far, then, as history has any lessons
bearing on the subject, there Is no founda-
ton for the notion that the Latn.AmerI-
cans would form an efficient and durable
combination for any purpose, except. per-
haps. that OF common defence against an
invasion by a foreign power
II is plain To all wellinformed and s4nsi-
bic Latin-Amcricans that, If they are threat
not from the United States. The Holy Al
lance, which commissioned the Due
D'AEGoULEME to overthrow the Constitu-
tional party in Spain. would have deputod
France to subjugate also the Spanish
American colonies but for the Willingness Of
Great Britain to cooperate with us In their
defence. and the proclamation Of the Mon
roe Doctrine by this country. From that
day to this we have upheld the independence
Of Lat!n-Amrrlcan communities. The great
or part of Central America would, by this
time have been absorbed by Great Britain,
bur for the firm stand taken in / 500 by Mr..
CLAYTON, then Secretary Of State, who,
10y the Clayton-Buwer Treaty, secured tho
remuneration Of England's aggressive de-
signs. Mexico would be to-day an empire
under an Austrian dynasty, had not Score