The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-27

whose aVowed purpose was to secure
the political unity of all the Ameri-
cans, we showed our opposition to
Bolivar's wishes by admitting nothing
further than a mere verbal expression
of friendship. And when Bolivar, in
the elimination of his labors, planned
to liberate Cuba from the Spanish do
minion we unhesitatingly took the part
of Spain against him and successfully
blocked the first attempt to achieve
/ Cuban independence. The policy of the
United States at that early day was
thus plainly opposed to an independent
! union of Latin-America-
In recent years. up to the time OF
the Spanish American war, the South
and Central American republics were
entirely contented apparently with the
attitude of the United States toward
their own governments. President
Cleveland's famous Venezuelan mes
sage was everywhere hailed with un-
bounded satisfaction. His further an
nouncement that the Monroe doctrine
would be upheld was considered a
guarantee of protection and independ-
ence to all the republics of America on
the part of the United States. Then
came our war with Spain, and with 1t
one of those sudden, Characteristic re-
vulsions of feeling among our Southern
neighbors. The suspicious inherited
from the days of Bolivar were revived
and intensified. An intense sympathy
for Spain, the mother country" grew
in popularity. The Spanish war became
burning issue in South American pol
itics-an issue that. for the time being,
marked the difference between conser-
vative and radical. The press was al
most unanimous in its condemnation
of the United States, and predictions
L. Il
attempt the overthrow of South Amer
lean independence became the favor
lite theme among journalists and poll
ticians. Combined Combine!" was the
rallying cry of one republic to another.
The close of the war brought no
abatement to this feeling or it's express
sion. The quick and decisive success
of the United States was a surprise,
as we'll as the cause of increased
alarm among those who credited this
country with desire to appropriate
South America as a colonial possession.
How should they defend themselves
against this giant of the North?"
Then the political faith of the fathers
was remembered suggesting itself as
the surest solution of anticipated dam
ger. A united continent. Greater
Colombia" was the only possible safe
guard against the Yankee hunger for
IOlOHiGS- ~ bCNdtAiC PCPdldA W NhA-
phasize the racial unity Of South
America, to point out the ineradicable
difference between the Latin and the
Anglo Saxon; and for the first time
since their war for independence, South
Americans commenced to look
with a sudden friendly inter-
est to Spain. The venerable in
situations of the mother country, her
tyrannies and expressions forgotten, re-
in oh en a1lnrir1o and
mantle as almost to be regretted.
Things Spanish became the fashion.
Ties of blood, language and religion
assumed a vital importance never be-
fore realized. A desire for closer
union with Spain found expression
everywhere Finally. on the high tide
of this popular feeling, not more than
a year ago, Spain herself spoke, pro-
posing to the republics of South Amer
lea that a congress composed of dele
gates from the various Southern repub-
lies should meet in Madrid with a view
to strengthening the bonds existing
among all Spanish speaking countries.
The ostensible purpose of such con-
gress was not, of course, an official or
governmental one. That would be TO
infringe the Monroe doctrine But IL
was not denied that 1t would have a
commercial and industrial
States and favorable to European eoun-
tries, against which our traditional for !
eign policy would be powerIess.
South America received this novel
from Spain with favor. The
has been formed, its first ses-
sion held and although no openly
avowed political programme was adopt
ed looking TO the union OF South Amer !
lea. the mere fact of such a meeting.
under such auspices, is abundantly [
significant OF the trend of South Amer /
lean opinion toward the consolidation |
Of their political interests, the forma- |
ton OF a republic that will be South (
American In design and extent, and /
able 20 treat with the United States I
On equal terms.
our own Pan-American Exposition |
has done little 10 restore South Amer |
Ica's confidence IN our national integ- |
rity. Many Of the republics have no |
snare In the show az Buffalo, and the