The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-20
CITY NEWS
OF THE sPULL :
w. A. Cook, Back From Brazil, Tells
of Conditions in South
America.
State Governments Upset by War in
Brazil and Parent Government
Doesn't Interfere.

w. A.. Cook, who is the guest of his
brother, J. B. Cook of 1892 First avenue s,
returned recently from Brazil where he
spent seven years as a missionary for the
Christian Missionary Alliance. His knowl-
edge of South American conditions gives
him an especial interest in the Venezuelan
embroglio and he is able to throw much
light on the South American situation that
makes possible such complications as have
arisen. .., - 3d. @-s....-
While the Brazilian government with
which Mr.. Cook. is most familiar and the
Argentine republic Of which he also saw
much are comparatively stable wheS
placed in contrast with Venezuela, he
found force and '.pull'' far more effective
than justice, liberty and equality. He does
not, however, take pessimistic view, for
he marks considerable improvement under
the republican form Of government in Bra
I'll and a general upward tendency. There
has been no instruction Of serious proper
lions directed against the federal govern
ment, but state governments have been
overthrow by force, without interference
by the federal government, if the trium-
plant party was that of the dominant fed
eral party.
Centuries Behind Time
The country is one Of the richest in re-
sources, but these have been very little
developed, except just along the coast. In
the interior the conditions are the most
primitive imaginable and the people de-
pend almost wholly on their own resources
affording no markets for imported manu-
| featured goods. Domestic utensils and
methods Of weaving and spinning are such
as were in use in the time of Christ. Many
of the country people are little better than
barbarians and the most discouragine
| feature is that they seem to care for moth
| ing better. .-ss~-s, .--.- -.-- r.
The population is very much mixed, be-
| ing chiefly Portuguese, negro and Indian
| and there seems to be no foundation OF
character upon which to build the struct-
urc Of stable state: The Improvement
" L certainly be but slow growth. Quar-.
rels are settled by force, as it. Is useless tc
| expect justice through the courts. Even 9
murder trial, should the criminal be ap
pretended, would only go so far as the
friends Of the victim were willing to pay
the expense. In the interior little use is
made Of the machinery of the law in sucf
a case. The friends hire men to search
for the murderer; if he is caught, hireG
assassins are ready to dispose Of him a:
hidden. IT."
Foreigners fare, much better than ma
tives, their rights being protected by
the foreign governments and this does
much to engender a popular feeling Of re-
sentiment against foreigners. AS an illus:
tration Mr. Cook cited the recent case Of
the Italian laborers on the coffee plan.
tations. The coffee market had been de.
pressed and the planters refused to- pay
i the wages due. The Italian government
took it up and the government forced the
planters to pay the italian laborers, but
the natives had no such protection. :,
Suspicious Of Monroe Doctrine. H.
The Monroe, doctrine, IS, regarded with
suspicion by the Braziliaps, the current
saying being that dts like; "a hawks
guardianship over chickens.''H There is s
good deal of fear that, without the con.
slant menace Of European nations, the big
republic would gobbleo up the smaller one:
without conscience In spite Of this at.
titude the statesmen of the country UNI.
derstand very well how to use this inter
national policy as a shield.
4 American goods are held in high esteem
while German goods have been discred
tied by the poor wares sent out to South
America Made in Germany" is not
recommendation but rather the reverse
Goods are even represented as being
American to take advantage Of Ameri
can prestige The American trade il
small, however, owing in part to the linn
tied demand for manufactured articles ant
still more to the absence OF genuine effor
to open market for American goods
Mr.. Cook did much work among the In
dams far in the interior much of which i
practically unexplored.s, He made a col
lection of Indian manufactured articles
for the Smithsonian institute.