Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-06
LATIN AMERICA.
Why It Excites the Covetous Desires
Of European Powers.

OF European Powers.
From the London CEng) Spectator.
Some Of our contemporaries appear In
clined to exult in the weakness of Vene-
zuela for effective defense, but 1t is worth
while to remark for the world will have
by and by to remark it in much more dan
gerous circumstances, that the external
weakness Of the Spanish American states
Is becoming one of the most serious of
political dangers. They possess, but CAN
not fully use, the only territories left in
the world which could seriously excite Eu-
ropean ambitions Their areas are enormous
Venezuela. for instance. is more than
twice the size Of France-their potential
resources are boundIess and their popula-
lions are comparatively SO scanty as to be
practically nonresident
Brazil or Argentina or Uruguay would
be almost as valuable to Germany or Italy
or Austria as India is to us, not only for
the vast trade which they supply, but be-
cause they could absorb, feed and render
prosperous that increment Of population
which is so rapidly becoming terror to
the statesmen and economists Of Europe.
The possession of any one of the regions
named would, for example, at once extin-
guish the socialist party Of Germany,
which, though organized In pursuit Of an
idea, is really based upon the suffering
caused by the insufficiency Of the natural
wealth of the empire. At the same time,
the Spanish-American fleets are feeble,
their armies. as the Mexican example
showed, scarcely ready to encounter the
trained armies Of Europe, and their social
cohesion weakened by internal but radical
differences Of race. Spain impressed her
dark subjects with "Espanolismo" in a
very wonderful way, but she never really
won their affection. And lastly, they have
but one ally, and with that ally they have,
owing to inherent and unalterable differ
ences Of temperament, the greatest diff
Guilty in keeping cordial terms.
Such a position offers strong tempta-
ton to cupidities which are yearly grow
ing stronger, not SO much from the am
billions Of the continental courts as from
the gradually increasing social pressures
which in many respects absolutely dictate
their policy. We. therefore instead Of ex-
ultng in the weakness of the South Amer
lean states, deeply regret 1t, and should
hear with pleasure either that immigration
had altered their defensive position, as may
possibly prove the case in Argentina, or
that they had formed strict and effective
defensive alliance among themselves, or
that the great republic which now protects
them from invasion had assumed over them
that direct protectorate which. to all human
appearance must ultimately be established
and which would involve direct diplomatic
responsibility. One such state, 1t should
not be forgotten already exists, Tor the ar
rangement with Cuba deprives Cuba of in
dependence in managing her foreign affairs.
1t is most unfortunate that In all the
other Spanish or FREDERICKSBURG
states the deeply rooted Iberian pride pre-
vents their governing castles from recog-
nizing what nevertheless are facts The
circumstances were different century ago.
but with the introduction Of steam the lso-
lation of the Spanish-American world,
which was Its chief protection, finally dis
aDDeareQ,