The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-09
BRAZIL PUT RIGHT.
Liberal Country, safe From FOreign
AtiOn-('ermans There Not the
kalser's Agents Our Trade Invited.

published In your issue OF Dec. 20, 1907. en-
titled. "A Plot to Grab South America" an<
we venture. even at this late date. to protes
against including Brazil in the same clas
with tho spanish republics Of South America
1t Is two-ffths of both Americas and three
sevenths OF all South America. and has popu
lation Of from eighteen to twenty millions.
II Is so vast and has such a wide range O.
climate and products that II cannot ever
be considered by itself as whole. 1t MAJ
nearly five thousand miles of seac oast. ans
what would be true OF the vast Amazon
region would not apply to the middle ane
southern States or the interior plateaus.
The people are Of Portuguese. not Spanish
origin. and the language OF the country II
| Portuguese
The writer Of the article states that at q
given date he "esta blished his business over
! South America" There must be some mis-.
take about this, as he Ia not known here OF
In Rio. and We suspect that he has fallen intt
the common error OF Jumping Brazil with
the republics Of Spanish origin. He evil
IDENTIFY knows about the little republics oil
the Pacific coast and Argentina, but Ia
clearly not acquainted with Brazil and u
misinformed concerning the German colonies
We do not pretend to know what high
| handed desiS gus the German Emperor may
have on South Anericn. but II he Intends
to grab" the whole country. he has a large
contract on his hands. and II he counts on
the large German colonies in the south middle
and southern States Of Brazil for aid. hs
| will be disappointed. He might as well count
on Milwaukee to help him grab" the United
states, Many Of the German colonists here
are naturalized brazilian citizens. and their
descendants are us genuine and as patriotic
brazllians as any whose ancestors came from
the banks OF the Tnsus or the Douro. The
present Secretary OF Agriculture and several
Members OF Congress are Teuto- Bra zilians.
as are many prominent men In business.
politics and literature. They are happy.
prosperous people, and there are no indi-
cations that they would willingly exchange
their liberties under the free Brazilian re-
public for the bureaucratic restrictions which
characterize the German colonial regime.
They have found in Brazil the prosperous
homes and the liberties which they left Ger
many to seek, and we believe they will fight
for them.
That these prolific. industrious Teutons
will finally profoundly affect the evolution
OF Brazilian society in these southern States
no one can doubt. But they will remain
intensely BRAZILIAN. They have shown no
decided preference for German capital. and
would welcome American capital and en-
terprise cordially to help build roads aud
develop this exceptionally rich re2ion.
The astonishing conditions described as
obtaining in the Spanish republics concern
Ing unfair discrimination in dealing with
Americans and handling American goods
are not found in Brazil and would not be toer-
ated for moment The German banker and
merchant have here no such preponderating
influence as the article refers to. Here there
is an open field and no favor n the German
drives out English and American goods il
must be because he has better goods or better
terms To offer. or that he is a better merchant
ali afr t,tly, t;ra,
here as elsewhere. and is little Influenced
by sentiment or politics The American
inventor and manufacturer have ample means
for protection Patents are easily obtained
in Brazil and trademarks are amply protected
by law II the German manufacturer int
tates American goods, and this cannot be
denied. it is a compliment to our inventors:
but II he can push them into the market
against the genuine article it is no compl-
nent to our business enterprise
There are several difficulties in the way
OF our getting control of South American
trade, certain economic obstacles. such as
a large home market, which leaves little
surplus for export; but chiefly the profound
IGNORANCE that prevails in the United STAGES
concerning South America we refer especi-
ally to Brazil Our methods of doing busi-
ness are also against us,
on business or pleasure is a rapid gentle
man; lie PUSHES into the country. ignorant
Of TIE Language and usases. meets q, few
eye, view Of things and PUSHES back home
loaded with nisin formation. II CONNER
pra nes "e sw so ed oess Sa Rss
as st to KY ne business, The German rerre-
sentative anss OF man mt or business
10 learn the language. studies the demands |
OF the trade and his firm adapts its goods |
he gets It, he is entitled to i BY every decent
rule OF business and there Is no kick coming"
i Is hs n 1r GE He'll English merchant who
sources. For, diversity Of soil and climate,
notIins ike It in the vide World It needs
roads, open mines and exploit the almost
eirners + OF the most liberal type, They are are
not bidding for the wild schenieI or upprln-
sipsa bat cordially welcome
There il no prejudice against Americans;
on The contrary, al legitimate American en-
prises have nouri.hed in the pas, and nsarsh
S IN Tx Rd st street sb swy in Brazil
dividend Of 10 per cent per month. Even
Americans who monopoIize the electric
service OF this city-power and street cars
enormous business and the concern |. in high
'aror. We know OF American manufacturers
hat have done a proftab bile business with |
Brazil for many years These successful |
IN teri rises are not inviting competition by
advertising their prosperity. That Is not
There ia an excellent opportunity for sur
3 & American capital IL Brazil. We do not
1usineas between the two countries, could
i've, until some kind Of an equilibrium Of
rade ia esta blished; so long as we have 4
arRc Ia ance Against us We must seek tx-
han sc thr OIL Oh countries that have balance
n their favor. But "Brazilians" are A good
he keen, ,auick-si9hted American capitalist
las not discovered that they are better
"a ine Investment than the az per cent
Europeans" in which he Ia investing. In
e climate commercial banking. American |
npital would yield from to 10 per cent.
'ative and foreign banks pay dividends
angnR from 10 to IS per cent. and even
more.
In the old ante hellum days American
or Brazilian ports. the goods were sold on
rrivnl at u small profit and fair freight.
nd the proceeds wore used "a part pay
nent for the return cargo OF coffee. rubber. !
'c. hui We have now no merchant ma rina. |
nd IL our coffee merchant should wish TO |
end out American goods In part exchange
or coffee or rub Der. he would have to pay
Ugh freirhts both ways to English and Ger
"a bOttoma
If the article referred to is correct as to
he attitude of the spanish republics Of
outh. America toward Americans and
american products. and We have no reaaon
q doubt 1t: then Brazil ia the only wide
pen door for American trade in al South
merica