The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-19
THE WEAKNESS OF 10000. 900,
Is the Population OF the New worries
other Half Hopelcssly Dependent

other Half Hopelessly Dependent
Here Is an extraordinary confession OF
incapacity-the most extraordinary, In view
Of the number Of persons implicated ana
the extent OF the territory they Burrenaer'
that the history Of the world has TO show
For this confession Is already part oil
history, OF nearly unnoted and very recent
history. II is expressed In plain words.
II Is implied by particular overt acts and
general acauiescence in those acts.
First as to tho words. 81
A citizen Of the Argentine Republic
shows in his book entitled 'Nuestra Amer
lea both the causes and the results OF the
inability Of Latn-Americans to govern
themselves. The book Is reviewed by
a Standardization resident Of Mexico,
who acknowledges that Its statements are
all true and applicable to all the southern
republics, adding some painfully sincere
comments which express profound DIS
couragement. The review is published
with evident appreciation, In one OF the
popular newspapers Of the West Indies.
Thus, all Of the three grand divisions OF
Ladn-America are heard from, either In
the original composition or the emphatic
acceptance of this summary. No docu-
ment could make larger claim to present
fairly what Latin-Americans Of all sections
think of themselves.
What, then, are they thinking and saying
about themselves at the very time we are
saying In palmer English than ever before
that no one else shall govern thom9
Author and reviewer unite in the belief
that the Spanish-Americans are incapable
of forming a true republic As for the
source Of this inoapacity, the author traces
1t 70 the blending Of the European con-
ouerors with inferior races. and says that
the atavistio cruelty displayed In their
civil wars is a product Of the amalgamation
OF indgenes with equally cruel Spaniards.
Death" he thinks IL necessary TO recall,
even at this late day-so gTievous are the
inherited tendencies he must account for
was the dogma Of the Mexican religion;
tortures we're It's rites. When the Grand
Saorihcer was ready TO oficiate they dressed
him in a tunlo empurpled with human
blood he tore out the hearts Of victims
chained to the altar, and with a silver spoon
| deposited their quivering hearts in the idols
monstrous mouth. Whereas tho Santo
| Ohoo In old Spain burned alive 10000 per-
sons in eighteen years, an immense bon
fire in which 65 900 victims were consumed
sanothed . temple at Its dedication In the
country that was 70 become New Spain
with such antecedents, Spanish, Indian,
African, the Latin peoples OF America
could not improvise republics after winning
their independence. Indeed, nothing Is
! improvised in history He contrasts he
| nan institutions with Saxon or Teutonic:
| in the former there was no preparation, no
| training for the republican experiment.
| The republic In Saxon communities Is sin
oere, original, proper; in Latin communi-
| ties, he insists, merely its forms are adopted
1T Is an imitation, It Is conventional, 1t Is
hybrid.
And the reviewer breaks IN at this point,
declaring emphaucally that the Cuban
Republic would really be no better than the
| others If 1t were not for tho Platt amend
/ ment.
The heads OF political parties are de-
soriptively called caoiques Qndlan chiefs),
! and their character lie drawn rather humor-
ously: There are moments when II APP
pears that the Spanish-American caclques
represent Ideas that they are chiefs Of
| political party which represents principles.
| But that is only an optical Illusion.
| Our Argentine author supposes the case Of
a fellow named Pereira, who becomes
powerful as leader Of cowboys and ranch
| men-the Pereirisids. "Pereira and the
Pereirists have declared in favor Of free
trade Now, do you fancy that the Pereir-
list party lie a group Of converts who have
come together under an economic banner
No, a thousand times no. And the proof
Is that Pereira has never opened a volume
Of political economy in his life. Though
he dogmatzes with assumption Of authority
and almost with eloquenoe, he does not
know the frat thing about either FREQ trade
or protection.
within the system controlled by these
oaclques there is no parliamentary govern
ment A congress under a cacique is a
cruel mockery, almost entirely composed
OF creatures Of the principal cacique. II
questions are debated there the debates,
so-called, are merely cockfghts, contests
for personal supremacy; and there is no
interchange Of ideas on government"
a friend Of a great and wise politician,
having been chosen Deputy Member Of
Coneressl, exclaimed: How well my
friend has behaved toward me! l asked
him for a post with little work and $500 a
month, and he gave me one with 81, 900 and
no work at all
We need not translate further. Any
one who reads influential South American
journals can recall pessimistio articles to
match the one cite-of more recent date,
maybe. than the one have chosen to il
ustrate my point, The fact is the Ian
Ruage is so sad depressing, extravagant
that cheerful souls are ashamed TO translate
il; turn. rather, 10 the rose-oolored semi
oficial reports Of progress designed to
aatter the hopes Of merchant, immigrant
and investor
Secondly, as TO the acts.
Its a careful understatement to say that
leading citizens caciques' and others
OF several different southern republics, at
the same time, but Of course without plan
ming concurrence, try TO have the course Of
most important events in their native coun-
tries practically directed by organizations
here. by private persons or the Government
Of the United States. They behave as
though they were subject, and their fellow
citizens all subject living in province Of
an imasi nary American empire, Yet there