The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-29

that the turbulent conditions W4iiei'
rrexan in q few Of the republics are
characteristic OF ali We have fallen
10 appreciate me fact that south
America offers as many gr2aatloTls o.
institutional development as Europe,
and thar the usual sIurring Judgment
Is deeply resented by the more al
vanced countries
.eTne second defect is OF q far more
serious nature. as il involves one OF
the fundamental traits Of Cur national
character. Foreign critics OF tHe
American people have often pointed CUT
the spirit OF condescension. bordering
on contempt. which marks the attitude
o. the average American toward for
afpn institutions. The slightest d.
vereence from our form OF government
is regarded as q stamp Of infer1oTats-
American publications constantly owen
on the supposed inability Of the p9op'7
Of south America To develop free n
stitutions-a purely gratuitous assuIap-
ton. which has never been supporter
by serious scientific investigation EFen
in our university instruction there IS
tendency to use the terms anglo
Saxon, and Latin as expressing the
contrast between the ability TO estao-
fish and develop free institutions ana
the absence Of this capacity.
This unfortunate situation is further
complicated BY the missionary spirit.
of the American people. In our rela-
tions with foreign peoples we are app
10 assume. not only that our poliuca''
social and educational institutions are
incomparably superior to those Of other
countries, but that their only hope OF
salvation is to use our system as q
model. We patronizingly point out that
they are probably not prepared 10 as
simulate more than the simpler forms
of American institutional growth, but
that with patience and conscientious ct
fort they will ultimately be able 20
reach. the more complex
s.Tbe aforementioned obstacles 10
the development Of closer relations WIN
Central and South America, while seri-
GUS. are in no sense insurmountabIe'
and. in fact the last few years nave
witnessed the beginnings Of conscious
effort 10 overcome these shortcomings
There still remains. however, a third
difficulty. which. if not overcome, VIII
rekindIe the feeling Of distrust toward
the United States and make its eradl-
cation extremely difficult, if not i'm"
v,ossjbIe, Throughout South America
one hears constant complaint Of the
business methods Of the merchants and
manufacturers of the United states. II
those complaints related only to the
refusal of our manufacturers 10 give
1ong-tern credits and TO the general
! shirt of suspicion and distrust when
/ South American merchants, the most
| obvious explanation would De that
/ these are difficulties incident 10 the
early stages OF. commercial intercourse.
/ Unfortunately, the complaints are "a
/ a far more serious character, involving
the good faith and honesty Of our TTleF-
/ chants and manufacturers. one ap
proaches the subject with some olIH-
| dence. not only owing 70 the dencate
I questions which II presents, but aIse
! 70 the fact that there are a mum Del
\ of notable exceptions 10 the genera
\ rr,Ie These exceptions. however, are
Il hurried beneath the mass Of real gTiev-
L ances of the Spanish-American mer'
chant.
THE dishonesty OF catalogue de-
s-riDtions. the wanton disregard Of thf
II contract conditions, especially as re-
cards the date Of delivery, the 1nsolen1
u Indifference TO justifable complaints
ara hut a few OF the counts in the in
dictment. Considering the Treatment
which The South American merchant
has received. II is surprising that on
/ commerce with these countries is
| growing SO rapidly. No greater tribute
could he paid TO the excellence OF
] American as compared with European
manufactures. South American mer-
/ chants are often anxious TO have Amer
/ lean goods. but they are conscious OF
/ the fact that commercial relations with
/ oar manufacturers involve more an
! noyance and. in certain respects
/ greater risks than with English. French
4 ar German producers. American man
/ ufacturers are usually characterized as
! srnuy vivo,' which is a polite way OF
/ saving that the foreigner must be on
/ his guard in dealing with them,