Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-05-24
Real Pan an-Americanism.

ing to lealizatiOn-not in the shap
perhaps, which the origina! promoter
of the idea had in mind, but on sount
er, more enduring foundation. Th
movement sprang from the desire
form an alliance of all the republics c
| the two Americas for mutual prote(
tion and advantage politically an
commercially. The material aspect
we're kept to the fore Pan-A american
] an became slogan of tie exploiter-
Very little was accomplished on tha
basis. 1t was found that the coun
ties with which a closer co-operatio
was really desired we're distrustfnl o
our commercial promoters They cam
In contact with the seeker for geld, an,
concluded that the Yankee must be
reckless plunger. ready to stake hi
salvation here and hereafter on an,
chance to reap fortune OF ou
more human endeavors they had bu
little evidence. Meanwhile, Europe
taught our sister republics arts and
sciences, and established spiritua
alliance whose influence is visible il
the cultural institutions south of the
Equator.
What are the results of our short
slghtedness :? By becoming the school
master of South America; Europe has
firmly established itself in the sym.
pathies of the people. AS matter of
course, commerce has benefited. 1t is
the old story: the missionary-unwill
ingly, perhaps, but none the less sure
the advance agent of trade.
Great Britain's commercial greatness
is owing, to no small extent to her poll
cy of first acquiring an educational
leadership.
Argentina, the greatest of the South
republics, has been tutored
by France, Germany, and England,
France,-thls In spite of
the fact that both the original consti
tuition of the Republic, and the organ.
ization of the national school system
were derived from our own country.
schoolmaster and presi-
lent. was a friend of Horace Mann's,
and made close personal study of our
schools and political Institutions. 1t
was heswho laid the political founda
tion of the Argentine Republic, and
called into existence the present school
system.
1t is no especial credit to us that our
ideas were thus transplant
I'd. 1t is due rather to the discern.
nent of the intellectual leaders of Ar.
gentina that our experiences are turn
I'd to good account IN the development
If the schools. They recognize that
;he influence.of Europe are not helpful
10 the working out of genuinely demo-
,ratic ideas. The young Argentinians
aave learned to look upon Europe as
The home of culture, and upon the
United States as great experiment
station for industrial and financial
yeniuses. In other words, they believe
,he eyes of Europe to be fixed upon
great intellectual ideals, while we are
ievising ways for gathering IN the
material goods of this world. They
choose Europe as best representing
their own views of life. and thither
,hey 60 in search OF light. Thev ma
,urally return more or less leaning to-
ward aristocracy, with views fatal to
for the cause of democra-
;y.
There are to-day among the states
men of the Argentine Republic several
thoughtful educators who realize that
they must encourage the ideas that
lave made our own country great,
:ather than to the speculations OF Eu
,opeans. They realize thatthey and
We are labOring for the same ends, that
)ur problems are more or less alike
there have come to us in
recent years many serious students, for
;he purpose of making a careful inves
tigatiOn of our social institutions and
our methods of administering them.
Much good will spring from these Wis
lis. Still greater good may be expect
I'd to be derived from the clearer
of the principles underly-
ing our common school system. In or
der to help on the good work museum
is to be established at Buenos Ayres,
exhibiting complete evidences of our
achievements. Mr.. Elm
este Nelson is now in this country as
the special commissioner to collect such
material. Every school system should
take pride IN helping him.
Here is pointed out way, more eff
fectiYe than peace congresses, for
spreading abroad better understand
ing between nations; a way for promot
ing Pan-Americanism that will live,
q I'D living will make this world bright
er and more harmonious
A schooimaster laid the foundation
of the Argentine Republic. Teachers
from our own country helped him, and
Others fol owed to carry on the good
work, SO that Mrs. Bischoff, who re
Gently returned from Argentina, could
say that 1.-THE standard OF education in
Argentina is just as high as that in
he United States.' Mrs. Bischoff
b I'd been teacher uuder Dir. Harris.
and supervisor in the st. Louis school
.ystem. She went TO Argentina III
1888, and was for more tGan twenty
years principal OF the largest normal
school in the country. 10 men and
women of her spirit is due the couver.
sion of the people of Argentina to the
belief that our country stands for bet
ter things than the mere accumulatior
of waalth and That tiese Era yyorft