The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-12-24
WHAT PARAGUAY IS LIKE
A Coun ~ Rich Potentially
But Poor in People.
A PLENTlTUDE OF GIFTS
!t' Government Is One That Progress
sitc Nations Would Call Bad, Yet
Our South American Ncighbors
Are CCntentcd--Ittrr Poverty in
Which the Natives Live.

Which the Natives Live.
Paraguay is one of the sisterhood
| OF Latin-American republics which
! enjoys a plentitude of gifts but re-
! mains poor in the midst of vast po-
! tontial wealth. It's Government ia
I what highly civilized people rejoic-
, Ing in the benefits OF what we
call Progress. ranging from porcelain
! la htubs to luxurious express trains,
! regard as bad" yet the Paraguay
! Gna are contented. AnRlo-Saxon on
/ lockers in Paraguay lament that
! th"rc are few factories. wire fences,
| cities with asphalted streets, police
, rlen wearing helmets and the rest OF
the apparatus OF civilization. OF
! course We are bound to Join in the
chorus of disapproval. A CORES
pondent OF the Buenos Ayres Stand
ard. writing from Asuncion, the
capital Of Paraguay. In September,
tho early spring OF the regions
south Of the equator, says:
How glorious the flowers and
young leaves. All paraguay is now
one blossom. at a distance one sees
n blueish haze in between the all
green OF the forest. Farther, all
light yellow, and again lightish
pink. The fragrance one perceives
miles off carried by the wind
until lost. and for a moment
one forgets the hardships ind
struggles OF life upon earth
and feels ones self more spirit
ual among these glorious accomplish
mcDts OF the Great Spirit, and one
wishes to be better II only for one
moment. and to peep into the soul
life of after-life, with that intense
desire to learn more. and know
more about this magnificent nature,
and how dull to have to return to
everyday life; no time for thought,
no time for anything but business.
and TO once more see all the miseries
of life and not be able to help the
suffering millions of whom Para
quay also has Its share; one trip in
the camp will show anyone in what
utter poverty these people live, and
in what wretchedness their children
are born, bred and finally die, II
thcy ever do reach the age of matur-
ity. for the greater part die before
they are one year old. Happily for
them, they have but little sentiment.
ana all is easily forgotten; they are
not strong people, physically speak
ing, il so they would in truth be
sublime, as Longfellow puts It:
%, fear not in a world like this
Ana thou shalt know ere long.
Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong
Nor do | give them credit for
being a strong-minded people, with
some few exceptions"
Yet the correspondent depicts
country that has charms wholly lack
ing in the lands OF cold northern
miets and rains. The Paraguayans
love their delightful country and |
probably find, though without con-
scioUs thought about It, that COM
pensation which, after all, evens up |
things in much bemuddled world. !
The correspondent adds:
This misery is of course greatly |
due to themselves and the great |
thing for Paraguay is to get labor |
imported. Good, cheap workmen,
are essential for the progress OF
Paraguay and especially agricultur-
lists are wanted. This problem the
Government has been trying to solve
and | believe they are well on their
way to obtain satisfactory results.
although 1t is impossible to see
any change as yet. the time having
been too short. The new immigra-
ton law with a splendidly fitted out
'Odcina de Inmigracion,' all will in
the long run tend to induce immi-
grants from all countries to come to
Paraguay"
The misery" may be evident from
one point of view, but when we turn
oar gaze TO the horrible slums OF
great cities in distant lands, we are
inclined TO regard the lot OF the Par
aGuayan as something vastly better
than that of the dwellers of the East
Sides" of London and New York.
Doubtless many things in Paraguay
may be improved" b-t usually
where civilization, with its immense
complexities and demands, enters
much that is satisfying to the soul
OF man departs forever.
The strenuous white race seeks to
make over all people according to its
model, but nowhere has 1t
achieved contentment, and so it can
not bestow it as gift upon the back
ward nations, The Standards cor
respondent wants to see good, cheap
workmen" in Paraguay, but In the
Argentine itself the workmen league
themselves In guilds and unions and
clamor for their rights" while in
more advanced hands the labor prob
lem puzzles the wits of statesmen
and employers, If the superior"
nations have not been able to con-