The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-08-19
our IGNORANCE AS
TO SOUTH AMERICA
It Will Soon Be Important for
Every North American to l..
Learn Spanish.
From the North American Review.

Our w lack of steamship lines and
anking facilities with South America.
the failure of our manufacturers to
ADOPT" their goods to the tastes of the
Lalln-American people n their re-
ausai TO conform to the conditions of
south American trade, are traceable.
IN part at least, to our failure to ap-
preciate the steady and sure advance
OF these republics to vigorous and In
dependent national life. 1t is,true that
until recently the development of our
own Industrial %sourc has demanded
all u surplus capital, but we have now
reached q point which we can no longer
afford to neglect the Opportunities
"nlch these markets offer.
me people of South America are
eenly alive to the fact tina through
out the United States there exists this
near OF our exchange Of professors with
european universities, they know of the
migration of our students to German.
French and English institutions. thew
near of the millions spent by American
tourists IN European travel, and they
Wonderingly inquire as to the causes
of our indifference.
we must give a more positive inter-
probation and content to our relations
with the republics of South America.
Wnich shall express itself in a system
atlc effort to establish greater unity Of
u and action between the north
efn n southern sections of the hemf-
sphere. One Of the most Important
agencies contributing toward this end
u the bureau of American republics
which is rapidly fulfilling the ideals Of
Its founders.
A heavy obligation also rests upon
our universities. They must inculcate
IN a larger portion of our college stu
aents a clearer appreciation of the sig
a1f1cance and content of the Spanish
american civilization. For the larger
opportunities OF business life we need
an ever Increasing portion of men who
saon the Spanish language. It will
North American to learn Spanish as it
IS for the South American to learn
Eng!lsh. But a knowledge of the Span
!sh important as it is, is not
py a study of the economic conditions.
poatlcal organizations and literary
America. The record is one that ia
Wen worth the serious attention of ey-
cry student. Our universities must fur
thermore inculcate in the student a
broader intellectual sympathy; a readi-
ness to understand a people and q
e'v VIA dinerent from our town-in
q word. that ability to weigh and esti-
mate moral as we'll as material values.
which is the true indication of culture
Close and organic relations must be
estebllshed between the universities of
North and South America, between
organizations and commercial
associations Furthermore, no effort
must be spared to attract a larger num-
Der of students from these countries to
u universities through the establish
ment of a comprehensive system Of
scholarships for Latin-American stu
dents. eS~
Again. whenever a request is made
Tor teachers to organize South Ameri-
can educational institutions. we must
ce prepared to supply men and. women.
not only thoroughly trained, But cap.
aoie and adapting our educational
methods to local needs. Every REQUEST
for technical experts to solve engineer
ing. agricultural and sanitary problems
must be met.
IN this way, and in this way alone.
VIII we prepare the way for the growth
OF a common continental opinion with
out which unity of continental! action i.
impossible. The Pan-American confer-
enees are making important contribu-
lions to this end. With each recurring
conference, unity of action is extended
over a larger number of subjects and
over subjects Of increasing Importance.
we nave at present but a dim percep-
ton of the power of this unity of ac-
I1on IN the councils of the nations: its
iuil import will only be known to the
generations to come.