The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-09-19

Latin American I temperament
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

III By FEEDER.
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The fact must be admitted. in the
first place. that we have an exceed
ingly poor opinion Of the Latin Amer
leans. and they Of us. We have
| written volumes and reams about
them, and they abiut US. But in
each case 1t is the differences, the
curious and striking things that have
been pointed out, while the, number
less simtlarities have been over
looked.
| 1t Is surprising how, much q Pc
ruyian or a Panamanian is like a
Chicagoan or Bostonian when you
come to know him. The principal
dicerence lies in one thing-temper-
ament. Where the Bostonian thinks
twice and goes and consu1ts his law
lyers and starts q suit that lasts for
ten years the South American, very
likely, does not think at all. bur pulls
his gun and settles the matter right
there.
EOAQ OF PLEASURE
The Latin Americans are the peo.
pies of young countries. and their
point of view is that of youth. Pug
nacious, partisan, intensely enthus-
iastic, fond of pleasure, perhaps a
bit cruel, their qualities are the ones
that belong to real boys the worlu
over. 1t must be admitted they lack
stability, but stability is a character
istic that rests upon wealth and ira
ditions and a stable government. We
were a bit impulsive ourselves back
in the days Of rs when even Bos-
tonians became sufficiently ercited to
throw lot of perfectly good tea into
the ocean. That is an act with which
any Latin American can thoroughly
sympathtze.
The prevailing North American
opinion of the South American dispo-
sitton is well illustrated by an expla-
nation Of the cause Of revolutions that
one often hears from Americans in
South America. They say the real
cause Of all these upheavels is sim
ply that too abundant tropical fruit,
the mango. nthe mango season,
1t is hardly an exaggeration to say,
nearly everyone in Central and South
America stops whatever he Is doing
and sits down and eats manages.
Along in July and August, the streets
of some Of those little towns are lit
orally paved with mango seeds. To
the unsophisticated palate the mango
tastes like very poor peach dipped
in turpentine-but let that pass; to
the Latin American 1t is delicious.
So he knocks of work whenever
J mango season rolls around and eats
mangoes in incredible quantities; and
from the resulting idleness and ineyi-
table gastronomic disturbance arises
the revolutionary mood and exciting
things happen.
Lesson for North Americans.
Whether there is anything in this
theory or not, it seems to be a well
established fact that a large number
of Latin American revolutions take
place directly after the mango season.
| In point Of fact, however. the
North American might well take a
lesson from his siutherI ne,sh5or in
the spirit, II not in the conduct, OF
his politics. It Is true that the Latin,
American takes his politics so SER
iously that he can with difficulty be
prevented from expressing his CON
victtons with six shooter; but how
about the numerous citizens Of the
United States who take them so
lightly that they never go to the
polls at all? Which bodies best for
the ultimate realization Of political
ideals-a fiery and irrepressible en-
thusiasm, or alethargic indifference
1t must be remembered, too, that
the Latin American politician faces
the conditions of a new and wild
country, with mixed and turbulent
population. He has got to use the
brand Of oratory that appeals to HIS
constituents. and If he starts reyo-
luton he has got to see It through.
And no one has ever yet been able
to Justly accuse him of lacking cour-
age or resourcefuiness in doing so.
It is said that while Panama. was
controlled by Colombia there were
hfty-seven revolutions In that part
of the country in flfty-four years. It
is also true that there have been no
revolutions since Uncle Sam went
down there to build the canal. When
the first one started, he furnished
some soldiers to keep 1t down. and
when the next election day came
around the Panamanian authorities
asked for the assistance Of the SOL
diers, and an orderly election was
held. which shows that, contrary
to popular opinion. the Latin Amer.
lean is well aware Of his shortcom.
ings and is missing no opportunity
to attain the blessing Of orderly gov
eminent.
FAN to Cooperate.
There are other indications that
Latin Americans are beginning to
grasp the idea Of politics, not a. a
war OF factions. but as method Of
government. An American dinlomat
was recently talking with some no.
litical leaders in certain Latin
American country about politics IN
the United States. The southern
possible:" was their comment. Their
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