Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-27


revolutions. These, however, were all
in some sense struggles for freedom
and better government. They have
given Latin-Americans a reputation for
impulsiveness and bloodshed, when as
matter of fact many heated quar-
rel has been settled in that land with
out firing a shot.
The Latin-American Is willing to
fight, and not afraid to die. His wars,
when they do happen, are apt to be
long and bloody. One of the worst OF
them was the struggle between Para.
quay on the one side and Argentine,
Brazil and Uruguay on the other. For
seven years the forces Of three ma
lions made unceasing and murderous
warfare on the forces Of one. An Ar
gentine general was then sent at the
head of large force to finish the job.
He went into Paraguay but turned
back without fighting. He reported
that he would not make war upon
women. For women and boys filed
the ranks Of the Paraguayan army.
The men were dead And to this day
Paraguay has an overwhelmingly large
! population of women. She mas never
fully recovered, though half century
has passed since that struggle.
This and several other hard fought
wars convinced the leading men of the
South American republics that their
young countries, with great wilder
nesses to people, could not afford
such waste of human life. SO strong
sentiment In favor of arbitration grew
up and has steadily strengthened.
Stones are even now being planted
on the newly established boundary be-
tween Peru and Bolivia. A dispute be-
tween these two countries had gone to
the verge of war when movement in
favor of arbitration was started and
Great Britain was asked to settle the
difficulty. A commission of three men
was appointed to do so and both coun-
tries abided by it's decision.
President Hayes Of the United
States settled a territorial boundary
dispute between Paraguay and Argen.
tine which had gone close to war when
he was asked to mediate. He did so
by deciding in favor of Paraguay, al
though Argentine had rather strong
case. Nevertheless the latter country
accepted the decision without protest,
while Paraguay named a city Villa
AIdy 20 III AohoA VI VIC ~ ColuCAS-
There was once a difference be-
tween Brazil and France as to the
boundary of French Guiana. 1t was
arbitrated, Switzerland acting as the
referee, at the instance. of Brazil.
Spain acted as mediator between Ven
ezuela and Colombia, settling diff
Guilty which had caused much bitter
ness of feeling. Chief Justice White
of the United States supreme court
settled a boundary dispute between
Panama and Costa Rica
The people Of Latin-America have
had much cause to fight. They have
been building republics in wilder
ness people with savage tribes: they
have obtained freedom from European
domination. We did both Of these
things, but not without bloodshed. For
a time, too, this country was a cluster
of little states, and there was much
feeling and considerable fighting
among them. All Latin-America is still
in that condition. And out of it has
evolved genuine appreciation Of the
principle and value of arbitration,
which has now, by the efforts of South
American diplomats to aid in the solu-
ton Of Mexican trouble been brought
to the attention of the world for the
first time.