Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-14
to the congress by the commission on
survey and occuDutiou

To the congress by the commission on
survey and occupation.
The report declared that in all the
southern rcpablics practically un!vcr-
sal unbelief exists as far as modern
learning has proceeded. The commits.
sion asserts that tn. people in each of
the several countries may. be roughly
divided into four classes: \ violent
anu clerical party. many OF whom carry
'hetr opposition to religion OF every
form; the more OF less well-rcasoncd
sKrptics ana atheists who look indul-
gently upon religion US harmless for
women and for the lower classes. but
VINO are themselves Indifferent to its
claims; the dissatisfied. If not disillu-
stoned ana CROPPING companies of souls
VINO soon pass on to cynicism aud hard
ness Of heart; those whose period or
doubt ana breaking away is ahead or
them rs they are overtnkcn by free
education.
The report says that "a surprising
number OF women are beginning to
share the skcpticism of their husbands
ana that thcosophy. Spiritsm and SINH
lar cults are rapidly taking the uIac.
of christianity in humorous sections
IN fi"iiria alone 1T is claimed. three
fourths of the members OF Congress
ana ot the well-to do business men
ana nearly all of the government stu
dents ar" sworn enemies or the church
while similar conditions prevail in
practically all the sister republics
Reviewing the difficulties which con-
front missionaries TO Latin America;
the report lays the blams for many
of the evil conditions which IL euum-
crates. and drunkenness in particular
10 the influence Of many American and
other foreign business agents who
have; invaded the southern countries
in search of trade
The sordid commercial standa rds"
II says. (which too many foreign bust
ness men have adopted, will serve long
TO keep humble and silent their OBJ
serving and uut"mp;ed feliow-nation-
ais. II bribes have been taken by Latins
they have been given often by foreign
ers. Where industrial injustice is in
trenchdc many representatives Of for
ciSn capital also coulplaccntly profit by
II. common honor demands that wher-
ever one race destroys character in an
other IT shall seek to upbuild. The char
actcr- building forces Of nations that
export the products Of their brewer:cs
and distillcrics, and other agents Of
debauchery may not remain insuiar in
their outrcach. When neutral or evil
personalities 30 from one nation to
another the sending forth OF a few
hundreds embodying that nations
finest spiritual aui moral sense is die
ttNtt ~ llt CONSIDERATION or national
.lf-rcSpcct."
Tho commission finds that in recent
decades intcmperanc. has increa sed
enormously in s.at.a-American coun-
tries. largely owing to the introduction
of whisky. In the larger cities the use
OF whisky by foreigners liz declared TO
DE weli-nish universal and 10 have "A
most Dernicious effect. Chile Is dcclar-
eli 10 be the chief v!ctiin Of intcmper-
ance. One traveller is quoted as saw
ing that there was more drunkenness.
in Chile than In any OF twenty-five
countries he had visited.
referring more specifically, to tbs
relations between the United states and
"usly dencunces the attitude of many
Americans toward their southern
ncishbors for their intolerance and ar
rogdncc.
The Latin-American himself is not
Sni!tlcSs OF vainelory." X says. but
III has much TO endure from the north!
ern aliens within his borders The
Offenders have been aggressive COM
mercial agents, the plundering type OF
lcouceSsionuircs, ovcrDearing. arrogant
industrial managers and bosses. swag e
gertng tourists, ill-brcd consular and
al plumatic representatives, and. occa-
sionally. condcscending missionaries"
| The commission finds, however. that
the United states and her citizens are
! in process OF mendine their manners
and says the labors Of the Pan Ameri-
, can Union in this respect are being
rewarded.
! At the same time i, IL asserted that
there is dcep-rootcd distrust OF the
purposes Of the United states on the
! part OF the Latin Americans.