The Washington herald., 1918-11-04

on a relationship which demonstrates
to this country the sympathies Of our
sister nations of the South American
continent and which proves to them
that our interests will never become
subyersive to their own.
So far as America Is concerned not
enough opinion from the South Amer
lean countries comes to us-in the
country as a whole-and occasional
glirnpses at some of the editorials OF
the newspapers there are not only
welcome but surprisingly informative
In their recital of the spirit which ac-
tuates the countries in their relations
with the United States.
President Wilson's forceful exposi-
ton of the words democracy" and
Independence" and rights of small
countries" have won him applause in
South America They have had the
effect Of explaining the meaning OF
the word 'pan-Americanism." and
there has been a response to his def
milton which bodies well for the future.
The following editorial from La
Nacion of Buenos Aires indicates
"hCao niscHlluc repuOllC SIanQSs
Let US now refer to the new mean
ing OF pan-Americanism that the
President of the United States formu-
lated a few days ago in the course
| OF reception given to the Mexican
journalists. Here are declarations
which, II they have passed unobserved
by some, ought to attract the atten-
ton of all, since in pronouncing them.
President Wilson has completed a
work that remained to be done: to
correlate pan-Americanism with the
european war and explain the signifi-
cance of pan-Americanism with re-
gard to the ideals mankind is seeking
today.
From It's beginning. from Monroe,
pan-Americanism meant an ideal an
antagonism Of concepts and stand
ards between the Old World and the
New World. We are, said the for
rnidable antagonist OF the Holy Alli-
ance, republican continent, a con-
tinent with ideals and formulas of its
own concerning liberty and equality,
may We also be one of fraternity!
We will not consent that the for
mulas of the out-worn policy Of a
decrepit continent shall seek to in
terVene in our new life, in the effort
we are making at a new political
formula. Between us and you there
is difference of ideal, and for this
ideal we are fighting
The critical moment being passed
for US, however, and at the rate the
United States was forgetting its au-
stere republican ideals of the begin
ming. and the nation of Puritans and
strugglers was becoming converted
into an aggregation of ease-loving
millionaires and proletarian masses
debased or revolutionary, what could
pan-Americanism be? Every Latin
American nation was pursuing its
object: that of internal organization;
while the United States was seeking
its economic enlargement. All being
centered upon themselves and the
united ideals being buried under the
thick layer of the individual interests
of each, pan-Americanism tended to
become a league of interests, OF in
terests of every kind; and it failed.
Saenz Pena could say with rea son, IN
a pan-American congress, that geo
graphical separation was not a suf-
ficient explanation OF the antagonism
Of interests between the Old Word
and the New World.
called upon, by the very nations
which she previously disdained. the
first-born nation of America enters
the universal war. in the forefront
precisely of the inheritors and con-
tinuators of the Holy Alliance, to
avenge the American ideals OF lib
erty and respect for the independ-
ence of nations as the sole arbiters
of their own destinies. Wilson. in
the course of his conference with
the Mexican journalists. turns to-
ward the whole continent and says:
Behold our ideal: this is pan
Americanism"
This name, for many years and
on too good grounds. was the cause
of anxiety to, and cavilings by,
Latin America What did pan
Americanism mean? Did 1t mean
political hegemonv. political expan-
sion. North American economic
domination? Now, however, all
suspicion must disappear. The Pres
ident of the United States has been
able to speak with the authority
given him by the fact of having
wrought in advance according to his
own words. His nation has entered
the struggle, actuated by an ideal
which is the only way to move men
and his people, sacrificing volun-
tarily vast sums of money and num-
oers OF lives, thrills with enthusiasm
at the mere thought that it does not
pursue a single material interest.
we are absolutely disinterested.
PRESIDENT Wilson was able to say.
we nave given clear proofs that
we nght only for greater liberty.
more more harmony and less selfshness
among the peoples. This is our ideal
and this ideal propose to Won. tb1s
Is pan-Americanism."
AS then the ideal-the sunrepoa
sociological factor-tends to unite n
will be strange If from this time for
ward men of heart in America do NOT
teel themselves drawn together II
this ideal Is pan-Americanism. we
are all pan-Americans."
II is interesting to watch some or
the newspaper reports on the German
peace matter.
Albert Fox, for instance, was de-
termined at the outset to point TO the
move beginning recently as a peace
oHensiye which was both insincere and
tricky. He insisted. day after day.
lhat TINS was all there was to it He
would not permit the thought to en-
ter that the Presidents view of the
situation warranted his doing lust
what he did.
But now Albert is gradually prepar-
ing his readers for a frank avow,I
that the peace effort of the Germans
was actually launched because the
Germans had to have peace, even at
the expense of what amounts to un-
conditional surrender.
Yes, Albert is reversing himself with
alacrtty-and it is well, because peace
dds fair to be here with a bump
one OF these days. and 1t would be
more than distressing 70 sea AIho.t