Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1920-01-07
SOUTH OF The EQUATOR.
Interesting Article on Argentina by Rev.
F.J. Fowler, Baptist Missionary

Fowler, v no has spent fifteen year
as Baptist missionary in Argentina
we are able to give very interesting
article touching the customs of tina
growing country. Rev. Fowler Il
now home on a vacation that lasts TO-
year, as leave of year is granted
every seven years. he has klndl!
agreed to furnish US series of articles
on Argentina and we feel sure Chroni
Gle readers will find them very enter
tanning and instructive. This is tht
first article, which will be followed BY
others:
The name signifies money. Argen
tina is the OLD Latin word for silver
Even the great river Platte (silver)
carries tae same signlficatioD. 1t in
deed can be called a silver country
1t is rightly called land of plenty
Plenty of land, plenty of wheat,
plenty of corn, plenty of COWS and
horses, plenty of nay, and teed stuff,
plenty of style and modes, plenty of
automobiles and street cars, plenty OF
lakes and rivers, plenty OF nillionaires.
Buenos Aires mas more millionaires
than any city in the world according to
its size.
We speak Of Buenos Aires some
times as if 1t were the whole of Argen-
tina. 1t has so great an influence over
the rest OF the Republic that it be-
comes a hinorance to the rest OF the
country. Every thing worth while
must come or be done in Buenos Aires.
We have cosmopolitan population.
The native element predomnates. The
earliest settlers we're Spalnards, who
left their girls behind them. They
married India girls. Today we have
;he Creole or 1.-The true Argentine.
Through the centuries he has worked
on bis hide until it locks nearly as
white as ours. The Creole is the best
man to deal with. He would be true
American if he had chance. 1t is
among those that we try to plant the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ The Creole is
the ruling class.
During the first Century the Argen-
tine suffered from petty wars between
European nations. Each nation trying
to conquer the other and IN turn trying
to subdue the Indian for commercial
ends. In the course of time old Spain
got the asendency. She ruled with an
iron hand. One day there arose on the
scene a George Washington. San Mar
tin led the revolutionary forces to
final success in the Argentine, Peru,
and Chile, against Old Spain. Once
again they tell back into petty wars
among tnemseles. Mexico had Diaz
while Argentine had many. Soon
Buepos Aires got the ascendency.
Thus it was made easy to transfer from
Provencial life to federation. The
Argentine today has the most staple
government of all the South American
Republics.
Democracy is naturally slow in de-
veloping because Of the Autocrat rell-
gion that predominates the country. |
Poll ically there religion IS a hindrance
to self development. We have enough |
democracy in our religion to aid a DEM
ocratic government. The strongest
ally our govern ent has in America is
he religion OF t g country.
Schools in the Argentine are divided
INTO many clas IS; the University,
College, national and provincial col
ege. and normal The University IN
3uenos Airs mas this year eight
thousand stu ents. Private schools
ire encour by the government.
The missionary gets in his schools on
his plan. he government gives
financial slppor' to private schools.
Some of tie missions accept the gov
rnment money. Baptist missions do
lot accept government aid. In many
# the provinces private schools are
Ma y of the Foreign So
ieties have private schools.
The established religion of the coun
ry receives millions each year. The
established order things is RESPONSE
lie for the ILL eraeY of the people. A
ttel over one half can read and write.
Sarmiento was the first educational
eformer. He was ambassador to our
ountry from the Argentine for several
ears. He returned to the Argentine