San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-01
A FOREIGN VIEWPOINT

81 A very noted gentleman associated
with enc Of the great universities OF
Europe has written treatise on the
United States in which he purports to
see in us, a replica of the once powerful
Roman empire and he forecasts that
we will take in modern history, place
similar to that occupied by Rome at one
time in the worlds history.
J 1t is appalling to the average Ameri-
can when occasionally, he gets a glin-
mer of the opinions held by Europeans
about this country and Our people To
compare America with the Roman en-
pire, built upon the conquest of armies,
is nothing short of silly. Nor does this
nation contain within it, those elements
that led to the destruction of the Romans
and the end of their dominance.
Europeans almost invariably set out
to judge America by their own STAN
cards despite the fact that we have
nothing in common, not one, single,
identifying type. If America dominates
the world today, which she does. it is
not because of any desire on the part
of this country to do so nor of any
well laid scheme. Perhaps it is destiny
Reduced to a practical analysis, it is
the decaying Of other nations that has
Drought America into this role more
than any other one thing.
This means no disparity to our initia-
tiye, pluck and resourcefulness. Our
material wealth is conceded. But this
wealth did not grow of its own accord.
. We produced it by complex and highly
keyed industrial system at a time when
the world at large was devoting its best
talents to scheming how to steal the
I industries of neighboring lands.
America, in the fellowship of nations,
! might well be compared to a laughing,
light-hearted boy, full OF virilitv, con-
sscious Of growth and strength and en-
durance, afraid of nothing. unsullied by
, suspicious and hatreds, fighting when
. necessary but always ready to forgive
and forget, irresponsible. irresistible and
unconsciously dominant in any company.
The Romans developed a set of men
who gave deep thought to the State"
! as they were wont to call it. They
sfhemed and plotted to add to the
wealth and the prosperity and power of
i their country always at the expense of
Others less able to make war.
& America has none of that. We are
/ conquering other lands it is true. by our
superiority of production, Our industry
at home, Our initiative and Our ingenuity.
4 And as for conquest by military means.
It is given never a thought That we
are taking much of the trade of the
world is due largely too, to the fact that
our nearest competitors are driving trade
from their doors by the burdens they
are placing upon their own backs. Their
age-old hatreds and feuds. their gigantic
military establishments, their navies and
Qualifications, their cruel diplomacies,
their deceits and chickering's all serve. to
hobble their industrial and commercial
eNpansion.
/. Into this field, the American salesman
goes unhampered by traditions and Gus
toms. Direct, capable, effective sales
Inanship more than makes up for the
inexperience in the language, customs
and ways of other lands. Crude his
methods may be. smashing a thousand
ancient and moss-grown conventions but
with competition Z: ic@ ehb, world of