Evening star., 1923-11-05

FOrmer secretary OF state El1nu
Root received a Nobel peace prize. be-
cause. while on tour Of South Ameri-
ca, he was able to establish a clearer
understanding regarding the Monroe
doctrine, and a better feeling of the
Latin Americans toward the United
States That better feeling happily per-
sists amongst the leaders. except that
in each nation there is one party cling
ing to the old prejudice or dread of the
giant Of the north" 1t is evident that
Mr.. Root did not succeed in wholly
quenching the fires Of the prejudice, or
neutralizing the misinformation.
1t is not incomprehensible why this
country has been misinterpreted in
Latin America The same lack Of
knowledge Of South and Central Ameri-
ca. and even Of our next neighbour Mex
leo, pervades the American public.
About a year ago, Senior Jose Vas
concelos, minister of public education
of Mexico, delivered in this country a
lecture in which he outlined the meas
ures taken under the Obregon
uplift to the ma asses-a story most in
teresting in the light Of Mexico's former
opposition to educating the poems. Not
only did that lecture picture what is
being done educationally, but it ex-
general enlightenment OF Mexico's pres
ent aims for uplift Of the masses.
X X X X
Illiteracy had been almost universal
amongst the poems. for although even
under President Diaz there was "com-
pulsory education" enjoined on every
hacienda, requiring the maintenance Of
schools for the education Of the children
of the poems, it was largely a mockery,
most often evaded or maintained in
efficiently, with irregular attendance.
The courses ran only two years. with
an hour or two a day. The teaching
was crude and Inadequate.
~ 4 4
In those days, the. states controlled
these elementary schools. and the fed
eral government the colleges and tech
nical institutions. The whole system is
now under the federal administration.
The teachers are normal school grad
yates, and whenever needed are sent
out by the minister~of education to the
uttermost parts Of the country. without
calls from local authorities. They are
government missionaries of instruc-
ton" There is no distinction between
the children of poems, the middle class
or Indians all are taught alike, SO as
to break down class distinctions. The
great haciendas have been broken into
poems. Liberty has come to the masses.
Within the last year, $4,000 ilifterate
adults have been taught to read and
write, and the work of teaching such
adults Is growing.
+ \ \ \
But even in the light Of the bright
commercial prospects, it IL important
to recognize tho handicaps to their
fulfillment. Even Senior vasconceles.
in his lecture to an American audi
ence, appealed to race sentiment
of all Latin Americans. as vital--ex-
cluding Americans and Canadians. He
said:
"Nfexico is only one Of q group of
nations OF the same blood and
tongue: a vast continent that sooner
or. later must come together. I be-
Have that race sentiment is even
mora important than patriotism. Ma
tfonal patriotism very often derives
from political or geographical condi-
t,ons that are artificial, or simply ma
terial in character. Race sentiment
sprines from differences in spiritual
character.
IT imagine q very near future in
EyRhich nHtiopAlftiaa will merge In
large race fkslerations. The world will
fhan be diyIaid into four or Ave great