Evening star., 1932-12-11

80 ~ stead OF bullets Is Wnat tne
II Latin American press calls
4 4 the latest presidential elec-
ton in the United States.
"Complete returns" from important
Latin American newspapers have just
arrived in washington. These show
that the chief comment of editorialists
south of the Rio Grande has been di-
rected to emphasize the difference IN
the methods employed by Saxon and
Latin Americans to accomplish change
of government, They point out the ad-
vantages of the North American way
of overthrowing an unpopular regime,
as compared with the Latin American
system of military revolts.
The election of November has
really served better than whole course
IN political science to lay stress on the
different methods preferred by North
erners and Southerrers of the New
World to settle their own political
strifes. 1t has particularly been so,
because. generally speaking, it may be
said that similar causes were at the
bottom of this peaceful defeat Of the
administration in the United States
and of the recent violent changes OF
government in the Latin American
countries.
Opposite Roads Followed.
Causes originating in the worldwide
economic depression and resulting in
an overwhelming sentiment Of public
discomfort. both here and in Latin
America, accomplished the same end:
The reputation of the party in power.
Yet, to reach that end, opposite roads
were followed by the subjects Of Uncle
Sam and the Americans Of Latin an
cestry; these went to the barracks, the
former to the polls.
OF course, the fact should not be
overlooked that political passions run
higher, much higher and faster. in the
Southern Continent; that the business
of politics is not considered here all
important, nor does 1t affect the posi-
tion and welfare of the dominant group
of the population, as 1t does down
there; that restricted individual lib
critics and government oppression-un-
known to the citizen of this country
increase manifold the plight Of the op-
position factions in Latin America.
But that is just why the Latin Amer
1cans are different from their cousins
on this side of the Rio Grande. And
that is why they do go about differently
to adjust their political problems.
The chief difference, however-which
Is the result, the sum total of all those
minor differences above mentioned-lies
In the mood in which inhabitants of
these two regions of the world look at
politics and in the system and facilities
which are at their disposal to express
their political aspirations.
Democratic Progress"
That mood and that system can be
defined in terms of what we have come
to call democratic progress" Thus We
may say that any differences in their
political behavior are explained by the
varying degree of democratic maturity
which Saxon and Latin Americans have
attained
do not mean any disrespect for the
Latin American method. On the con-
trary, only wish to stress a difference
in the elements which make up that
method and the one prevalent in this
country If political students would
constantly bear in mind this differ
ence-the Latin psychology and the lack
of facilities which Latin Americans find
to orderly change in governmental poll
cieS-they would be less harsh in pass
ing judgment upon the Latin American
method And they would be much abler
to understand the violent, dramatic
changes characteristic Of Latin Ameri-
can internal politics.
lldl 1Ol Vic A1lOCA AoA NOAlcA0S a
tions involved Now for the external or
international significance of the latest
presidential contest in the United
States, a canvass of Latin American
opinion, as expressed by newspaper edi-
torials, reveals enthusiastic approval Of
its outcome.
The election of Franklin D. Roosevelt
has been received cheerfully by Latin
Americans Their most influential
newspapers hope that the new deal
will be extended to the field Of interna-
tional relations, and that the Latin
American policies of the new admins
tration will, therefore, be more liberal
and equalitarian.
They forget, of course, to mention
that the new deal" as far as inter-
American relations are concerned, really
began four years ago, with the Hoover
Stimson policy of non-intervention and
greater respect for the sovereignty OF all
the American republics.
The Outstanding Features.
haverepeatedly commented upon the
outstanding features of that policy-the
Et!mson announcement refusing to send
Marines to the interior of Nicaragua
for the protection of United States citi-
zens and property already protected by
the local authorities; the reversion to