SOUTH AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 3556, 16 July 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOUTH AMERICA.

{From the American Register.)

The President of the United States, in his recent annual message, recommended to Congress the exploration of the valley of the branch of the Madeira, which is drained bv the main branch of the River A mazon. 'I his suggestion forcibly calls our attention to the South American half of the western continent. The result of our researches gives us reliable information, which may well surprise our readers. It is only half a century since the Spanish A merican Colonies and the Empire of Brazil shook themselves free from European domination—the former from the crown of Spain, the latte** from that of Portugal. '1 he independence of Brazil cost no blood ; {that of Spanish America was purchased with enough to fertilize a continent. So enslaving vjas the rule of Spain, that only since 1825 can it be said that the education of the people has truly commenced. Solely in the present century have the greater part of the restrictions to external and internal intercourse been removed. It is with marked pleasure that we regard the progress of South America since its independence, forwe are not disinterested spectators. Our own country, the United 'tabes, has made gigantic strides during the same period, but with advantages which have been shared, only >u a minor do* gree, by tha people of whom we treat. These now fairly fo ce themselves in o notice, and demand a greater respect and esteem from us than they have heretofore reoeived.

Before drawing particular attention in another article to the district recommended by President Grant to the United States Congress, we will glance at the commerce of s outh America. Its 25,000,000 of people give an annual trade of 600,000,000 of dollars in imports aud exports, or over twenty dollara per inhabitant. 't his is nearly nine per cent, larger than the total foreign trade of the Indian Empire of Great Britain, which contains a population of 190.277.000. and in 1872 gave to the world only 471,500,000 dollars of exports and imports, or less than two and-a half dellars per head. I'he Argentine Republic alone shows nearly double the amount of foreign trade per inhabitant as compared with the United States, These are astounding facts, that should set the political world thinking. It was in 1853 that the United States caused attention to be attracted to the valley of the Rio de la Plata by a costly exploring expedition. the first great impulse thus given to that region, the foreign commerce and internal advancement of that country have been rapid, 'i'he former was, in 1853, about 25,000,000 of dollara. At the present date it exceeds 100.000. dollars, or, in other words, it has quadrupled in twenty years, and all this with a present papulation of only 1.750.000. The riverine traffic of the Argentine Republic is now 748,800 tons per annum, while the foreign commerce reaches the immense figure of 2,151,650 tons, the latter being over one ton per inhabitant of the Republic. There are few countries of Europe which can even approximate t.hi« amount of foreign trade per annum. The Hepublic of Ghili, a model of economic government, is no less prosperous than its Argentine neighbor. Uruguay (Montevideo) is entering upon the same race, while the Empire of Brazil presents a career of unwavering improvement, which is the just product of the liberal administration of its almost republican laws. The remainder of the States of South America have not so rapidly swung into the orbit of internal and external progress as the countries we have named. Moat of them have been torn by almost ceaseless revolutions in their efforts to shake off the evils they have inherited from Spain. Some of them, such as Bolivia and Paraguay, have suffered severely from their inability to communicate directly with the commercial world; and most of them, in their first attempts te establish foreign credit, have fallen into the

banrls of certain London bankers and loo.ii c mtractora, tlia-i which no greater misforu e con'd befall them. these b inkers, under the protective se .is of Kriidi hj law, have bled tln ir victims in commission, interes*. sinking-fund, exchanges, and contracts to the careful p iut of leaving them just enough national existence to a low th~ hanker to es-ape by accusing the State of repudiation. Some of these affairs dignified as “banking operations” would make a very interesting chapter. Certain bankers that. we could name could write understanding! j' upon this point. The little Central American state of Costa Rica would furnish a rich subject ; also the contract ame played with Britain, the enormity of which not even the English market could stand. Peru, previous to the present contract with Dreyfus and Co., actually paid in London 6 per cent, per annum for the use of some of its own money through the manipulation of guano consignments. The origin of the scandalous Paraguayan loans, which have buried Paraguay beyond resuscitation, was the plan of ,a few English merchants to obtain payment for a steamer and some supplies furnished to the government of Francisco Solano Lopez. The scheme was successful, and the English country clergy and their innoceut flocks transferred their earnings to the banks of London to invest in Paraguayan bonds. New Granada still suffers (ram the effects of a loan, generously negotiated for her in London, in the name of liberty aud for her war of independence. She received in payment remittances of rusty old Tower muskets, and one ca go of bru hes and beot-blacking to polish the naked feet of the patriot army. Ihe London market now, with nnctious rectitude, raises its moral voice against New Grenada for repudiation of its obligations to pay interest and sinking fund on those brushes and the blacking. We might treat of Venezuela aud Ecuador in the same tone.

It is thus shown why a portion of South America—owing to political, geographical, and financial reasons—finds itself somewhat behind the States, to whose progress wo have called more especial attention. It is, however, the richest part of the Western Continent. It »nly requires the earnest and honest eff. rts of Kuropeans and Americans to make it contribute to the commerce of the world to an extent which will give the South American States great prominence and immense power, financially and commercially. South America has only its ocean belt in process of development. Its vast heart is as yet unpenetrated. If it already gives 500,000,000 dollars per annum of exports and imports, what may we not expect in the future, when Europe, ceasing to plunder its people, honestly labors for and shares in their progress ?