Argentina Part 22

But it is not extinct, and political theory is certainly better than political practice, and the people themselves are keen and shrewd critics of their system of government. As they gain more political experience and better a.s.similate their immigrants, they will force reform after reform upon the office-holders. In one respect they have followed Spain too closely. Madrid usurped the rights of the local governments in Spain, Buenos Aires has done the same. As far as political power goes, the preponderance of the Argentine capital is inevitable and probably beneficent, for the various Provinces are small, weak, and thinly populated; they need a strong and intelligent head. But it is unfortunate that the various provincial centres should be neglected, and that Buenos Aires should be the Mecca of every Argentine.

The course of trade is tending somewhat towards decentralisation, and Rosario and Bahia Blanca are growing perhaps as rapidly as Buenos Aires.

But it would be well if the many picturesque old Spanish towns in remote districts became, instead of seats of somewhat unimportant governments, real centres of light and leading. There is somewhat of a tendency to regard them as mere places of business at which a man must work until he has time or money to spend in the capital.

Another Spanish tradition which Argentina has received is that of religion. This, it may be feared, has been dulled among the intellectual cla.s.ses, but the numerous, large, and well-kept churches, well attended by reverent wors.h.i.+ppers, show that the tradition is not forgotten. In course of time, when the glamour of new wealth is less powerful, the people of Argentina will turn in increasing numbers for teaching from the few who are now keeping alive the intellectual and spiritual life.

It is certain that Argentines are essentially teachable. They welcome foreigners and travel to seats of civilisation to educate their children and to learn new ideas. They are extremely sensitive to foreign opinion, and newspapers constantly argue against this or that course by urging that it would give other nations an unfavourable impression of Argentina. In this they are aided by their Government.

It has been necessary to say some hard things about it, but this may be said as a set-off--that the Government, on its bureaucratic side at least, represents the considered intellect of the nation and is intelligent and indefatigable in encouraging the best methods in commerce and industry, in beautifying the cities and raising splendid edifices to serve as homes for useful inst.i.tutions. It has many methods and many enterprises which England might imitate with advantage. Working in a new country, while lacking in traditions to guide it, the Government has, on the other hand, the less rubbish to impede its progress and can make s.p.a.cious plans.

England has had a long and close connection with Argentina, and each is deeply interested in the other's prosperity. The country may become as great a political force in the world as she is now an industrial, and England, the peace-preserving nation, will then have a redoubled interest, for Argentina has showed herself above all Latin-American nations ever resolute to maintain peace and submit all reasonable claims to arbitration, and while not abusing her superior strength, she sets an example to other nations of firmness, dignity, and good faith in foreign politics. Her increase, then, in power and population, will be for the good of South America and for the good of the world.

Although within the limits of a single volume it is impossible to make an adequate presentation of a country so vast and varied as Argentina, an attempt has been made to view this wonderful land and people as a whole, and it is hoped that this sketch, though inadequate, may be judged not untrustworthy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Much information is to be found in small publications too numerous to be specified. Many are issued by the Oficina Meterologica Argentina at Buenos Aires and by other Government Departments, and a large number of pamphlets, newspapers, and periodicals, both current and extinct, may be consulted with advantage. This list aims at giving a catalogue of useful books dealing with the history of Argentina and the country in general.

HISTORICAL.

Akers, C. E. A History of South America (1854-1904). London, 1904.

Angelis, Pedro de. Coleccion de Obras y Doc.u.mentos. 3 vols. Buenos Aires, 1900.

Anonymous--

An account of the Spanish Settlements in South America. London, 1904.

The Argentine Republic, by a Friend of Free Government. London, 1865.

An Authentic Narrative of the ... Expedition ... of ... Gen.

Craufurd. London, 1808.

Les Dissensions des Republiques de La Plata. Paris, 1865.

La Doctrina Drago. London, 1908.

Emanc.i.p.ation of South America. _Edinburgh Review_, January, 1809.

The History of Don Francisco Miranda's Attempt, &c. Boston, 1810.

The Missiones Award. Was.h.i.+ngton, 1895.

Report ... upon the Differences ... with regard to the Frontier between the Argentine and Chilian Republics. 2 vols. London, 1900.

Arcos, S. La Plata. etude Historique. Paris, 1865.

Blanchard and Ramsay. The Trial at Large of Lieut-Gen. Whitelocke.

London, 1808.

Blanco White, J. El Espanol. 8 vols. London, 1810-14.

Bonnycastle, R. H. Spanish America. London, 1818.

Brackenridge, H. M. Voyage to South America. 2 vols. Baltimore, 1819.

Brossard, Alfred de. Considerations sur les Republiques de la Plata.

Paris, 1850.

Calvo, C. Coleccion Completa de los Tratados de la America Latina. 16 vols. Paris, 1862-7.

Cole. J. W. Memoirs of British Generals. 2 vols. London, 1856.

Dawson, T. C. The South American Republics. 2 vols. London, 1893.

Deberle, Alfred. Histoire de l'Amerique du Sud. Paris, 1897.

Dominguez, Luis, L. Historia Argentina. Buenos Aires, 1870.

Echeverria, Estevan. Insurreccion del Sud. Buenos Aires, 1854.

Estrado, J. M. La Politica Liberal bajo la Tirannia de Rosas. Buenos Aires, 1873.

Funes, G. Ensayo de la Historia Civil del Paraguay, Buenos Aires, y Tuc.u.man. 3 vols. Buenos Aires, 1816-17.

Hernandez, Jose. El Gaucho Martin Fierro. Buenos Aires, 1874.

Herrera, Antonio de. History of America, Vol. VI. Translated by Captain John Stevens. London, 1726.

Herrera, Antonio de. M. Purchas, His Pilgrimage by Samuel Purchas, B.D., Vol. XIV. Glasgow, 1906.

Kennedy, C. The Drago Doctrine. _North American Review_, New York, July 31, 1907.

King, Colonel J. A. Twenty-four Years in the Argentine Republic.

London, 1846.

Kirkpatrick, F. A. The Spanish Dominions in America. The Establishment of Independence in Spanish America. The Cambridge Modern History, Vol.

X., Chaps. VIII. and IX.

Lopez, V. F. Manual de la Historia Argentina. Buenos Aires, 1907.