The German settlers in Southern Brazil maintain societies to defend
German rights, to preserve the use of German, and to promote friendship between Germany and Brazil. It is now proposed to establish similar societies in the Argentine Republic, and indeed throughout South America, and to admit to membership all the Germanic tribes except English- men and North Americans. It is carefully stated that the object of the societies is entirely non-political; but the pro- fessors who write upon colonies quote them as influences which may one day greatly facilitate the extension of German dominion. It is a little doubtful if their view is correct. That German settlers everywhere have a strong sentimental interest in the fortunes of the Fatherland is true, but that by no means proves that they wish to pass again under its dominion. Many of them even declare that they would view such a prospect with horror, and that nothing would induce them to submit to conscription or to the rule of the German bureaucracy from which they have escaped. The Emperor William was, it is said, surprised when his brother visited the United States to find how little influence he had with German settlers of the second generation. They were willing to pay him any honour, but they had, they said, accepted the Union as their country. It is quite certain that during the Civil War they died for it in thousands, and that the use of English is becoming gradually universal.
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