The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-01

going by rail from the city to Vera Cruz
a splendid view is had Of the three giant,
snow-mantled mountains of this cOnti-
nent, Popocatepetl, Ixtaccihuatl ana
Orizaba, also the temple Of Cholula. the
most ancient work north of Central
America. The splendor of the mornings,
especially during the rainy season, are
grand beyond description. Nearly every
day from the LIST of June until the lst
of October there is a shower. hut it
seldom rains until o'clock in the after
noon. No wind precedeS the rain. The
clouds come up without even rufiling
the foliage on the trees. The rain is
always heavy and falls in a manner
that makes the sky seemingly laugh at
the way II pours down the water. After
the shower the effulgence Of the sun and
the clearness of the atmosphere render
the close of the day delightful in the
extreme"
What can you tell me regarding
trade and commerce in Mexico"
Mexico has several times manifested
a desire to establish reciprocal trade re-
lations, but instead of meeting her in
the same liberal spirit, we have, so TO
speak. slammed the door Of trade into
her face, by the enactment of prohibit
/. tory tariffs and by boasting that the
true commercial interests Of tie United
States required that she should be
fenced in, thereby being made CONNER
cially independent of the whole world.
Mexico is now taking advantage or our
selfish policy by granting liberal con-
cessiOns to capital employed in the es-
tablishment Of her new Industries.
Under these concessions American capital
is going into Mexico. Manufacturing
concerns, huge smelters and many ether
BUSINESS enterprises have thus been ill.,
augurated by American capital. 1t must
not be expected that Mexico viii take
the initiative in soliciting reciprocal
United States. Besides, at this time,
Mexico, having the silver standard, is
suffering in her commerce, and is en-
barrassed by the sudden and great de-
precautions Of the price Of silver. Mr..
Limantour, the able secretary Of the
treasury, remarked to me "A few days
ago that the great decline in the price
of silver had so unsettled trade that il
was difficult to know Just what 20 do
in relation to the tariff, and thought
little could be done until the silver cues
ton was settled. The United States be-
ing contiguous territory and having the
advantage of direct railway communi-
! cation could with proper reciprocal
trade relations command nearly the
entire trade of Mexico"
What is your opinion regarding the
monetary problem in this country"
II have been anxious that this dispute
should be settled and settled promptly
one way or the other. 1 doubt If this
government could maintain the free
coinage Of silver, even we-e the attempt
| made. I have never, from its inCepiency,
favored the Sherman law, and argued
against the measure in my public
speeches. l cannot look upon il os any,
thing else than unwise to purchase A.
| 500 900 ounces Of silver. each month in
order that market may be supplied to
a few owners Of silver mines It
amounted to piling silver bullion into
| the treasury vaults, while 1t was steadily
depreciating in value, until the natural
results would be equivalent 10 boarding
up pig lead or so much cord wood The
carrying out Of this policy would surely
end in bringing the United States into
| a financial condition identical with that
existing at this time in the Mexican le-
public. I have all along believed that
4, the most Statutory thing to do would be
| to repeal the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act. When this is accomplished
! there will be no obstacle in the way
! of doing something for silver. There
| can be no doubt that both gold and sill
yer should be maintained as our natioral
/ currency"