The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1894-09-13
TRADE FOR MEXICO
Plans for Increasing 1t Ex-
tensively.
ADVANTAGES OF A SILVER BASIS
The Completion OF the National Te-
hauntepec Railway Places Our
Southern NeIghbOr i'm Posi-
tiOn to Compete With Eng
land and Also Germany.

In recent issue of the Mexican
Financier, the leading fiscal journal of
Mexico, there was very significant and,
it might be said, startling editorial
article, entitled, "a Wider Trade for
Mexico" That is to say, it might we'll
be startling if read and understood in
financial circles in England. Those who
are familiar with the current discussion
in the United States of the money ques-
tlon as affecting trade and monetary
relations with the silver standard coun-
tries, will find confirmation in the
article in the Financier of opinions ex-
pressed by number of writer's in this
country and by such far.seeing public
men as Senator Cameron and ex-Speaker
Reed.
| The Financler says that the completion
of the national Tehuantepec railway has
opened up brilliant prospects for the ex-
tension of Mexican commerce to the
Orient and also to the west coast of
South America. where England and Ger
many have heretofore held a monopoly
of trade, Chill heing especially mer-
camille province ofthe English. Mexican
manufacturers are beginning to ask why
they cannot send their cotton textiles.
their paper, ETC., to Asia and South
America. Certainly Mexico, on silver
basis, is in as good a position as Japan
to invade markets hitherto monopolized
by Europe. Though nominally bi-me-
tallic, Japan is silver mono metallic in
practice and Is able, as has been abun-
dantly proved Of late, to compete with
England and all Europe on the coasts of
Asia Recent British consular reports
attest the activity of Japanese manufac-
turers and lament the loss of English
trade by reason Of this unforseen COM
petion. a
The obstlnacy Of Europe, says the
Financier, in adhering to gold offers
tempting opportunities to the silver using
nations to invade Oriental aud Latin
American markets with their wares. The
silver standard in those countries which
adhere to the white metal still fixes
prices of products, and Mexico should
have no difficulty IN pushing her COM
merce.
Europe, by refusing to aid in the re-
hablltation of silver" continues the
Financier, "has forced Mexico to form
for itself a new policy-that OF Industrial
development and the expansion of It's
trade to the utmost. Japan has pioneered
the way in ASIA with characteristic
activity and energy. In the United
States the leaders OF the republican
party have announced aretaliatory policy
against Europe, policy Of diferential
tariffs against gold mono-metallic nations
and freer trade with silver using coun-
tries. These are all signs of the times,
indications of the MISREPRESENTATION,
of course--of the worlds trade"
These considerations are of the most
serious concern not only to the foreign
commerce Of England, but to that Of the
United States. Though this country
makes a pretense Of adhering to bi-metal-
lism, it is in fact as much on gold
basis as is England or Germany. So
long as we continue to ally ourselves
with the gold standard policy which
England is seeking to force upon the
world our trade is bound to suffer in the
same way. Whereas, should the United
States at once return to practical BIZ
metallism, that is to say, restore the free
and indiscnminate coinage of gold and
silver, and then enter into commercial
and industrial alliance with the great
silver using countries, such as Mexico,
Japan and some OF the South American
nations-were this done the United
States would lead in the most wonderful
commercial and Industrial revival of
modern times.
| But the article in the Financier, from
which we have quoted, contains another
significant and, as already suggested,
startling assertion. The monetary policy
Of Europe, says the Flnancier and there
can be little donbt that the paper ex-
presses the views of the Mexican govern
ment-has compelled Mexican statesmen
to take a bold stand in behalf of the
financial and industrial independence of
the country. The European creditors OF
Mexico have continued to demand gold
for their interest without abatement.
Hitherto that demand has been met, but,
as silver now rules, "the problem of the
continued payment of the full rate be-
comes more and more problematical."
But Mexico will not allow herself to be
reduced to commercial vassalage. The
struggle that has just begun is not one