Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-10-18
THE TRUTH ABOUT MEXICO.
TFrom The Atlanta Constitution.I

From the Atlanta Constitutions.
Professor j. NJ. Herman of Salisbury.
y. c.. who married the well known
southern novelist, Christian Ried, is "A
man of extensive information, and his
large gold mining interests in Mexico
have caused him to make close study
of the conditions now existing in that
country.
The professor has resided in Mexico
for the past six years, and from Il selfish
point of view his interests should cause
him to ally himself with the goldbugs,
but he frankly declares that the MeXi-
cans are enjoying the greatest prosperity
under the free and unlimited coinage of
silver.
In "A recent interview in the Raleigh
News and Observer Professor Herman
says that the low wages of Mexico can
no more be attributed to the silver
standard than to the color of the peo-
pies eyes or the shape of their noses.
Low wages in that country are the re-
suit vi tllt III IdHu ny ltN
rich men. As there are no small far
mers, agricultural laborers on vast es-
tates have to work for very low wages,
because they are completely in the
power of the landowners. The pur-
chasing power of their wages is small
only in regard to certain commodities
Manufactured and imported goods are
high because oppressive duties are laid
upon them.
During the past three years of depres
sion in the United States Mexico has
had no panic, no stringency, no closing
industries, but on the contrary her
great product, silver, has stood her
friend, and the war waged upon that
metal by Great Britain and our govern
ment has increased the prosperity of the
MeXicans and raised their wages. The
professor says
Not only has Mexican capital been in
vested aS never before in manufactures
of all kinds but millions of American
and European money have lately sought
investment there, in the erection of ma
chinery for the reduction of ores, which
were formerly shipped over the border
to the great smelteIs of the United
States. Money is also being invested in
cotton and wOOllen mills. shoe. rope.
knitting and other factories. which will
supply thousands with labor. paid for in
the good silver dollar. mined and coined
in the country, the purchasing power of
which has not diminished, but being
always the same throughout the republic
gives an impetus to trade and stimulates
the energies of the people by perfect
confidence, a. they have no fear of any
tluctuatiOn in its value As far "a the COM
mOdities of the country are concerned.
1t is difficult 10 estimate the service
rendered to Mexico by the efforts to de-
monetize silver in the United States,
since the development of her resources
and the increase of manufactures within
her borders are rendering her independ-
ent of the impOrtations from the outside
world, on which she has heretofore re-
lied. Still more difficult Is it to estimate
how much of her trade has been i'm con-
sequence lost to the United States-a
trade just beginning to grow into large
proportions-but this loss Is only one
result of the fight against silver waged
power, which, after having controlled
for many wears the financial policy of
the Republican party, now strives
through the efforts of traitors in high
places to bring under its control The
great Democratic party, the friend of the
people, TO which they owe every right
they have preserved, and which, it is to
be hoped, will not be led by recreants to
desert them in this battle.
In regard to the frequently published
statement that one dollar of our money
can be exchanged for two dollars of
Mexican money he says:
Yet in the ordinary transactions of the
Mexican people there has been no dis
turbance in values, and the silver dollar
will buy as much labor on the one hand
or as much food or house rent or common
clothing on the other hand. as it ever
would. 1t is obvious that this condition
of things, however, could not be favor
able TO the Importation OF foreign goods
inasmuch as the Mexican silver dollar.
when applied to the purchase of COM
modities in gold standard countries, has
lost almost or quite half of its purchas-
ing power. Consequently the monetary
situation has acted as protection and
stimulus to Mexican home industry, and