New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-13
A LESSON FROM MEXICO.
GOLD AND SILVER. ONCE ON PAR
THERE. NO LONGER INTER-
CHANGEARLE.
FREE COINAGE OF SILVER THE REAsoN-A SIM
liar RESULT SURE TO FOLLOW IN THIS
COUNTRY-ONLY THE BEST MONEY

CoUNTRY-ONLY THE BEST MONEY
GOOD ENOUGH.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In 1873 our greenbacks on the frontier OF
Texas worth only 50 TO 90 cents on the dollar
compared to Mexican silver and gold coin Twenty
Mexican silver dollars worth a so Mexican
gold piece American silver dollars were of less
value than Mexican silver dollars, and Mexican
workmen demanded their pay IN Mexican SILVER
dollars contracts usually specifying the KIND OF
money. A Mexican $50 gold coin was worth a lit
tie less than an American $50 gold coin, az the lat
ter was a little the heavier; whereas the Mexican
silver dollar is a little heavier than ours proving
that it was the quantity of metal and not the stamp
OF the Government that set the value In interna-
tional trade.
Gradually Mexican silver dollars deprecated In
value compared with our money and TO gold, ana
Mexican workmen demanded pay in American
money. as Mexican gold had practically gone out OF
circulation To-day a Mexican gold piece Is worth
as much in 1875. but the Mexican silver doilar
is worth but 30 cents in our money. To-day III
Mexico twenty Mexican silver dollars VIII not buy
a 500 Mexican sold coin. Their metallic money Is
not interchangeable at face value In their own
country and It will prove TO be the same in our
country II the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
Is adopted
Last year friend Of mine shipped a lot of beeves
TO the City Of Mexico. He was paid In silver lie
asked for gold as being more convenient 10 carry
They told II
exchange 1t at the bank In answer to his applica-
ton the bankers informed him that they would eX-
change it at about 81 of gold for 81 20 or silver Inc
same thing will happen in the city OF washington
as in the city of Mexico IL we open the minis TO free
silver.
Under the Mckinley tariff Western Texas was
PROSPEROUS country. State and railroad lands were
bringing good rentals. Livestock multiplied rapidly
and work was plentiful at good wages. But from
our United States Senators down to the cotton
patch ranter at the forks Of the creek the changes
were continually rung on the robber iarin ana inc
sheen raiser was beratcd and ridiculed from forum
and stump. During the canvass of ls92 pointed
out through the columns of THE San Antonio EN-
press" how free wool would not only ruin the sheep
man. but also how 1t would inJure the entire state
by having thousands of acres OF State lands rem
dered non-productive. cutting off large revenues o
rectly and indirectly largely rcducihg the Eoi VI
business lcssening immensely the taxable values so
that il would be necessary 10 Increase me TAX ratc
farmers Of Central and Northern Texas. Inc pre-
dction proved correct The rate OF taxation WIS WIZ
raised The reports OF the Land Commissioner ana
Of the Controller show tremendous decrease III
revenues from state lands and in tax rolls OF Mcst-
crn Texas: and the farmers mainly have 10 make
good the defcit Give Texas the benefit of healthy
tariff law and questions OF finance VIII NOT Win ,i
products OF low-wagc countries and the state ramos
r,oui5 again soon be leased, the unproductiye
ranee would be turned into sheep and cattle
ranches saw mills would be run 10 t nelL iu1l
factories would be built and farmers would nave d
good home market. a.,
The crv about the scarcity of money Is unfounded
The san Antonio banks have thousands upon thou-
sands OF dollars lying idle on deposit but noo2Hy
wants TO lend under present uncertainties. len
Years ago stockmen had no difficulty in borrowing
s. OoO $40 900 $1,000 in San Antonio we wei
friff Congress be elected and In sixty days there
would be a change to prosperity; western leSas'
ssDecialv il well aware Of this. but blind adher-
encc 10 party will cause thousands as heretofore 10
vote against their best interests TWO years ago. a
'tropr nar,v here was out and out for free trade
Now "incidentaW protection is the prevailing cry,
eouncd with silver free coinage. Let us nope mat
nv election time n majority will be in favor OF the
bSet money known 10 the world and of tariff that
VIII guarantee American wages 20 AmeTE3p woIN
men. - 400, - % DiN)D'''-'-'
Del Rio Tex. July a. 1895