The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-04-24
DEBTS or NATIONS.

! u IL
1ndiaI silyer'..,......' ,..,.........,...,., u
SpaInI rs %
MeElcO5 silver u
turkey gold. ,'........,--...... 81 y
Russia, silver, 80 IS
In the foregoing table the United
States has been placed as on the gold
standard which is practically true, but
at the Same time by the Bland and Sher-
man laws there has been, since 1873, a
considerable amount of silver coined,
which is legal tender. England estab-
lished the gold standard in 1916, and
Canada, being a province of that cOun-
try, is sGbject to the same financial
laws. The policy of the United States
prior to 1873 was bimetallism.
The above showing is certainly re-
maFkable. There may arise causes to
put silver country in debt, as in the
case of Peru in it's war with Chilli, Peru
having a per capita Indebtedness Of
sl45.77; or Of France, having double
standard, and because of her war with
Prussia, having a per capita indebted
ness Of s116.35. But all things being
equal, the showing is decidedly in IA
yor Of silver using countries.
The next evidence to produce to show
the incorFeCtness of the gold standard
argument and the prosperity of the sill
yer using countries is to point to the
marvellous increase in the business Of
those very countries. The New York
Tribune, gold standard paper, in an
editorial recently, presented the follow
ing figures about Japan:
In 1888 Japan had only 52I steamers; : in 1894 the
number had been increased to LOT. Her foreign
trade has expanded il a marvellous manner. In
1874 it was only $42,5OOOOO. In 1894 it was $780,
10000, and for 1895 it is estimated to have been
$780, co., OO an increase of over $3.50 900 in less
than quarter Of a century.
Japan is coming into active competi-
ton with the United States in its home
market and is disputing with all manu-
featuring countries for supremacy in
the markets Of the world.
India, also silver using country, is
coming into sharp competition with the
United States in wheat and cotton,
the latter industry, especially, has Won
derfully developed since 1873. Cotton
spinning and weaving is a growing and
prosperous industry in that country.
The closing of the minis of India to the
coinage Of silver has to some extent in
jured the industry, but nOtWithstand-
ing this India is in fairly prosperous
condition.
Mexico is reaching out as never be-
fore and capital from both England
and the United States is being largely
attracted there by profitable invest
ment. Mills, FORCES and factories are
being built, and railroad enterprises Of
great magnitude are being pushed for
ward, largely by foreign capital. Now
capital does not seek large risks, bat is
cautious and conservative, and if the
silver standard is inimical to prosper
ity it would not go to Mexico.
Last summer the president of the
Mexican Central railway, formerly a
Sante Fe official, was in Topeka and
was interviewed on the condition of
Mexico, He reported that country en-
jOying unbOunded prosperity. The sill
yer standard acted as bar to foreign
importatiOns as importers could not af-
ford to pay the heavy exchange for
trade with gold standard countries. So
this condition has resulted in building
up home industries and the msnnfact-
ure of their own products. Cotton is
worth Ii cents per pound in Mexico
and wheat s1.40 per bushel. At the
same time railroad rates, passenger
and freight, are no higher than here.
An article in the Arena for Msrch and
April, 1886, written by Justice Walter
CLARK, Of North Carolina, brings out
many interesting facts about Mexico,
from which the following is taken:
In the state of Durango. cotton is largely
"a ised, One insignificant station alone ships
10000 bales of cotton annually, and the value OF
silver money has not been artifcially doubled
by legislation, as with us cotton brings its nor
nal price of 10 to "a cents per pound. The rail
road rates and passenger fares remain the same
as formerly, the farmer does not, as with Us,
have to pay double the amount in produce for
the transportation OF himself and freight and
for taxes, and consequently is very prosperous.
One more qoutation is given in which
he compares the price of cotton in Mex
leo and the United States and estimates
the loss TO the south at $200O0O,0O0 an
nually:
The same is true Of wheat aad corn Of the
west and all other crops. Corn and wheat bring
81 to si4G per bashel in Mexico In their currency
which has remsined in value unchanged by leg
islstion. The assertion about oFerproduetion
Is 8 myth. as the countless thousands Of half.
clothed and haii-ied people ia the United States
know only too well. The trouble is in the lsgis-
lative increase Of the value Of the dollar, made
in order that those who live By clipping coupons
irom government, state and other bonds aud o.
the government taxes. nay Be tFiss ss Fieh as
formerly without eay additional exsrti0n.