The Yale expositor., 1896-07-17

monetary system. In the discharge of
these duties | shall interview her most
prominent officials and citizens Of
every profession and faithfully report
their views and experience in transact
ing business upon silver standard;
not that our countrymen propose plac-
ing their government upon a silver
basis, but with the view to aiding them
to determine which is the better course
for the United States to pursue, viz:
continue on the gold standard as now,
or go hack to bimetallism, as it existed
from 1892 until 1873.
Claims of Gold Monometaiiists
The claim is made by the gold stand
ard advocates, that TO increase the use
of silver in our currency and open our
mints to it's coinage, would endancer
our financial standing and precipitate
o violent panic.
These favoring an increased use of
silver, claim the panic occurred when
the India mint was closed, and the
Sherman law repealed. thereby limit
ing the demand for silver, causing Il
scarcity of circulating medium, de-
pressing values, causing a stringenCY
in the money market that continually
grows more acute, and the end is not
yet. In gathering and transmitting
this information, l hope to throw such
light on the subject as will enable
large part of our fifteen million voters
to approach the polls in the fall cleo
tion more intelligently prepared to
cast their votes upon question of first
Importance to them. In addition to the
financial question, l shall take up the
tariff question as operated by the Mex
leans, and show how it effects our
trade-an export trade-to that repub-
lie. An important change in their
tariff laws went into effect July /, at
which time interstate tariff was dis
continued, which may facilitate eXpor-
tation from the United States. Presi-
dent Diaz and cabinet have long favored
this change of tariff laws, but it could
not he accomplished until their consti-
tuition was changed by majority vote
Of all the states. The repeal Of all in
terstate tariff laws will nccessitate
changing other laws. and will prove of
great benefit to the republic. AT pres
ent land lying outside of incorporated
cities pays no taxes. 1t is said no
taxes are paid by a foreign company
which owns fully two-fifths of the state
of Chihuahua, which is the largest
state in the republic. Returning to
the tariff question l learn our balance
of trade against Mexico was formerly
$4,000, 900 year: but it has been grad
Ually changed until during the year
1895 it was $13000000 against us.
Claims OF Silver Advocates.
The silver advocates claim this bal
ance was turned against us. through
the operation of exchange as wrought
by the depreciation of silver which en-
courages expectation from Mexico, and
discourages importation from all gold
standard nations. Upon my arrival at
Mexico City / shall have access to their
statistics after carefully investigating
the subject l will report further as we'll
as upon the statement that other ma
tions enjoy more favorable treaties
governing expectation than we. Be-
fore entering upon the study of these
economic questions, it may be profta-
bic to refresh cur history of Mexico,
and briefly study the conditions sur
rounding the republic
The settlement of Mexico greatly ar
tedates that of the United States, and.
Notwithstanding the fact that it joins
us for moro than 1000 miles
on our far southwestern border
and separated from us only
by an imaginary line great part
of that distance, the average American
knows less about Mexico, than many Of
the nations of Europe, from which we
arc separated for more than four thou
sand miles of sea and land. Mexico
is composed of twenty seven states, a
federal district and Lower California.
1t is about 1000 miles long north and
south, and 500 miles wide east and
west, with an area Of 72,G52 square
miles. which is moro than ten times
the area of the com bined New ENGLAND
States. She has over 5000 Of coast
line, and population of about 10000
0C0, or about one-Gfth as great as tho
United Staes. Her constitution was
copied largely from ours and adopted
in 1857.
Features of Mexico.
In her forests grow most of the hard
Gods so valuable for manufacturing
purposes, such as mahogany, rosewood,
ebony and oak. When the Monterey
and Gulf railroad was built, ebony was
used for crossties and mahogony for
bridge timbers until forbidden by the
government. Agriculture, horticul-
ture and live stock furnishes employ
ment to most Of her people. In most
parts of the republic artificial irriga-
tion is resorted to If good crops are
secured. The climate of Mexico may
be divided into three zones: The hot
lands of the coast (tierra calienta), the
temperate lands lying from 5000 to
5000 feet above the level of the sea
templada), and the cold lands which
are at an elevation exceeding 5000 feet
(tierra fria). In the hot lands the ex-
treme heat is 100 degrees Fahrenheit
(the same as registered at Ell Paso for
three days past. On the high lands
cold is 20 degrees above, while at the
national capital, situated at an eleva-