The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18

It's Prosperity aud Poverty. Reviewed by
Rev. w. ~. sloan


IS ten years. During this time ne has
paid me several visits on his vacation
and has frequently talked with me about
tho condition OF the people and the causes
oil IL. AT the time my letter reached his
home. ne was away on "a missionary tour
and on his return writes that owing TO
| DELAY IL ausW ,rlng. ~ fCnd YOU an article
written by my friend Rev. W. H. Sloan.
[ can endorse 81 and think St will give
Won the desired information. J most sim
cerlly hope tho free silver party in the
States may fail
Believing this letter may lead some
free silver enthusiasts TO stop and think
of the ruinous enorfs of such a policy
upon the future welfare of the wage earn
erq OF our country. ! ask that ~ may D.
printed and circulated as campaign
document, Hr 'ciiully,
JNO. n. WRIGHT.
In n note accompanying the following
| communication. Mr. Sloan writes: Il re-
ccive so many letters OF inquiry from the
limited states relative 10 prosperous
Ne,ico that have felt constrained 20 jOt
| down the enclosed facts. and offer them
10 your paper. Perhaps they may be Of
| a ,sietance TO some one. Sincerely yours
". n. SLOAN.)
Editors Examiner, VIII you permit
me 10 give % fcw personal Impressions on
money matters I'm the Republic OF Mexico
/ and the condition OF affairs here. where
| free silver Is an the rage, and gold has
been driven out of circulation? ] VIII De
brief giving you simply what / have seen
in everyday experience. and as q result
of some seven years lesidence among TIC
people I will not theorize.
There are silver enthusiasts in Mexico
who sec things differently from what !
| do or. az least thcv have q dinerent I'M
tcrprctation of Them. and among them
one or two English d1ilies. But these are
so luko-warm in their support of silver
| that one cannot help believing they ad-
vocate il mainly because they live I'm the
| country. and do rot wish 10 appear 10 fly
in the face OF the old traditions Of the
people among whom they live and earn
| their livelihood When surprise a. exc
pressed at the enormous prices charged
for imported goods. the merchants excuse
themselves by saying. "We are not hers
for our health
Now what are q few Of the facts about
| Mexico. with reference 10 her sO-calied
prosperity on thc silver basis? Simply
this. The rich are very rich and the poor
are very poor. and the letter class enc
| braces nearly all tine artisan and work.
! ing classes OF the country.
Americans are beginning 10 learn that
| IN the Republic of Mexico they have
powerful and promising ncishhor, land
| possessing inoxhau-tihie mineral wealth.
revclling I'm magnificent scenery. rich in
an agriculture that neither recognizes
| the change Of seasons nor requires the
stimulating aid Of manure. and other
| scientific appliances, 10 enable II 10 bring
forth I'm overlooking abundance; that rec
.Ifff
eouable than that Of Florida. Italy or
! california 1--WE sleep under two blankets
while YOU are sweltoring with heaD. ard
whose thirty-seveu states and two terri
tories arc occupied by twelve and halt
millions Of people. who soc al about them
mountains fun Of silver and vet ten mill
| lions Of whom are struggling for the
necessities OF life. This is certainly
land Of noble cities. ~ rapidly extending
railways. Of telephones OF street cars.
electric lights ami OF government pos
sessng wisdom and energy. knowledge
| of men and affairs. foresight and firm
ness that promises soon 10 reach state
of advancement that will place II az the
| front OF the Spanish-spoaking nations OF
the Western Hemisphere. Here we have
| the finest and coolest summer resort In
| North America. owing 10 the extreme
elevation Of the central portions OF the
| country. and we have splendid field for
| the investment of capital. Here are snoun-
tains Of mineral, practically untouched.
and millions OF acres Of fertile land un-
| TILED Still II is no place for a laboring
man. nor for young man on salary
| mnless il De assured 10 him before he
| comes); but Il Is the place for the man
who has capital. and is seeking for in-
vestments hoping 10 increase his capital
bv taking advantage Of the cheap labor
of the country. for the day-laborcr must
toll for "A pittance that almost merits the
appcllation of starvation wages. 1 viii
! presently give you % few figures.
During the last twenty years Mexico
! has seen more prosperity than ar any
| time I'M her previous history. but TINS
| prosperity is not due TO the fact that she
| il ON "a silver basis. She has always been
on a silver basis and she has always been
| poor. except as 90 minc-ownors and the
! proprieiors Of great estates. Her present
| nrosperitv is due entirely 20 the fact that
| She has had under President Porilrio
| Diaz a stable government. that the per-
| iod Of revolutions has passed away ana
! that the Government offers Inducements
| IN American and English capitalists 10
| invest funds here il the BUILDING OF iah-
| roads. the opculu1 up OF cOilce lahu7'
| the Development %. mines, the cultivation
| Of sugar. cotton, tonarcp, rubber, wanna
| honeGuin. and SCORES OF other products
| that are chiefly produced because labor
| f. cheap Thus money calls 20 ITSELF
| money, at the expense 0i the iaDolef. Inc
| vast production of liver seems ih no way
! 10 aid the !aborius man. FOR his wages
| remain substantially the same notwith-
! s.andin.. the large influx Of new capital.
| SILVER STANDARD OK WAGES.
An American dollar az this writing IS
,..or+h one dollar and ninety CENTS FOO
! ar.vi.an silver. In other words. one
! W.vf.an dollar is worth about tfty-oue
| ,,rts fan American money, although IL
/ has more silver in it than thc Americac
| dollar has. believe this cheapncss in
| .u,..r is due 10 its enormous productions
tr,r,enec quantities are brought out OF the
| s.T.,i.,o mine. % De coined. the owner
| - tbe buuion paying about four cents
| o.. ti. COINAGE Of each dollar. ana Of
co,,res nroatine by the added value sup
| posed 10 be placed upon IL by the Gov
| crnmont's stamp.
| pa, h,- dav the silver IS cheapened bu-
| wages are not raised; the price or the
| necessities 81 life steadily increase house
| rent becomes dearer and the poverty OF
| the people becomes distressing beyond de-
| scription. Let me give YOU Few hSures
| dro,ro from the daily life Of the people.
| You know 7 am not newspaper corro-
! snondrnt nor an editor seated I'm my COM
| Portable sanctum and theorizing upon
| This subject For years ! have seen the
| noople In their homes I know the wages
| ,bev receive. and the food they eat. for
| have eaten with them. | know their APP
| meals for better wages. the destitute con-
| litions of their soualid homes and ! know