The news boy., 1896-09-12

The Mexican Dollar.

The latest deception of the gold
men is the introduction of a lot of
Mexican silver dollars into this coun-
try as an "object lesson. The
National banks make speciality of
them and get off what they are pleas
cd to term "jokes" by offering them
to customers.
Last Monday evening the editor
happened to be in the big mercantile
establishment of L. T. Klostermann,
in Cape Girardeau, and it was but
short time until the proprietor and
the editor were SO mixed up in the
discussion of finance that both seem
cd happy that a substantial railing
separated them.
Presently Clay Phelps dropped in,
flung Mexican dollar onto the desk
saying, ''there' some of your free
silver"
Mr.. Klostermann picked up the
Mexican coin and handed it over to
the editor saying: "There is Mcxi-
can dollar that contains more silver
than our silver dollar, but is worth
only half as much. Why is this ?"
because it has not the stamp of
cur government, replied the editor.
Mr.. Klostermann sneered. The
editor took from his pocket an Amer
lean silver dollar, held it up and ask
cd, "What makes this worth dollar,
Mr.. Klosterlnann?"
Because you can get gold dollar
for it.
''Oh, no, youcan mot unless some
one is inclined to favor you. There
is no obligation. A silver dollar is
not redeemable in anything
Eere the editor produced q letter
from the United States treasury, in
which that department says: "Silver
dollars, being standard coins OF the
United States. are not redeemable
in any other form OF money
After reading it Mr.. KIostermann
shook his head saying, ''Wcll it is as
good as gold.
''But what makes it as good as
Eold?'' insisted the editor.
Seeing that there was no way out
Of it, Mr. k!ostcrmann admitted that
the government credit might have
something to do with it.
Holding up the Mexican dollar the
editor continued, Il remember the
time, Mr. Klostermann, when we
considered this dollar as good as the
dollar of the United States
$50 do l." was the reply.
'Then why is it not to-day"
Because we are using the money
of the enlightened nations of the
Garth, while silver is used by the less
advanced people. To trade with the
enlightened nations we must main
tain gold. "
''Do you know that 1 have about
concluded that it is not altoget thel
safe to trade with people who are toe
smart? You are here to do business
When people come in to trade, dl
you consider their intelligence, wher
they have the cash?''
"Oh, no."
''Well, then; by going to a bimetal
lie standard the United States would
command the trade of three-fourth.
of the world-all the silver usip.
countries-and England would bt
forced to accept silver or quit bust
ness.
"That won't do. :"
"This Mexican dollar, when meas
ured in agricultural products, j.
worth as much today as it was whel
it circulated at par in the Unitet
States" +"
How do you make that ?"
''It will buy q bushel of wheat
now won't it p
eyes.
''It would buy bushel of whea
twenty five years ago, wouldn't it?
Eyes; guess SO. "
SIT will buy two or three bushels
of corn, wont t?"
"Yes.'
SIT will buy two or three bushels
OF potatoes, oats, etc, )" wont it ?"
i'Yes." .
"Then you admit that the Mexica
dollar will buy as much of our pro
I ducts as it ever did, but that tn
3 American dollar win buy twice a
much 2"
ooh, we'll, you don't understand II
Farm machinery has SO reduced th
cost Of production that one man ca
now produce as much as FIVE me
could years ago. z