The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-28

city Of Mexico from 81 70 as
per day, but these per diems are
exceptional, aud only apply 10 The
city OF Mexico. IN sll other parts
OF the republic. and especially In the in
terror, there Is from - TO 81 per cent. re-
duction from these prices. Now these per
diems would he sufficient % support
mecnenic in comfort. provided the cost ef
living was eorrespondlngly low, but II is
not Almost everything that the work
fngnnan eats or wears. is higher than Il Is
in this country. Take, for instance, corn.
which IS the staple food Of all bat the
rich It commands from S. TO So per ear
ga''-see pounds and or course the price
is greater a; retail. All hog products.
lard. bacon. hams. average - cents per
pound. Sugar runs from 10 l. cents per
pound, candles. which are eSeryhody's
light. are from - 10 30 cents per pound.
Rents are exorhiiant IN Mexico City, and
the living accommod atious OF the work
ing classes are wrctched in the extreme.
even in the cities. | think one can safely
count on an average OF four persons 10
each room. and mono OF these homes il
provided with any " the modern conye-
niences. The prices OF sucn of the wear
ing apparel 81 the Mexican as is produced
IN his own country is fixed by the price
OF the imported article. by adding to the
cost OF the imported article in the United
States or England the duties. transporta-
ton. insurance. etc. and then making
small discount on the native article enough
20 insure a sale: hu, II can be stated with
cut fear OF successful contradiction. that
everything that TO- Mexican eats or wesrs
IS higher than ii is In the United states.
New. as 10 free coinage: The coinage Of
both gold and silver Is legal IN Mex
leo: silver Is coined a. the rate OF istz 10
j: |. e.. on the presumption that 1slz ounces
OF silver is worth ounce OF gold. There
fore. silver is not the money OF Mexico
any more than II Is OF the United States.
now, what fs the resultg Financially sn-
able TO maintain the parity of the tive rnet-
ais. as the United States so far has been
able Ia do. the Mexican government has
been forced 10 stand by ard sec tho opera
ton OF that rule In economics whereby
the baser metal. silver, drives thc pgver
metal. gold. out OF circulation. and today
gold is at a premium Of upwards Of 81. and
absolutely none In circulation I under
stand that our silver friends in the United
States. In the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver which they propose, do not make
any allowance for the payment TO the
United states treasury OF anything for
the coinage thereof. Mexico does better:
she farms out her minis on a royalty. and
the farmers collect their charges from
the persons offering silver bullion for coin
age.
The debt Of Mexico Is payable Amos en-
tiFely, principal and interest. IN gold 10
foreign countries and the present admin
istration has exhibited not only great pa
triousm. but also great fine nctal skill in
meeting the interest on this enormous
debt. requiring. as II does SUBJ
stantialiy s. for. one OF the pres
ent deprecated currency OF tho
country 70 pay the same. and IN hcnora-
hle contrast 70 our repudiationls OF the
silver party. we have recently had tie
spectacle of every ofnceholder In the re-
public Or Mexico. whose salary exceeded
81 900. Submitting 70 sn assessment of -
per cent. thereon for term Of years IN
order that the good faith and the credit
OF their country which was pledged 70
meet the Interest on the pubic debt Ia
gold. should BE maintained among the civ
iltxed nations OF the world
can think Of nothing more decisive OF
shis a. esiion than that your Republican
state committee should. as a campaign
measure. induce "A certain number CT the
faireat-m3ndei ~ the silver men OF your
state 10 go TO Mexico. al the committees
expense and spend fsw weeks In fn4e.-
;igatsng this subject. ! am satisfied thar
upau TIC publication ~ their report the
state Of Washington would vote over
whesmlnxiy In favor OF sound money.
Yours very truly. r. o. BABBtTT.