Evening journal., 1896-10-30
SILVER IN MEXICO,
COMMERCE, AGRICULTURE AND ALL
BUSINESS FLOURlSHlNG.

so WRITES A FORMER WHINING
TON MAN WHO NOW MAKES HIS
HOME IN THE LAND OF THE
DON.
Harry A. O'Brien, formerly q Will
mington boy, but now head draughts-
man in the shops of the Mexican Gen.
tral railway writes as follows TO a
relative in this city:
"City of Mexico, October q, 1896.
Dear Cousin: Your letter OF some
time back found me hurdened with
much work, hence my delay in answer
ing. In reference to the question OF
silver and its effect on Mexico, / would
say that this country is In a very pros
porous condition; commerce and agri-
cultural products both are on the in
crease. which implies that all branches
of business are in like condition; earn
ings OF railroads are continually IN
creasing, and manufactures OF all
J kinds are being established
"In respect to silver and gold in the
/ United States It IS only necessary 70
| lend attention TO the champions OF
| both sides and weigh the arguments
pro and con for the establishing OF
an opinion The ground is being thor
oughly covered by the nominee for sill.
yer. and / think he is answering all ar
| guments against silver with much
skill. / think there are other planks
in the Chicago platform which are
more important than the money ques-
ton. / believe in the income tax; ! be-
lieve in the Illustration of aristocracy;
believe the people should rule and
make laws for their enfranchisement
and hold each and all within the con-
fines OF righteousness, whether It be
highway robbery or the appropriation
OF an entire community to ones pri-
vate Golfers, each should be held
amenable to the laws. Just look at the
long array of formidable aristocrata
! who dwell on one side OF the political
line and then reflect on the surgine
| mass OF humanity on the other. Can
any man who has at ali q pittance OF
sense or reason cast his lot, vote, OF
sympatbize with the class who compel
him to live the life Of a slave2
"There is nothing so sacred but whai
they will force into politics in theii
efforts OF controlling the thoughts OF
people: ave and their efforts are fruit
ful, seemingly. Not only is the ma
jority of the papers. magazines, etc.
espousing the side of the financial mon
archs, but they have gone a step far
ther and have Influenced by mercenary
methods the clerical fraternity, who
know that the ignorant masses vii
usher to the cause with wonderful ra
pidity in the name OF God 'Iis un
profitable for man to listen to tho
whims and whispers OF promises, ema
mating from men, especially those who
have i'm view wealth and position; lit
tie they care for the welfare OF others
ltheir virtues are submerged In the wil'
search for wealth.
"Tll fares the land to fastening ills I
prey,
Where wealth accumulates and mel
decay.
Returning to the comparison o
- labor between Mexico and the Unite'
States, as Mexico is now being hell
] up as a God-forsaken, poyerty-strickel
o. abode. Skilled labor is paid mucl
. higher wages in Mexico than in tn
United States. The wages Of the vari
Gus mechanics range from 81 10 $6 pc
day, the majority receiving 50 a day
In fact, It matters not what the remu
neration is in the States the main oh
stacle is securing employment, whic
2 fear Is no little difficulty.
"Tis true of Mexico in the interio
p farming districts, that the compensa
6 ton for labor is quite small
/ | due not to silver, but
the antiquity of custom, namely, arif
tocracy and serfdom. and to the i'm
Z | mutable law Of supply and demand.
# not the same condition existent in tn
h Southern States? Are they paid /
. coin? Are they not paid in long sweet
Z ening' and short sweetening' and 'Joh
h constant, signifying respectively suga
h molasses and corn cake? Now on
d word more with respect to the depr'
N ciated' Mexican dollar. IL is worth on
hundred cents and isaccepted by all q
such. a Mexican dollar will buy frol
sixty to seventy-nve eggs; it will bu
seven pounds of the best beef stea
and all other products in the SAN
ratio. Can this be called depreciation
= Hoping this will in part answer yot
e request, / am. Yours sincerely,