The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-02-07
PROSPEROUS MEXICO.
AN INTERESTING ARTICLE BY JUDGE
WALTER CLARK.
He Discusses the Silver Question and
Draws Contrast Favorable to the
Republic of Mexico-Says the Coun-
try is Prosperous and Going For
ward By Leaps and Bounds.


| am gratified at receiving the Nezvs
an3 ObserUer regularly, being thus
able TO keep up with the movements
of life at home. | have travelled pref
ty thoroughly through the Northern
States OF Mexico, meeting people Of
all ranks as we'll as countless numbers
of our countrymen. The latter are
everywhere, and in everything, and
steadily increasing in numbers, at
tracted by the great prosperity here,
which is in painful contrast with the
long continued depression in the
United States.
| leave to-day to travel through the
Southern States OF Mexico, and on my
return thence, will leave for home to
be present at the opening of our spring
term.
The climate is nearly perfect. Straw
berries are ripe, and flowers Of all
kinds bring ten cents basket. They
say it is no warmer here in summer,
and never sultry, as these table lands,
embracing 100000 square miles-t two
thirds Of Mexico-,vera5e 1000 feet
above sea level, over three times as
high as Ashevlle, and the snow On the
taller mountains never melts.
This country is developing more
rapidly, probably, than any other on
the planet, and could not help being
prosperous as matters stand. The dol,
lar is exactly the same value it was ten
or fifteen years ago, not having been
artificially doubled in value by legis-
latIon, as has been the case with US.
Consequently cotton is still IL cents
per pound and wheat 81 per bushel,
while fixed charges, as taxes, passenger
and freight rates, public and private
debts, etc, remain actually (as we'll as
nominally) the same. With us in the
United States, by virtue of the .legiS
lation in favor of the bond holders,
these fixed charges, while nominally
the same are, in fact, doubled. as it
takes twice the amount of cotton, corn,
wheat, etc, to pay them. One does
not get full idea of the enormity of
this transaction Till he gets here and
sees the prosperity OF this country and
sees the very capitalists, VINO by secur
ing this legislation, have doubled the
value of their United States bonds,
investing the principal and interest Of
their enhanced value in this country at
old prices, thus securing 81 Of proper
ty here for 81 loaned the United States
Cover ment-that is, they sell 81, 900
United States bonds for gold, buy ST.
900 of silver, which remains at the
old value, and invest in $4,000 of
property here.
The looting of Rome by Genseric
and the Vandals of India by Hastings
and Give, of this very Mexico by Cor
tez and the Spaniards, or of Peru by
Plzarro, all pale into lnslgnlficance,
compared with the magnitude and
injustice of this robbery practiced upon
the seventyfive millions Of the Amer
lean people in the interest and by the
procurement of the half million of
mllllonalres and their agents and de-
SO controlling legislation that every
dollar of National, State, city and in
dividual Indebtedness is doubled by
doubling the value of the dollar. Gen
seriC, Give, Cortez, Plzarro risked
their lives and had brave men behind
them, and they at least pillaged for
eign nations. But this crime has been
the manipulation of the tools of the
bond holders; there has been nothing
heroic and the only greatness in it has
been in the magnitude of the plunder
which surpassed all that has ever yet
fallen to Conquerlng army in the
wealthiest country.
There was no excuse tor it, since
silver, when demonetlzed, was worth
more than gold, and there has been
nothln5 since to depreclate it. That
silver, in fact, has not deprecated in
the least may be seen right here IL
Mexico, and throughout the 5o,ooo,-
900 of people living on this hems
phere, south of the Rio Grande, in all
which countries the silver dollar will
pay for as much taxes, as much rail
road freight and passenger fare, a:
much public and private indebtedness:
as formerly-and farm products anC
land bring as much as ever. Neither
has silver deprecated with US, but it il
the gold dollar which has been doubled
in value; hence debts, public and pri
vale, railroad rates, ETC., are actually
though not nominally doubled, Will,
the produce has to be sold at half pric,
to pay them. Every farmer who SOLD
a-pound of cotton in the United State
last year was in effect taxed E cents /;
pound, or $50 bale, and SO cents il
the bushel on wheat. The robber,
perpetuated on the farmers of the SoutE
by this legislation procured by the ma
chinations of the combined capital o
London and New York, on the cottor
crop alone, of 1000, 900 bales at S3c
per bale, is s21o, 900 for the ont
year of 1895 alone. The profits reap
ed by the capitalists by the Legislation
which has doubled the value of thei
claims against the public, and indiv
duals, is practically beyond computa
ton. 1t "fatigues the indignation" to
consider it. The wonder is no. tina
there is widespread and incurable de
preston, but that we can continue &c
exist under such a state OF things
Were we not the wealth!est and mos
energetic and most patient people or
the face of the globe, we would sinh
under it.