The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-05

MEXICO &s a sample OF the SUCCESS "a AZ =
silver. They are pretending TO Be In favor
OF bs-mesallism. but they select "a the
Illustration OF ~ success = silver coun-
try. They ignore the fact that labor -
pa.d sxcestingiy low wages and that the
cost OF living 70 very high For instance.
they point to the fact a. . proof OF pros
per.ty that q merchant down there re-
cssyes SIS for q pair OF shoes; but what OF
the la borer who receives % cents day.
when be wants TO buy those shoesg
Il In only a few days ago that the repub-
lie OF Costa Rica decided 10 adopt gold
al the basis OF its currency. and the en-
tire country was Ia ecstacies over thu
abandonment OF silver. While that small
republic IL rejoicing ever it's Advancement
toward a standing win the leading COM
mercial nations OF the world. the United
States Is preparing TO recede TO the con-
ditions from which inferior countries are
emerging.
The United States Of Colombia have had
q different experience. That country pro-
fesses 10 be on . bl-metailse basis. but by
the operation OF the commercial law II II
now on a silver basis The United States
minister 20 Bogota. Luther r. Mckinney.
has made report On the subject based
upon personal observations which are sx-
cesdlngiy interesting az this time. Twenty
years ago. in as7e. gold and silver were
coined In the minis OF Colombia. both be-
ing a legal tender for all debts. and a.
that time. owing 10 the scarcity OF the
white metal. silver vas at a premium
over gold OF about per cent About isSo
gold was az premium, because the i'm
ports exceeded the exports. and as the
balance had to be paid in gold II required
q small premium TO get gold for the pur-
pose. Up TO 1856 the government con-
tinue6 20 coin gold and silver. and st that
tins gold was at premium over silver OF
about % per cent
In 1855 congress passed las~ that made
the paper 10 be payable In gold or silver
at the option of the government, this be-
ing an attempt 10 make silver at a par
with gold. This proved. as usual. 10 be
an impossIbiliyy. for at once the gold all
went ont Of the country. and the govern
ment was on silver basis in spite OF It's
efforts by legislation 10 keep gold and ST.
yer az parity. From that time TO this
there has been no gold In circulation in
Colombia The effect was 20 raise the pre-
MUM on gold from % per cent. in 1856 TO
100 per cent in 1895. On June IT exchange
on New York was 40. the price OF ex-
change depending wholly upon the number
OF drafts upon the market and the demand
for them. AS the coffee crop was being
shipped az that time. and the merchants
FOR certain reasons were not importing
largely. the price OF exchange was low.
In the department OF Panama paper
money g. not used. silver being the only
medium o. circulation. the result being
nat silver IN The other departments has
entirely zone ont ~ circulation. and pap.r
is the only money used.
II one goes 20 market IN Borota ana Of
fers silver for hts dinner n is refused As
exchange Is lover In Panama than In
other parts OF the country. spectators
huy ST the silver they car ind NJ a Gre
MUM ~ from 20 10 per cent. and send
y 20 Panama ana make q good profit To
show The effect 81 this upon the people OF
Colombia. few facts. wei authenticated.
are given ev the minister.
In ISIS. when gold was AZ a premium OF
= per cent. wages os workinrmen on the
plains % Bogois were % cents day. and
IN fh<fot country 60 cents a DAY. A. the
present time wages are 50 and - cents. re-
s7ecttvely. an advance OF 20 per cent. All
provisions have increased in cost about
So per cent. Meats az that time were SELF
Inc for - 20 y cents Per pound. at thu
present .ime trey sell for 90 and 20 cents.
House rents have increased from 10 70
.ae per cent. Small senement~. such as
POOR people occupy. couie be had IN 1855
Cor g a month now the same tenements
bring ss In 1854 and 1855 .he Protestant
minister Of Togota occupied house. FOR
which ~ paid SO a month: az the present
time the same house brings 100 a month.
IN 1Sss table hoard could ne had ~ the
best hotels FOR :, 4 day; row I; Is 8. n
lay. and The Hroprletors all say there Is
when they received 81 Wearing apparel
has rot Increased IN price In proportion
- provisions. bat th's r. because the peo-
| pie are tao peoT 20 boy The goods thav
| vcr~ = ne habit - wearing before ana
! the merchants have placed upon the mar
ket TIE poorest quality % GOODS. made IN
| Eorcpe sor the market The reason
| tire merchants give sor nc. A,ivin~ more
goods N sas Unttes States 3. that the ma.
;srials ere too sod ara tae people can
not a-ora 20 Buy their.
ut seems - ne saws MI Mckinney.
commenting upon these facts. 'rhat :, the
vxorke-grzea Of she United States viii
study this oh'ee; lesson they ven readily
see that what they want Is an honest sol.
AR that Win buy as much IN ere markets
abroad as The aollar 80 any other nation.
- silver ss eeiues n ~ rni.ea States =,
ne ratio q IS 70 :. while tie Eess in Sci.
lar IS werth 20 cents in any country o, tA-
wersa sr.s IRE silver In silver dollar Il
en'v wa-.h = certs. Is . uot rlsts TIA; ne
rxnrrsenee - Colombia. anl n fact a.
sea,h American countries where {: IA,
seea tries vii e~ the experience % ths
| vrftss states- The ros1 win all teav-
| II. ceuafry. ans & vau require twe dol
lars % silver - bag enc 6eIlAr's we-ss 81
gects n re markets % TIRE world, whsrs
/ woi1 = tse standard
'-Tas usxt question =. viii re wages o:
labor Re Increased n proportion 20 the sn-