The herald., 1898-01-18
Mr.. BRYAN'S VISIT TO MEXICO

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man" and intimated that he might
serve on the committee Of reception. He
declined the proposition with scorn and
manifested the greatest Indignation at
being requested to serve in such a ca
pacity. The idea that he should serve
on a committee to receive demagogue
like Bryan was too preposterous Tor
moments serious thought. Like all
sycophants he fell in the presence OF
true greatness, and when the public re-
ception Of Mr.. Bryan took place in the
Hall of Minerals this same Major Cor
such was conspicuous on the platform
especially reserved for the reception
committee and representatives Of the
American government. 1t Is not stated
that Major Gorsuch had received pri-
vate tip from his master Mr.. Hunting
ton, to change his course of action.
THE AMERICAN CLUBS POSE
Another singular illustration of
sycophantism was the action of the
American club. And here 1t may be well
to state that do not desire to be under
stood as criticising all the members, but
only the few who are for the time being
the managers. Almost Immediately af
ter Bryan's arrival a meeting of the
managers took place and they decided
that no reception should be rendered the
distinguished advocate of bimetaMism.
One member of the board urged his re-
ception on the ground that Mr.. Bryan
would make a magnificent advertising
card. This Yankee trait Of utilizing all
means for the pushing of business en-
terprises regardless of the fitness of
things, fortunately for the credit of lib
eral Americans, was rejected, which
desire to place to the credit Of the club.
So it was whispered that the American
club would not honor Mr.. Bryan on ac-
count Of his silver heresies. This was
not surprise to many and was fully
expected by a large contingent of the
American colony who-unfortunately it
may be-are not members Of the club.
The small men are not SO scarce In
Mexico as some might suppose, for they
are with us here as elsewhere, and are
more conspicuous for the noise they
make than for the deeds they perform.
Mr.. Bryan's personality was SO great
and their littleness so infinitessimal that
he unconsciously trod them out of ex-
istence in his triumphal march through
Mexico.
When the club became conscious of
the fact that Bryan was a great man,
irrespective of the opinions he holds, and
that the Mexican government was heap
ing honors upon him, 1t rescinded Its
former action and threw open its doors,
and Bryan was given the reception
which the club had resolved at the first
meeting not to give. This act clearly
demonstrates how much people are in
clined to think for themselves. The ac-
ton Of the first meeting was undoubt-
edly the result of having imbibed too
freely of the opinions of the gold STAN
dard advocates without digesting them;
the action of the second meeting was
the result of popular pressure, which
was equally as intelligible to them.
SEEN AND LEARNED"
Many expected that Mr.. Bryan would
deliver an address on bimetallism. but in
this they were sadly disappointed. The
good sense and tact Of Mr. Bryan was,
perhaps, never better displayed than
during his visit to this republic He
came here to see, and not to talk. In
conversation with your correspondent,
who attempted to get an interview with
him for publication for the benefit of his
friends in Southern California, he re-
quested not to have anything he said
placed in quotation marks, as he had
already refused other newspaper cores
pondents, and that it would not be fair
to give his views to me and not to others,
Notwithstanding his high opinion Of the
Los Angeles Herald, the Silver Repub-
lican club and all others in Southern CAL
ifornia who so nobly supported him in
the last campaign. But that does not
prevent your correspondent from giv-
ing his own Impressions. Nothing Mr..
Bryan has seen in the republic has in
the least shaken his convictions on BIZ
metallism, and If they at any time needed
more evidence to establish their abso-
lutte truth, he has found it in Mexico.
He told your correspondent that soon
after his return home he should prepare
some papers on what he has "seen and
learned" and, from what is already
known, they will not give the goldbugs
much comfort.
UNwAvERING COURSE
At the dinner rendered to Mr.. Bryan
by the president of the Mexican National
railroad, who is a stanch bimetallist, at
the Jockey club, Mr.. Limantour, secre
tary of the treasury in President Diaz'
cabinet, and one of the most distin
guished financiers of the age, said, in
substance, that he was pleased to meet
Mr.. Bryan, not only on account of his
being distinguished American, but be-
cause he was the champion of bimetal
lism in the United States. The Mexican
government has never contemplated go
ing on a gold basis, and never would.
1t will be remembered that some
months ago when silver took such a
drop it was said by those who were sup
posed to be more or less informed that
Mexico would be forced to adopt the
single standard.
The railroads and especially the Mex
lean Central, urged the adoption of
sliding scale of tariie rates to equali2e
the difference in exchange. Such scale
was prepared and met th;: approval OF
railroad men. This system Of tariff
Mexican government was reported as
certain by the London press, enhanced
the price of Central stocks upon the Lon
don market. If there were the leas
probability Of it's adoption that probable
ity has ceased to exist, from the fact,
among others, of the plea put forth that
it would raise the price of stocks and
give larger dividends. The promoters of
this scheme had overlooked the one i'm
portant fact, that this government is not
in the habit of adopting measures for
the benefit Of corporations. unless such
measures shall work for the good of the