St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-09-14
THE TOUR OF MR.. BRYAN.

IThis series of letters is the result Of a per-
sonal visit to Mexico made by the writer
early in 1888 as a special representative OF the
Michigan Republican Newspaper Association
to investigate the monetary system OF that
country.] isti
"
The statements made by Mr.. Bryan
soon after his return home from his
visit to Mexico vary SO widely from
the actual facts as they exist today, adj
mitted and known by all, regardless Of
relation to the country or interest in it's
welfare, that it is charitable to accept
the explanation made to the writer by
a conductor ON the Mexican Central rail-
way that "Mr. Bryan's visit to Mexico
was only Pullman palace car tour.
Wherever he went he was met by gov
eminent bands and feastcd and flattered
by government officials and representa-
tives of Mexican investment interests.
He refers to the laboring classes of Mex
leo, but what he says of them shows he
found out nothing about them. He was
extravagantly entertained in Mexico,
and he returns the favor by an extrava-
CANT Misrepresentation of conditions as
he could have found them il he had
tried to find out the truth about them. "
Whatever may be true of the conduct
or's explanation as to the statements
made by Mr.. Bryan, certain it is that
some Of the more important of them
bear little or no relation to the condi-
tions they assume to present. In my
reference to these statements, however,
I will not present individual contradic-
ton or personal denial, but will make
use of the authorities which Mr.. Bryan
himself would probably have accepted,
even though he might not have desired
to make use of them. More than ordi-
nary interest attaches to Mr.. Bryan's
statement concerning Mexico because
of his position as the accepted leader of
the free silver factions of the United
States, in which interest his views were
evidently induced, and because of his
unqualified statement that what he had
seen and learned in Mexico would add
to his effort to secure the adoption of
the Mexican free silver system by the
American people. This statement was
made by Mr.. Bryan:
My observation as well as my reason leads
me to believe that the use of silver has been of
material advantage to Mexico, and am more
| than ever convinced that the best interests of
| our people demand the immediate restoration
| of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and
silver at the present legal ratio of 10 to with
| out waiting for the aid or consent Of any other
nation.
Mr.. Bryan's personal interest in the
matter involved evidently has much
to do with the formation of his opinion
as to what is for "the best interests OF
our people" Mr.. Bryan further says
The free coinage of silver is entirely satisfac
tory to the people of Mexico. They have hat
a chance to test their system thoroughly ant
to compare 1t with the systems of the United
States, England, France and Germany, and
find no disposition either among the officials
or among the people to favor the gold stand
ard. The federal government pays about SO,
100000 annually on gold obligations, and, while
it is compelled to collect over $l2, 600 in sill
yer to cover this interest account, it has no diff
Guilty in doing so because of the prosperou
condition of the nations industries.
Mr.. Bryan's reference to the people
of Mexico" and his suggestion as tt
comparison with the United States an(
other countries would be amusing i
the subject was less serious in view O
the fact that "the people of Mexico
are in the most unsatisfactory conditio;
of any of the civilized nations on tn,
globe, judged by any of the elements o
life which civilization would accept a
satisfactory. They are the poorest paid
the poorest clothed, the poorest housed
and fed of any of the people of the lead
ing nations of the world. Although
Mexico had what historians refer to a
an advanced civilization before tn
United States government was forme
there are today 20 states of the Uniol
either of which surpasses all of Mexic
in accumulated wealth, industrial, az
ricultural and commercial importance
and in every respect save population
natural resources and extent of terrific
ry.
Matter Of Grave Concern.
If comparisons are odious, however
in the present instance, permit me
quote from The Mexican Financier {
the first week of February of the pres
ent year relative to Mr. Bryan's ASSN
ance as to the government having IN
/ difficulty because of the prosperous COL
dition of the nation Industries"
: At the time silver dropped so sharply ever
interest here was affected, and the currenC
question was u matter of grave concern to Il
government, which has heavy gold interest
, pay abroad. The young and capable finant
minister of this republic, Limantour, gave a
his time to a careful consideration of the ma
ter, and the conclusion was finally reacht
that Mexico must stand by silver.
Here we find it stated by the leadin
business journal of Mexico, itself an az
vocate of free silver, that every intere
was affected by a fall in the price of 81
yer and evidently the question as
t whether or not Mexico could longer ell
, dure its free silver system became
, matter Of grave concern to the govern
ment II fall in the price of silver d,
moralizes every interest and cause
grave concern to the government, Nj
Bryan himself can be quoted as to ho
: blighting and prostrating would be an
change in the opposite direction, whic
, would make the currency Of the countI
much dearer and harder to get.
> further reference to Mr.. Bryan's stat
ment as to the government ease in NEE
ing the extra burdens created by frt
q | noi,antrn l 1,11ata fl,l.t hnr froln Thn Me,