St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-08-10
FREE SILVER In MEXICO.

FKEE SILVEk In MEAlCU.
[This series Of letters is the result Of per-
sonal visit to Mexico made by the writer
early in 1893 as special representative OF the
Michigan Republican Newspaper Association
to investigate the monetary system Of that
country.]
There is much in Mexico to please
and interest the tourist and traveller and
more that will reward and crafty the
student and lover of history. Although
separated along it's northern boundary
from the United States by only mar
row, shallow river and imaginary terri
torial lines, yet SO unlike the greater
republic has been it's history, SO distinct
has been the manner and matter OF Its
civilization and so varied its govern
mental career that with all its progress
and development of recent years the
Mexico of today is more foreign to the
United States, SO far as relates to the
customs and peculiarities OF its people,
than is any country of Europe.
There is in present practical opera
ton in Mexico monetary policy the
adoption Of which is being vigorously
advocated by one Of the great political
parties of the United States and the
candidate of this party at the last presi-
Dental election visited Mexico, and
upon his return announced that he was
more than ever convinced that the in
terests Of our country demanded the
adoption in the United States of such
financial policy as Mexico now possess
es, the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio of l6 to /. This visit
of Mr.. Bryan to Mexico for the evident
purpose Of learning by actual observa-
ton what conditions accompany or
were coexistent with the free and I'M
limited coinage Of silver at practically
the same ratio favored and demanded by
the party Of which he is the spokesman
and leader gives present and practical
value to candid review Of the policy
and conditions here, the observation of
which seems to have added to Mr.. Bry-
an desire for their adoption in his own
country.
! desire, however, to have it well I'M
derstood that it is not my purpose to
charge against the currency system of
Mexico conditions which it neither Gre
ated nor could remove, but to confine
myself to conditions as have observed
them, which the free coinage system
does unquestionably affect, to the sever
al industrial Indications to which Mr..
Bryan himself alludes, and to the theo-
retic claims made by the advocates of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver in
the United States as compared with the
practical operation of such system in
Mexico. Throughout the entire discus
sion of this question on the part of the
advocates of free silver there have been
certain peculiar claims which they have
persistently advanced, certain classes to
whom they have constantly appealed,
and certain interests which, they have
confidently asserted would be favorably
and other interests which would be I'M
favorably affected by the adoption of
their policy. These claims and assertions
are in great part founded upon theory
and assumption. The experiment they
seek to have made has never been sat-
isfactorily or successfully made in the
history of the civilized world, and it is
therefore important and necessary that
so far as possible we subject these
claims to such tests of experience and
illustration as can in Mexico or else
where be secured
Candid Comparisons.
If it shall be said that Mexico and
the United States are too far apart in
consequence and characteristics to per-
nit of such comparisons being fairly
made or to allow Of their possessing
practical and present value in the Unit
ed States even when so made, l will
only ask that such presentation as l
shall make shall be candidly and care
fully considered. The reader himself
can easily decide as to whether the facts
presented possess any information which
will assist in best determination of the
important issues at stake Almost every
interest which it has been urged would
be favorably or unfavorably affected by
the free coinage of silver in the United
States is in some degree represented in
Mexico at the present time, and surely
observation of day by day Mexican ex-
perience, whatever may be its limita-
tions as to application elsewhere, is
worth more than promises based on con-
Trajectory theories or declarations born
of personal interest or partisan frenzy.
During my sojourn in Mexico have
visited some Of its most important iron
and silver mines and have had the priv
ilege of observing the Mexican miners
at work in the depths of the earth.
From the mines have gone to the smell
ter and from the smelter to the mint.
have sought to ascertain as to the pres
emit output of silver in Mexico its cost
of production and it's possibilities for
the future, and everywhere my inquiries
and Investigations have been cour.
teously received and kindly assisted
have visited wooden and cotton factories
for the purpose of ascertaining as to the
wages paid and output secured; have
interviewed American workmen and
American business men here wherever
found; have observed and investigated
as to the operations of the monetary sys.
tenn of Mexico SO far as it affects capital
and labor, the employer and the en-
ployed, corporations, monopolies and
other interests related to those which il