Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-08-26
THE TOUR OF IaR. BRYAN
His Views Gained From a Pal
ace Car Window.
AT VARIANCE WITH THE FACTS
He Was Extravagantly Entertained by
Mexican Government officials, and He
Returned the Favor by an Extravagant

Returned the Favor by an EXtravagant
Misrepresentation of the Conditions.
This series of letters is the result Of per-
sonal visit 10 Mexico made by the writer
early in lSls as "A special representative of the
Michigan Republican Newspaper Association
to investigate the monetary system of that
country.l
V.
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 its
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
ernment bands and Toasted and flattered
by government officials and representa-
tives of Mexican investment interests.
He refers 20 the laboring classes Of Mex
leo, bat what he says Of them shows he
found ont nothing about them He was
cXtravagantly entertained in Mexico,
and he returns the favor by an eNtraya-
CANT Misrepresentation of conditions as
he cOuld have found them if ne had
tried 10 find out the truth about them.
Whatever may bc true Of the conduct
or's explanation as TO the statements
made 10y Mr. Bryan, certain it is that
some Of the more important Of them
bear little CT no relation to the cOndi-
tious they assume 10 present In my
reference TO these statements, however,
| 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 Co Mr.. Bryan $
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 u secure the adoption of
the MeXicgu free silver system by the
American people This statement was
made by Nj Bryan:
My observation as wcu as my reason leads
me TO believe th1t tho use Of silver has been ot
material advantage to Mexico and / am more
than over convinced t.at the best interests Of
our people Command thc Immediate restoration
OF Tic free AMI unlimited coinage of gold and
silver AT the urosent legal ratio Of 10 90 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 1.-THE best interests Of
our people. Mr. Bryan further says:
The free coinage Of silver il entirely satisfac.
tory 10 the people Of Mexico They have had
q chance 10 test their system thoroughly and
20 compare Il with the systems Of the United
States, England, France anu Germany, and ]
find no disposition either among the officials
or among the people 90 favor he gold stand
ard The federal government pays about &c.,
100000 annually on gold obligations, and, while
il is compelled TO collect over Sl2,ooJOOJ in I'll.
ver 10 cover this interest account, Do has no dill
cul.y I'm doing $50 because of the prospCrou,
condition of tho nations industries.
Mr.. Bryau's reference to "the people
of Mexico" and his suggestion as to
comparison with the United States and
other countries would be amusing ii
the subject was less serious in view of
the fact that ''thc people of Mexico
are in the most unsatisfactory condition
of any Of the civilized nations on the
globe, judged by any of the clements of
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 rs
an advanced civilization before the
United States government was formed
there are today 20 states of the Union
either of which surpassos all of Mexico
i'm accumulated wealth, industrial, ag-
ricultural and commercial importance
and in every respect save population,
natural resources and extent of terrific
~.
Matter OF Grave Concern.
If comparisons are odious, however
in tie present instance, permit me to
quote from The Mexican Financier Of
the first week Of February of the pres
cnt year relative TO Mr. Bryan 5 assur
aucc as 20 the government having "no
difficulty because of the prosperous con
dition of the nations industries"
At the time silver dropped so sharply every
interest here was affected and the currency
question was "a matter Of grave concern 10 the
government which has heavy gold interest to
pay abroad. Tho young and capable finance
minister Of this republic. Limantour, gave oil
his time to a careful consideration of the mat
ter and the conclusion was finally reached
that Mexico must stand by silver.
Here we find it stated by the leading
business journal of Mexico, itself an adj
yocate Of free silver, that every interest
was affected bya fall i'll the price Of sill
yer and evidently the question as TO
whether or not Mexico could longer en-