People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1896 — Aptly Answered. [ARTICLE]

Aptly Answered.

PERU, Indiana, August 15th, 1896. Messrs Phil Armour & Co., Chicago, 111., DEAR SIRS: Your offer of 50 cent's worth of meat and a Mexican dollar in exchange for an American dollar received, but we can do as well with our patrons. We can offer 50 cents worth of meat and $2 worth of Portuguese three percent gold bonds in exchange for a silver dollar. Our patrons say the bonds must be good, as Portugal has been on gold standard since 1853—twenty years before the other enlightened nations of Europe —aud its national debt has only increased 100 per cent, without any war since that date. Average wages paid all citizens in Portugal is 17 cents per day. In your letter you say all we need is "a little gold, improved banking facilities'' and "confidence." Portugal has a "little gold," the world has had its "improved banking facilities" since 1853, and we can supply the "confidenceso the bonds are certainly good. We can continue to give you 50 cents worth of meat and $2 of Portuguese gold bonds after Bryan is elected. Will you continue to give 50 cents worth of meat and a Mexican dollar in exchange for an American silver dollar after Bryan is elected? Yours Truly, Columbian Meat Market, Peru, Ind. P. 8. We see the London Times quotes Mexican bonds at 91 1-2; Portuguese 3 per cent, gold bonds at 26 1-4.