People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1896 — In Defense of Mexico. [ARTICLE]

In Defense of Mexico.

To The Editor: I noticed in The Record a letter from A. J. Borgmeier, describing the life of Mexicans. lam a Mexican lady, I love my country and therefore I am pained at the colors in which your correspondent has painted my blessed country. Although I am not well acquainted with the state of affairs in the state of Chiapas, I have been through Mexico, stopping at various places and spending considerable time in in making myself thoroughly acquainted with conditions in general. In reference to Mr. Borgmeier’s assertion that no beds are known in the state of Chiapas, I will say that Chiapas must be an exception or the statement is evidently wrong. I know people in my own country who are well to do and others in misery, and I never found a a farm where they did not have their seperate beds. Allowance must be made for the very poorest people, but nevertheless they have at least a mattress to sleep on, covering themselves with their blankets. Even they do not sleep on the floor As I have said, I do not know much about the state of Chiapas, and therefore cannot successfully contradict your statements as to the wages paid t<> laborers in that section, but I know about my husband’s mining and milling business in the sta e of Chi huahua, and Ipositivly Know that no laborers there—exc p: boys—were paid less than 37 'cents. Wie lowest wage pai to men was 50 cents, and from that the scale ran up to $5 a day, according to the position. These

wages certainly were paid in Mexican silver; which is just as good in Mexico as gold can be in the United' States. Silver has proved more beneficial to Mexico than gold, but this does not mean that the Mexican government has called upon Mr. Borgmeier to make comparison for the sake of American politics. Oh, no! Every true Mexican would rathei- see him stay away instead of going to misrepresent thfe country. I have written considerably about Chicago and its marvelous features, but I never thought of describing the poverty of people who go from alley to alley and from garbage box to garbage box, turning over the ashes and dirt, in order to find something ’to eat. Why should I write about corruptness when there are so many admirable things to write about, things instructive and agreeable? Any'country in the world, regardless of its age or progress, has its weak side. I have been through the greatest part of Europe and have seen the conditions of rich and poor, and if Mexico has not yet reached the plane of other nations, nevertheless there are good things in plenty to be found. I would suggest that Mr. Borgme:er take a walk once in awhile among the Chicago garbage boxes. Surely, he need not go 100 miles before he will find that there also are misery and hunger in Chicago which even black beans would mitigate. Felicitas G. V. De Storck. Sept. 28