Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1895 — Where Silver is “Free.” [ARTICLE]

Where Silver is “Free.”

Mr. James Stanton, a South American mining expert, passed in discussing the free silver craze, which he found in his travels through parts of the South and West, expressed the opinion that it would be well for free coinage advocates to investigate the silver countries that have been on a silver basis for years. “I have watched,” said Mr. Stanton, “with considerable interest the arguments and prophesies of the free silver advocates. I have wondered why some of them don’t produce the evidence of some one who has been an actual resident of a free silver country. “Free silver countries are numerous to the south of us, and from long-continued daily intercourse with merchants, clerks and laborers I know what are the conditions of people in free silver countries. “Why elaborate on theories when the actual results and cold facts are easily accessible and almost stare us in the face? In the free silver latitudes I have been honored with personal acquaintance of nice-looking dry goods clerks who had reached the salary limit of $3 per week. Dignified, barefooted policemen thrive on ‘name’ and ‘yuca’ at sl2 per month. “I have seen scores of pay-rolls paid out on which all section laborers (railroad) received 50 cents per day in silver. The eotintrieiT had magnificent cities before this government was formed, and yet every ninteenth century improvement has had to be proposed, carried there) introduced and operated by enterprising citizens from gold countries. The free silver natives often ask why their dollar is worth two thirds less than ours. I have sometimes thought of telling them to carry their troubles to the free silver editors of some of your papers.” A gentleman connected with the United States diplomatic service in Mexico has been making inquiries into the operation of the free silver system of that country, and in a recent letter suggested thafrt&e free "Coinage of the United States might find an object lesson there. He shows that the claim of th silver men that wages will be in creased if free coinage is adopted is without foundation and can not be made good. In Mexico he says the wages on plantations and in cities range from 12| to 25 cents a day. These wages have not advanced for years, and are paid in depreciated money with only half as much as the same amount in the United States. This correspondent also writes that, while wages remain low, the cost of living is very high. All produce that comes in competition with the markets of the world have advanced in price so as to be beyond the means of the laboring people. Coffee is a luxury seldom obtained and often the only beef within the reach of the laborer is cut from the carcasses of animals killed in bull-fights. Blitter is a luxury for even the rich, and ordinary vegetables like lettuce and radishes are equally so. The poor man’s champaigns—lager beer—retails for 15 cents a glass. The experience of this gentleman who has been in Mexico several months goes to piove that cheapening money by the free coinage of silver reduces wages and increases the price of living.

B. F. Ferguson will furnish you a list of the lands he has for sale on application. Austin, Hollingsworth & Co. have purchased the only complete set of Abstract Boohs in Jasper County. They are prepared to make abstracts on short notice and on reasonable terms. Call on them for prices. Acme harvesting goods, the finest haying tools on earth, sold by Robt. Randle. B. F. Ferguson sells the GaarScott thrashing outfit, “the best in the world.” All kinds of engines and heavy machinery. Call and see him. Cheapest line of mitts and gloves in town at tbe Emporium.