27 



and equitable system of trading means death to the vam- 

 pire methods that unfortunately flourish and fatten in 

 Argentina. 



It is perfectly clear that the introduction of methods 

 Kike.ly to foster competition and afford relief to the 

 grower from the present usurious and iniquitous system 

 in vogue, will meet with the most strenuous opposition 

 ?of the daring few and skilful monopolists who now sub- 

 ordinate all other interests to their own : the producer 

 is absolutely at their mercy, and even the big railroads 

 must bow to their dictum. This, however, is but a par- 

 ticle: their powers are without limitation. 



Not only the Cereal Market, but the Freight and Ex- 

 change markets they manipulate and swing to suit them- 

 selves t>y their gold imports and operations. When they 

 ^want to force the prices of Cereals down here, they have 

 -only to offer largely in Europe, and work a fictitious rise 

 in freights, which immediately causes the desired decline 

 liere then they buy reverse the tactics, and engineer a 

 rise to unload in Europe, but taking care to buy as little 

 2is possible here at the advance. Woe betide any little 

 trader who crosses their path, or any enterprising Cereal 

 or Ship Broker who has the temerity to arouse their cupi- 

 dity, by presuming to snatch a bone from the feast in the 

 shape of an odd commission or two : his brains are duly 

 sucked and he is tricked of his prospective business by 

 some means : the end justifies the means, however, repre- 

 hensible they may be. 



1 'War to the knife" is the motto of this little band 

 *of high-waymen. All competition must be crushed, or, if 

 is should be bii>; enough to be dangerous, efforts would 

 '.doubtless be made to buy it in. 



The methods in vogue, however, are quite sufficient 

 to keep off any * effective competition. Undoubtedly the 

 -adoption of broad commercial principles while rendering 

 Incalculable benefits to the country, and her commerce 

 would still afford this clique ample scope for the display 

 of their capital and energy, without the taint of brigan- 

 dage, but their policy is avaricious and shortsighted. 



They are hardly content with their role of auc- 

 tioneers for the sale and annual debacle of Argentina's 

 5>roducts . 



The wealth of Argentina is in the hands of some 

 three or four firms and absolutely at their mercy a sight 

 for the gods indeed. 



What right has the monopoly to live? Is it con- 

 quest by war, or right of heritage? No. Aliens to the 



could not put this plea. 

 It is to the dominion of the dollar, a soulless system, 



