ABSTRACT
Matias Romero Avendano wrote the following letter to striking factory workers in 1892 while serving as minister of finance in the government of Porfirio Diaz. In his letter, Romero outlines his vision of the relationship between the state, labor, and private industry. While President Diaz concurred with Romero on the proper relationship between labor and the state, he differed in his view of industry. Contrary to Romero, Diaz’s government protected domestic industry through import tariffs. Import tariffs also served as a means of acquiring capital for the state’s coffers. The Government can only contribute to improving labor conditions by indirect means such as keeping the peace, the promotion of industry and the investment of both national and foreign capital in native elements of the country’s wealth, and thus ensure national credit. Trade relations are exchange relations; in order to trade extensively, it is necessary to produce on a large scale.
