New-York tribune., 1874-03-25
INITIATION CONDEMNED.

In NELAllON OONDLuN ~ u ~.
THE VOICE OF NEw-YORK BUSINESS MEN.
A VIGOROUS DEMONSTRATION AT COOPER INSTITUTE
--sPEyCHEs OF WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, T. c.
cOwDrS. A. A. LOW, EDWARD ATKINSON. e. p.
cHITTRNDEN, AND OTHERs-A POINTED LETTER
FROM CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS
A remarkable audience gathered last evening at
Cooper Institute to consider the National finances,
subject the discussion Of which is popularity sup
posed to be especially dry and devoid of interest
The large hall crowded in times OF political
excitement, but with class Of men seldom seen in
large political gatherings-earnest and thoughtfni
men, who listened with close attention
to each address. and attested their hearty interest
in the subject by prompt responses whenever
speaker made unusually happy hit or touched tho
chord of popular sympathy The resolutions proposed
by the Committee partook somewhat Of the nature
of a COMPROMISE and there had been general I'M
preston that the meeting would urge definite and
immediate action upon Congress- without specify
ing the nature of that action. This was not tho
case; the declarations Of the meeting were
not only emphaticaly opposed to Imitation. but
in favor Of withdrawal from circulation Of that part
Of the reserve issued by the Secretary Of the reas
ury and the adoption Of measures looking to re-
turn to specie payments On these points the utter
were clear and distinct, and the audience msn-
ifested Enthusiastically their approval of the princi-
pies thus enunciated
The meeting was called to order by George OPP
dyke, who nominated William Cullen Bryant to
preside as " a gem lenan whom we all know. and
whom we all revere for his many virtues; q gentle
man who has shed luster on the Literature
of our country and who has dipped his
mind and pen into every branch of snowl-
edge, none Of which he has touched without
81 Axx
Cyrus w. Field aud Mr.. Bryant took the chair amid
great applause. He spoke for few minutes, and
was listened to with close attention. Col. Ethan
Allen read the list of yice-Presidents, and
Henry NJ. Taber the list of Secretaries, who
were accepted by acclamation. Elliot c. COwdin
spoke emphat.cally in favor of a return to specie
payments at the earliest practicable moment, and
denounced the delay in the redemption of the legal
tenders bad faith on the part of the Government
Mr.. Cowdin closed by reading the resolutions. A. A.
Low read carefully prepared paper in which the
views OF prominent statesmen in opposition to an
irredeemabe paper currency were cited. These eI-
tracts were listened to with quiet attention, but
when the speaker denounced the oyerssue of green
backs as without warrant of law, and said that 't
was the purpose of the meeting to protest against
the proposition to legaize that issue, the audience
responded with rounds of applause. He closed by
the resolution which demanded immediate action on
the part of Congress if that action m ght not
be right He would demand right action or none.
The next speaker was Edward Atkinson of Boston
who Immediately fixed and retained the interest Of
the audience by his earnest and emphatic manner.
HIS reference to our lanented Sumner" was
received with subdued applause; but when
he asked. Shall the act that Lincoln
signed to save the nation from its ruin u and con-
pared those who have put back into circulation the
greenbacks which he'd been withdrawn. 10 high
waymen who had taken the weapons borne
by the patriot soldiers in order 10
rob on the highway, the applause was
deafenng; when he referred to the "incorruptible
but hopeessly incapable Secretary of the Treasury.
who seems to be only the dice-box with
which your Buffers, Sanborns. and Jaypes
throw dice for the liberties Of tho
people," Kisses. groans, and cheers filed the hall.
The Secretary of the Treasury should have been
mpeached, he said, and not justified. The vote Of
the House of Representatives has gone forth. by
which are made the laughing stock of the world.
dshonored promise is bad money, and this green
back waving one hand over his head is q frand, u
counterfeit
S. B. ChitteDden was the next speaker, and WAS
received with applause. He said that his goods had
gone down in the last two days than in the pre-
vious two weeks Initiation caused stocks 10
go up but real properties 20 decline in the same
ratio Mr.. Chittenden was followed by Geo. Op-
dyke and VIM. Wood, and the resolutions were
adopted by acclamatiOn The letters received from
Charles Francis Adams and Others were not read
owing to the lateness of the hour. The audience
was dismissed at 1890 p. m.
Among those who most conspicuous from
their position and relation to the meeting, the
following:
Alexander T. Stewart, Peter Cooper. James N.
Brown. Hiram Barney Cyrus w. Field, H. +.
Spaulding b. Il. Sherman. Jackson s. Schultz,
President f. A. p Barnard, Gen. Alexander Shsler
Agernon S. Sullivan, r. L.. Stuart, Morris X. Jes-
sup William L. Jenkins, James Low, William Bar
ney, C. Godfrey Gunther, ex-Judge Charles A. Pea
body, Judge Curtis John c. Tucker, and James
Emott. ..s ....u