New-York tribune., 1874-11-21
o may we'll say with the poet that
"'TIs greatly wise to talk With our past hours

and property, ana nave
samS q abapce, instead of sure reward OF homes.
labor '~S
We may we'll say with the poet that
otis greatly wise TO talk with our past hours
And ask them what report they bore
And how they might have borne welcome news
All can now see how Wise II would have been for the
United States Government TO have insisted on its night
gold silver, copper Nickel or paper that has ever been
allowed u circulate as money. Could this have been
done, it would have borne for us more welcome news
than the present state Of our currency and country now
presents.
ure o. the Government TO coin money and
control oil that has ever 1fom., been a. allowed
late as money should have been based on gold value.
and made as secure as good bond and mortgage on all
the property of the country could make It, Will now
attempt TO show that paper money mas enriched the
wealth Of the country while at tue same time 1t has
demoralized tho people by having INTRODUCED false
This seeming advantage will continue as long as we
are able to induce the people cneap labor countries
continue to bring us their personS aud give their gold
In exchange for our lots our and and our labor at the
highest valuation that have set them. The lots
land they have bought at Our high prices, and now
occupy. have than doubled the value OF all the real
estate of our country enabled people
grow rich rapidly and live more extensively than
any other people In the world. In proof Of
vsd Ge al npoH & vi" nrr of the cy had the o o
eighteen acres of land. bounded by the Fllth-ave
doars-Iand that would nave sold two years ago for
some fifteen millions Of dollars Unless our Government
act wisely in the future our fall may be as as our
rise has been great The true object of all good govern
ment should DO TO fni out aud do those things for
people, which the people, In their individual Capacity
cannot do for themselves.
TIs unfortunately vacating policy adopted by the
Government IN relation to the money OF the country,
already sHrunk the value O. all property and labor
an amount equal 10 all the money spent In the war OF
fallen prosperity of country and enaDic people 10
pay their city. town, and National debts but SiSey
that will enable us to pay the nations debts.
This was made clear by events that took place In
when our tariff which had lust paid of old National
debt, then repealed. BY this repeal our mills
o h al es 9G% Sv was m n
pudiatod their debts; the United States was unable
SankTaps 10 % laws were passed BY '0% causre9.. eal
Tne tariff system was vas. again tried IN Isi2,
in alone from 1900 5000 tOns prosperity
universal, and the pubic revenues greater than
In 1916 the Free Trade policy again tried by
repeating the tariff, and notwithstanding the enormous
amount Of gold found IN California money was high
culmiDation reached and crisis Of ruin on,
when the Treasury was nearly bankrupt. In three
years immigration fell below The number that arrived
the results OF the two systems will be clearly by
labor was well paid. money plenty. aud emigration
great We cannot too carefully contrast the prosperity
that has uniformly followed the tariff policy OF
country comparison with the fIghful consequences
of an approach TO Free Trade they appeared 1911
Immigration declining, and bankrupts numbered
by thousands II every step toward Free Trade bears
whted sepulcher OF Old II it Is intended to operate
connection with inflated papercircuatng medium.
1t should be dreaded We would dread the presence OF
a estilcnce.
In Mr. OConor's letter he recommends that our Gov
ernment should adopt not only Free Trade but direct
taxation, the policy OF our country Tue old con-
federacy OF thirteen States attempted to maintain their
by direct taxation and failed. That failure
due to the fact that the several States then neg
lected provide their quota OF taxation for the General
Government. But the presence of multitude OF tax
and the personal contact OF each with
farmer and mechanic as Claimant OF dues to remote
like that Of the General Government has
always been regarded as a great nuisance by the
common people, aud has made the "taX inal
ages dreaded visitor. good reason why wellar.
ranged tariff OF specific duties raised from the
smallest number OF articles that VIII pr0dGce tho re-
CURED amount is more safe than direct taxation for the
country may be inferred from the fact that Dr. Frank
lin says that the American people, under the old Colo
NAL Government, were SO immoderately fond or the
and supernlties or foreign countries that
they could not be restrained from purchasing them
When the several States and the General Government
Of our country shall abolish all aud unnecessary
laws, and all that remain TO be plain clear and
positive that could long hold Office under them
without faithful performance OF the duties enioued
by the law; when We, tue people. determine that we
shall have honesty, intelligence and integrity Ia all
places public trust and adopt civil service secure
IL; when faithful discharge OF duties useful 20 the
public shall continuance In place and suitable
pension when worn the puDlic service when |
hese privileges secured to tho people, may then
hope for government that all honor espect and
obey IL will then be government In harmony with the
etter and the spirit Of the Constitution under which
We live.
Lastly let me say that there can proper guarantee
or the safety perpeuy Of free Institutions tl
honesty and capacity shall be considered higher claims
o office than party feay and services and when the
Governments shall have other object IN administer
ng their respective functions tnan establish iustice
md promote tho general welfare" OF the nation.
Retc- York, Nov. 49, 1874. PETER COOPER |