The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-06
The Creenback Policy.

We are sorry to see so many news.
paper writer's throughout the coun.
try laboring to bring the subject OF
financial reform into ridicule, be-
cause Peter Cooper happened to
get comparatively few votes for
President. They think, no doubt,
that the result of the election proves
the "greenbaCk" policy to be un-
popular, and, therefore, feel free to
ridicule it and those who advocate
it. Did those gentlemen ever stop
to consider that nearly every one of
those who originated and were pro-
mlnent early advocates of this thee
ry refused to support Mr.. Cooper
in the recent election? Well, such
is the fact, and why? Because they
deemed the preservation of our free
institutions to be Of paramount i'm
portance to the advocacy of a poll
cy which was not likely to be
brought about by voting the indie
dependent ticket. They knew that
Mr.. Cooper could not be elected,
because the great mass of the peo-
pie Of the country were enrolled in
the other parties, and regarded it as
an imperative duty to throw their
own votes and influence in favor of
which ever Of the old parties they
believed it would be safest to entrust
with the management of the govern
ment.
Because they did this under the
emergencies existing is no sign that
they have abandoned the greenback
theory. Nor does it follow that
their future advocacy Of that policy
will BE- any indication that they shall
have repented Of the course pursu-
ed in the recent canvass. We shall
expect every one Of them to resume
his advocacy of that theory as soon
as the proper time arrives, and be-
lieve that he will have greater inAu-
ence in gaining friends for it than
if he had shown himself so engross-
ed with it as to lose sight of every
thing else. When men espouse an
unpopular doctrine, and blindly de-
vote themselves to it to the neglect
Of other important matters, they lose
their standing and influence in socie-
ty, and become the butts of jests;
but when they are temperate in urg-
ing it upon the attention of the peo-
pie, and, by taking an interest in
other questions, show that they have
not become insane because of much
bordering over that single idea,
they retain their social positions and
are able to do far more good than
their over-zealous co-believers.
Hence, we look for Messrs. Kelley,
Booth, Butler and other prominent
advocates Of monetary reform to do
much more for that cause than if
they had advocated the election of
Peter Cooper.
We are not even prepared to say
that those who were extremists IN
advocating the greenback reform
did no good. On the contrary, we
believe that they have done a great
deal; and as theyhave labored chief
ly at their own expense, without any
show Of reward, society owes them
respect and gratitude rather than
ridicule. They have contributed
largely towards educating the public
mind on this subject, which is a very
important one, and if their efforts
have borne but little fruit so far,
we must remember that the season
for it to produce is not yet passed,
and in good time it will yield large
". Just now public attention is con-
centrated upon other more exciting
topics, and no opportunity is afford.
ed for ascertaining the prevalence Of
the sentiment in favor of financial