The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-10-05
GENERAL SAMUEL +. CARY

L
GREEN-BACK PARTY AND
THE ISSUES OF THE
CAMPAIGN.
HEAD-QUARTERs INDEPENDENT GREEN
BACK PARTY, New York, Sept. It'll,
1876.
To the People Of the United States:
In my letter of acceptance you have
the motives briefly stated which in
duced me to accept a position ON the
ticket with the venerable Peter Cooper,
and my views ON the vital issues in
volved in this political canvass.
In pursuance of my promise in that
letter, I ask your consideration of the
following facts and statements in re-
gard to the causes of the present de-
pressed condition of business, and the
remedy:
The candidates of the Independent
Greenback Party, and all who have the
courage to support them, can afford to
wait for their full vindication until the
financial policies of the two great par
tie Of the country have wrought out
their ruinous results.
The financial legislation of Congress
has brought great disasters upon all
who are engaged in productive indus
try. These disasters will be intensi-
fed as the measures inaugurated in the
interest of the money po,cer, and which
are Endorsed by the National Conven-
tons at Cincinnati and st. Louis, shall
bear their legitimate fruits.
The results already, to some extent,
realized, are the bankruptcy of many
enterprising business men; the shrink
ing in value of all landed and CONNER
cial property; the reduction Of all OPP
erations of agriculture, manufactures
and commerce; the throwing out of
employment of a large proportion of the
industrious laboring element, the In
creased pressure of the taxes, and di-
minished means of paying them the
burdens to society Of the unemployed
with their dependent families; the in
security to life and property by the
desr eration of enforced idleness and re-
s,ltant misery and want The contin-
uation and enforcement of these meas
ures must be attended with calamities
infinitely greater than those already
experienced.
We charge that large capitalists,
bond-holders of the Government. and
money dealers, have devised. and in
duced the Congress of the United States
TO enact, series Of measures with
special reference to their own self-ag-
grandizement, and with the result OF
robbing the producing classes of their
honest earnings and their legitimately
acquired property.
Let me invite your attention to Some
facts in support of this charge:
Soon after the commencement of our
civil war it became absolutely neces-
sary that provision should be made 70,
arming, equipping and maintaining
our army. Thaddeus Stevens. Chair
man Of the Committee of WAYS and
Means. in the House of Represents
tives. reported bill for the issue Of
greenbacks. 1t provided that thi.
money should be legal tender for all
purposes.
In that shape it passed the House
and went to the Senate, where its le
gal tender character was changed so a.
to except g customs duties and interes,
on the public debt Mr. Stevens was
indignant at the change, and declared
that it had been brought about by the
influence of capitalists, and said tina,
he had melancholy forebodings tina,
, Congress was about to consummate i
cunninglv devised sheme in the In
terest only Of goldgamblers-
Sir said he Ton the 10th of Feb.
1869, ssthere was q dolefnl soune
: came up from the caverns Of bullion
brokers, and from the saloons Of n
sociated hankSr ssTheir cashiers and
agents were soon on the ground and
peEsnAded the Senate, With r. Efue
delibeEation, % mangle ard dssruy