The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-25
OUR ONLY SALVATION,
LETTER FROM PETER COOPER-NO HOPE
BUT IN THE INDEPENDENT PARTY.

LIE TIER FROM PETER coo PER-NO HOPE
BUT IN THE INDEPENDENT PARTY.
At "a greenback meetingln New Haven
recently. the following ringing letter on
the financial question from the venerable
Peter Cooper was read:
Dear Sir-I learn with pleasure that
there is 4 vigorous movement through
out the country to stem the downward
tendency in financial affairs. which the
mistaken policy of the present political
parties insists upon forcing upon our
country, aud the OBJECT is to establish an
independent party that will inaugurate a
better financial policy for the whole
country
see no light on the financial question
except such as may be thrown by the
formation OF such an independent party .
have hitherto expressed my views on
these financial questions so fully ia var
ious pamphlets that it leaves ME but
little to add, and can only emphasize
what have said before
The great question before the Ameri-
can people is whether they will accept
finally and forever their own lawful
money made so by the authority of the
government. and based tor its perma-
men value on tho credit OF theowhole ma
ton. Or whether they shall accept the
paper promises OF corporations to pay
gold. which it is often out of their pow.
er to accomplish.
1t would seem that kind providence
has literally forced on our country the
best foundation On which TO build and
maintain an unfluctua,ing national mon
ey-one that will. Ii rightly availed,
prove to be of sufficient value TO com
pensate for all the losses oecasioned By
the war of the rebellion.
1t was we'll said in clden times that
the sin OF ingrat;tude ID worse than the
sin OF witchcraft. There IS nothing tina,
can De more ungraaeful than for q man
to cast reproach on the friend who saved
his life
It is equally ungratsful in Us - ia
ton TO cast reproach on our legal ten
der money, that has not only saved our
nations lite. out has been to Us the best
currency the world has ever sean.
Every dollar of it that was pad ous was
actually paid out for labor and property
received and used by the government,
has paid debts. and has bought and sold
every form of property as ii it were the
puress gold that was ever dug from the
sbowels of the earth.
| hold that As far as the goverument
has authorized aud used paper money
IN the purchase OF materials and in the
payment of its debts. it has become bar
red from all control over it. except to
tax 1t IN the same way that it does every
other form OF property. to continue its
use as q currency to the actual amount
that was expended in the war.
The amount OF currency must be
made the permanent measure OF all val
ues through all coming time. and never
be increased or diminished except as per
capita with the actual increase of the in
haoitants of the country This is nv
opinion. the only means which is possible
for the Government to adopt. and at the
same time secure perpetual blessing to
our glorious country. Il was the much
abused paper money that served our
colsntrv IN the war of the rebellion.
Ii was paper money that saved our
country from having is corner-ssones
based on human slavery.
K 1t was paper money that saved Eng
laud from being oyerrun il the war with
Napoleon.
j Ii war should come tomorrow there
/ Is nothing TIA; can save Us but the much
abused paper money.
| Isshould never be forgotten that the