The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-02

L
OF party knew no law. The time old
adage of ''Honor among thieves" failed
to hold good in the terrible emergency
into which the Republican leaders found
themselves pushed by the Democratic
party, which was rapidly drawing to-
wards itself the honest sentiment of the
country. The ruse was successful. The
Republican rank and file began to be
treasured. The leaders vigorously
pushed few OF the reforms which it
knew Democratic House would insist
upon, and so etfectually took the wind
out of the Democratic sails as soon to
re-draw almost without change the old
party lines which at first threatened to
be utterly broken up. The Republican
ranks rallied under what at first seemed
almost the suicidal watch-word 'Re-
FORM" Thk Democratic Othello was
lett to mourn his occupation The
cross OF blood and brand" snatched from
his hand by the brave henchmen Of the
Republicans flies faster than the midi
night blaze-''o'er thy heathery braes
Balquhidder" and Laurlck mead gath.
cred no more enthusiastic clansmen to
the call of Roderick Dhu than Cincinnati
saw drawn together by the bugle cry of
Grant, Let no guiltyman escape"
But the result Of all this was to take
away the cause of Reform" as q party
issue. Both parties we're reformers,
and Plate had for once out-Heroded He>
rod in the game. Then since there
must he an issue. to secure party sue
cess, the attempt was made both at
Cincinnati and St. Louis, to make up an
Issue on the next most pressing question
in the minds of the people, the question
of the currency. We all know with
what success the Republican party was
already committed to hard money and
resumption. The Democratic party
therefore tried to unite on greenback
and initiation policy; the scheme failed.
There was no union in the Democratic
ranks on this question. And the course
of the Democratic Congress on the re-
sumption question and the demonetiza-
ton OF silver, destroyed all faith in the
sincerity OF such party utterances as the
St. Louis convention contrived to put
forth on the subject of the finances, and
thus left the two great parties OF the
country practically on.the same side Of
the only two issues it was possible to
make up in the present campaign.
In this emergency, and in response to
the growing conviction of public senti'
ment that the greatest and most needed
reform at the present moment was a
reform in the financial system OF the
country, the Independent party came
forward and put itself squarely on re-
cord in favor of a sound national inter-
convertible currency, that shall be good
for all dues both to individuals and the
government, the speedy reconciliation
Of silver, and the absolute repeal of the
resumption act, leaving the whole ques-
ton OF time in the return to specie
payment to be determined by those laws
which lie at the bottom of industry, and
shape the financial adjustments of the
country to the needs of business.
Thus voters of Minnesota, the hide
pendent party, with Peter Cooper as its
standard bearer, makes up the only issue
of any practical value in the present
campaign, the issue of finance. The ut
terances Of the party are plain, pointed
and unmistakable. Do not lose sight Of
this, the single issue Of this Centennial
canvass. Vote for man who is pledg-
ed to make it the grand end OF his ad-
ministration to give you reliable, safe
and honest currency, a currency that
is the same for the working man as tor
the bondholder, q currency that will
pay all your, debts, and be always equal
to gold. currency that will enable you
to know how much money you have got
in your pocket when you wake up in the
morning. without consulting the doings
OF the last board.-Rochester Record and
Union.