The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-19
Grange to arrest its swift descent to de-
struction.
Why cannot the farmers all agree to
work together for self-pr election
BEECHER ANSWERED.

BEECHER ANSWERED.
The Wisconsin Greenback thus replies
to the hard-money platitudes OF that
brilliantly shallow man., Henry Ward
Beecher:
ITO suppose that 100000, ,OOO,in gold
dollars (the amount in this nation is said
to be still less) would be sufficient to
keep trade and commerce in motion, is
too puerile to think of, and we believe
even Mr.. Beecher knoWs better. AS
legal money, gold is largely adulterated,4
and it is also extensivel y counterfelted.
Mr.. Beecher cannot answer the question
why gold dollar one~third alloy, with
the stamp OF the vernment upon 1t.
is not as good doller as if pure gold.
Neither is gold indestructibie, as Mr..
Beecher claims. Moreover, when mil
lions Of gold dollars are sunk in the
ocean, it is clear loss to the govern
ment; but the same destruction OF an
equal amount oflegal tender notes would
be no loss-except the paper and the
cost Of engraving. Gold has not been
zone real sign of property for over 5000
time. has been as much ''real sign" as
gold. Neither is it presumable that
Henry Ward Beecher does not know this
fact; and his attempt to befuddle his
hearers with this assertion about gold is
neither honest or manly.
AS we before said, nations have been
compelled TO use other signs of property,
in the shape of irredeemable bank notes,
bills OF exchange, checks, &c. in fact,
half the business Of the world is done
with bills OF exchange, bank checks. and
paper representatives of values. Neither
can he find any history for his wild as
sertion that gold has been the ''real sign
OF property for 5000 years." About
1860 years before Christ, he will find if
he will read Genesis XXI chap. Is
verse; that when Abraham was about
purchasing of Ephron burial place for
his dead, that he weighed toiEphron
400 sheckles of SILVER, current money
with the merchant" This is the Oldest
account we have Of 'scurrent money
with the merchants; and this was siluer,
not gold; and the transaction took place
only 3.737 years ago.
LII q biblical scholar can make such a
false statement as Beecher has made ir
this connection. what is his word goo(
tor in the other statements?
Mr.. Beecher again says, "much o
the money OF the country was gradually
absorbed in railway and other enter
prises." If he means by this that in th'
building of railways large sums of none,
were paid ont for iron, labor, locomo-
tives, &c., thus giving activity to labo
and business it is correct. But if h.
means by the term absorbed" to insin
uate that railway building blighted pros
perity by using the money to pay th
labor employed in building and stockin!
them, the assertion is foolish. AS wei
insinuate against any and all improve
ments. BY his terms, ''other enterprises,
we do not know what he means. The,
are as ambiguous as some he has use,
during his recent trial. IF he mean
that the legislation of the Republican
party has turned the national treasur
into cremation laboratory, ,wher
$3.50, 900 Of the peoples money, upo
which no interest is paid,was destroye'
. in one day. during the last month, t
make room lor the gold-bearing bond
which will cost the people II, ,939, 900 ii
gold; we say, If he means this kind @
} enterprises" we heartily agree wit
, any kind OF expressions against them.
Ten millions of greenbacks have bee
destroyed within q month and our frac
tional currency is to be burned. Bot
) Of these cost the people nothing. and ar
untaxed To replace them our bonde,
debt is increased, the principal and in
terest are payable in gold, upon whic
, we are to have currency, made by na
: tional banks, which will cost ", at tn
lowest, is per cent.
; Mr.. Beecher again falsi6es history
| thus: sWhy was it that other nation
felt like US the pressure of financial dil
tress? 1t is SO in France; it is so i
England, and in Germany, in Austria, i
l Russia, and in Italy. Why should busi
ness be thus affected all over the world
What is the reason Of all this universs
. commercial depression? The reason i
not hard to find. and when found it
7 some consolation to us to know and be
lieve that there is no mystery in wha
. has befailen US; that there is no riolatio
I of the loUs of commerce inuolred TN 0u
!, distress. Mr.. Beecher! France is nc
in the condition you describe. II 20
: do not know this, you had better g
. home and burn your $500 lecture, an
then spend ten minutes in reading VIII.
Henry Cary Baird and others have to 81
. about the financial condition OF Franc
. and her industrial prosperity; who's
. authoritive statements you dare not cor
a tradict. Men who are not reckless /
the truth even on your Gde Of this final
4 Icial question, do not inclnde France N
Belgium in the list Of nations where i
. idustzy j depressed