The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-08
PETER COOPER AND A COUNTRYS'
GRATITUDE.

1t is refreshing to the weary travel
er in the sands Of Africa, to meet an
Oasis, where green grass and purling
founting greet the eye, and fruit and
flowers hang pendent from every
Dough.
SO it is among our countryS pill
grlmS, Wading through the mud and
mire of political corruption and un-
bridled Selhshness, to meet with one
man among the millions like Hon.
Peter Cooper.
His advent among us, more than
three quarters of u century ago. was
marked by nothing that could indi-
cate his future popularity and true
nobility.
Of poor but respectable parentage
he started with easy gait, and modest
mein, to seek his fortune. His object
was not to grasp it by chicanery fraud
or any overreaching policy in a day;
but to plod on, giving every man his
due, rendering full equivalent for
every dollar. and by force of sheer
worth, perseverance and economy,
amasS what he honestly could, by Civ
ing a round equivalent.
His motto was to Live and let
Live" \ single dollar wrenched by
ingenuity from the unsuspecting, or
wrongfully obtained from any person,
never disgraced or cankered the hon
est ones in his pocket.
a natural sequence, the money he
made by industry and paintaking, re-
NAMED, stood by him, and impercep-
tibly but surely increased, until he
amassed q colossal fortune.
Every dollar represents honest la
Dor or legitimate enterprise, such en-
terprise us makes nationalities and
confer blessings.
And how gracefully his wealth and
honors garland him! He is simply one
of the people. Acts with the people
and for the people. He makes them
the recipients of his bounty, and
builds monuments of his generosity
that will work out benefits to man.
kind for ages. Wealth has not eleva-
ted-it has not that power over such
a Spotless character. He stands above
avarice, SeltiShneSS, envy, and covet-
BUSINESS.
In fact. honest Peter Cooper. the
friend of the friendleeS, stands at the
very front of philanthrophy and true
manllneSS. and is the only rich man
now living who seems to have prop
er conception of life. the uses of
money, and the way TO dispose of it so
as most to benefit mankind. and cover
his tomb with the lasting garlands of
q peoples gratitude, lover and re-
Spect.
Nor is he wanting i'll that mentality
which constitutes greatness-fo only
on this concession, in view of his ster-
ling honesty. can we account for the
amassing of such a fortune.
In fact. his craftsmanship. as shown
on the greenback question, now rising
INTO astonishing prominence, shows
nm to be head and shoulders taller
than any statesman in the land. He
IS, emphatically, the father of this
theory, and if we had no other index
OF his unselfsh character. as a rich
man, this would be enough.
MI. Cooper is in position. in COM
mon with other capitalists, to take
advantage of the people, aggregate
more wealth, and assist in reducing
the common and middling classes to
slavery.
\ On the contrary. against his own in
terest, he has nobly espoused the peo-
pies cause; exposed his designs of
their oppressors: pointed to the only
remedy. and used a large sum of
money united with his great abilities.
in enlightening his countrymen as the
designs of capital, and the trucking
of government.
Unjust gladden. this patriots heart
to see such an array of appreciative
journals all over the land hosting the
greenback flag; to see how the fire is
spreading throughout the country,
and. that in so short a time, it has
conquered in Ohio, and polled $4,000
in Iowa
No prouder monument could be
erected to any man, than Mr.. Cooper