The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-13
The Anti-MOnopolist.

their questions we answer as time
and the pressure on our regular du-
ties permit. The following letter'
which explains itself, contains ques-
ton:
WHAT Is MONEY!
Editor Irish World
SIR:-Advocating the principles OF Tue
Greenback party, and endeavOrlng to 90 Tue
best we can to promote the cause, we come 10
YOU with question which we are unable 70
answer. We have hard money manln our
clutches and have partly converted MN "
Greenbackism. But he is a little obstinate,
more so than others we have converted, ana
he says if the following question is answered
! to his satisfaction he will become one OF u.s.
He says that if he has gold dollar he always
has the VALUE of dollar, no matter what
turns up. In 1854 Russia repudiated her
debt and those that held government paper
lost heavily, while those that held gold and
silver HAD THE VALUE OF THE COIN. NOW, IN
case the United States should accept the
Green back Jas standard money and repu-
dtate her debt, would not the holder OF the
Greenback be the loser!
We told him that the question could be an
swered, and that there were provisions mace
| for the above, but we were unable to answer
| it, not being sufficiently posted on the Green
back question Please inform us also how
question, as we intend to start Greenback
| club and promote the cause all we possibly
can. Respectfully,
JOHN +. CRossCUss, and others.
Baltimore, Md.
s.He SAYS if he has gold dollar he
always has the value OF the dollar no
matter what turns up" Not so. Cold
is commodity, just as lead, iron,
copper, and wheat are commodities.
1t has three values-intrinsic, COM
mercial, and legal. Its intrinsic val
ue consists in it's positive use-ltS IN
herent worth to man, independent al
together of all artificial enhancements.
Its commercial value depends upon It's
EMPLOYMENT in works of ornamental
ton. It's legal value is derived from
the Government stamp put upon It.
which stamp makes it mOney-makes
it "dollar.' Now, if the United
States should tomorrow demonetlze
gold the legal value of this commodl
ty would be utterly destroyed, and IL
commercial value, too. would I'M
mensely depreciate in consequence
It would be no longer dollar. COX
is demonetiZed in some countries. Ii
some countries silver is demonetlzed
In the United States it you owe
man hundred dollars and offer hin
; that sum in silver he may reject nine
tyfve parts of it and compel you.by Law
. to paw him nine-five dollars in gold OF
greenbacks. Both gold and sllvel
may yet be entirely demonetized. II
that event bits of paper bearing thu
Government stamp will be the onl.
i. lawful tender in payment OF debts
In that event, too, the little piece Q
yellow metal now called dollar Woul'
not have 1.-the value OF the dollar n
7 matter what turned up"
: Now we come to paper money
! What we want in that way is abst
Lutte money. The greenback is no
such. The greenback has done grea
and immortal service for this cou1
s try; when gold failed in the hour 0
: peril it made it's appearance IN tn
field and brought the nation triun
phantly through fonr years ensar
guined struggle. 1t visited ever
+ manufacturing town and village an
t started the forces of industry IN mt
, ton. And now, every year. 1T save
to the people twenty millions of do
o lars-which twenty millions yea
# the industry of the nation mnst sa'
e die on top of the two thousand milllo
q national debt if Sherman and tt
Bond Lords are allowed to have the
way burning up the greenback ar
d substituting Understanding bonds
j. their place. This is what the gree
g back has done. Yet, technically,
y y is illogical. The greenback is leg
- tender for debt and yet its face sa
it is but "a promise to pay deb
lie We want no promises" The pap
v. money the Irish World contends t
6. should read: