Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-04
Those Greenback Questions.

the FREEMAN rs one of the few newspapers
that mean to be fair, | would not have
made the inquiry by postal card which
you do me the honor to print. | should
have taken it for granted that, according
to the manner of political editors, you did
ask those questions with intent to begulie.
We are, all OF us who are old enough.
thoroughly posted in those editorial tactics
which are exemplifed in the charges
banded between the republican and DEM
ocratic press, and between discordant sec.
tions. If one-tenth of what is thus alleged
by Americans against Americans were
true. who would not fly this continent in
continentlyP
Now as regards the green5ackers.
Doubtless there are among them many
citizens with but dim apprehension OF
the cause of the trouble and distress of the
times, -discontented men who growl be-
cause they feel sore-dissatslied men who
are ready to listen to and support any
thing that looks plausible in the remedial
way. But are they to blame, OF to he
wondered ut for thatp Can simple citi-
zen be expected to understand thoroughly
great and new public issues that our
largest statesmen are at loggerheads
over-with here and there one honest and
modest enough TO Say he don't know much
about itp Yet n simple citizen can feel as
sore over public wrongs as the wisest pa
triut. He can want remedy as much ms
though he knew the right one. You make
good deal of money on p'tent-medicne
ads, don't youP And the people buy cart
loads of quack compounds To cure diseases
That the doctors do not minister to salts
factorily. have no doubt an equal demand
will always be found for quack politics,
and that the demand will be brisk when
the public health is greatly suffering.
This is time when old political issues are
expiring, yet when it is plain to be seen
that all political wrongs have no: been
righted. We may quote the poet who de-
clares that, Few are the wrongs that
men endure which laws create, or laws
can cure;' yet nevertheless it is n fashion
of the American people to believe differ
emily and sometimes TO act on that belief
The Granger" National and
Greenback" movements have been as
genuine manifestations of public dscon-
tent over wrong believed to originate in
bad laws and durable by their repeal, or
by new enactments, as was the anti slavery
movement. There was no little folly and
absurdity worked into the latter-many
mpracticable plans, many unjust asper-
sions upon the conduct and motives OF
of those who framed the constitution and
agreed to sectional compromises to pre-
serve it. But it worked out clear at last
though the ferment was formed of the
best blood of the nation,-and Justice for
| IL bl,,.1y ~,
1t becomes the thoughtful publicist and
especially those editors who srove on the
right side in that contest not to close their
ears to any great popular demand, far less
to ridicule and belitlle it. There is no
justice now in quoting every fool, fanatic
and enthusiast rs authoritative opponents
Of the real demands of the popular move
ment we are discussing, any more than
there was in holding up the wild demands
of anti-slayery fanaticism, or the reaction.
ary bowls of Bob Tombs and LEFT Davis az
the sober purpose of north or south w.
| What ia If snhstantiailv unJor all tho
froth and fsrment which ,bo d,asa a. tl,J
maSses ara in,n"ndinmp WIZ G'1 $50" slo,'
~ ~h;oh ,bo;,. $50 "a n na' 10 .,i' io''l
criss ore The mani feot,,innp ~ -
o,bnr ~ onv loss ,hnn tha meta ,hio s sny
,hat Tho ,i"I van nF,ho n,J;D ,,'aso'e i1a'
70 govern il r. thoir own narsanal o LIS
tods and 70 ,bo Inos af al th 9ot a, "u Wv h
1919 Snnt ,ha ,Ia,a.nd wv ,oso y, ;n1
P.o prido 'nr", ino that !, ome upon whioi,
W. c p w. o' $40 Y'n,o ~ WIS iii'.ue anu
nir, 80 y tnaa' I,S S ",on lucy nov
o"rs io. iut Ga; "nu Us from 'ol-
uo .h. w. ouv '.iis!ieI Iiic WoIA' aS
lucy 'liousnv' ~ o'l ;i.s an "rlstocFa,
~ iLo - Jul Io"s.'u'lono anu laws?
'h',iA ~ &c. my NV approve an Tue
lnetilous P!oLoseu ior remedy; IN the ma,
'u.o vi 'ihnSs many VIII ne discarded
alter uiscusS'oh' ouc l. rs an american OF
ao'o e 'h "noes.iy' M my nat IN non
y! Vi lii's demonstration tilat proves the
'i"'ii'y Vi ieVoiu.ion"iy prihcipies. >,
Aho nov " YOUR ques.'ons' 20 "lllGn all
Nv. :. IA; ,u"y ooon w aos Pleiace, rils,
oanara,;,;as eand oouaa 5oI Iu'' sa.olns
o., ! ,binr ,beI, aro do;no !, .,Pp', ~
rs, -, tho,, nan T5a;r 6rst nlss;oo,;,,o ,,o;.,,
IL Mainly The Observation-Disclosures IF the
national banks MS banks of issue. and the
exercise of power by the general govern
ment (Which Daniel Webster lone AGO de-
clared it had unwisely negectedl, of issu-
ing all the money of the country, metallic
and paper. ms they are all agreed upon
and it finds prominent place in all their
platforms. Many, You say, admit, in the.
ory, this claim of the greenbackers. But.
you ask, {" is that what the real green
hacker wantsP' Do you remember when
the democratic papers were asking
whether the exclusion of slavery from The
territories was what the genuine republican
wanted. and in just that invidious "
tone? That, in my judgment, is what the
greenbackers want now; but if it is seen
to be necessary hereafter to take other
measures IN order to make that secure, they
will be taken. The American people know
how to secure their purposes, and thew
may be trusted to do The work well and
safely.
Second, YOU ask, And would the new
adjustments in the business of the country
that a return to old banking system would
cause. not cost more than the SAVING
made on the interest of the bonds now held
rs security for the national bank curren.
cy?' AS | understand it, the greenbackers
do not propose to allow the re.establisb.
ment of any banks of issue, state or other.
We are not going to return like dog to