The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-01-24
A Very Significant Intervie"
with Wendell Phillips.
The Ground Swell on the Banks OF the
Mississippi River"

The Ground Swell on the Banks OF the
Mississippi River"
Boston Herald
It is undoubtedly we'll known to the
Herald readers that Wendell Phillips,
the well-knOwn exponent OF the
gospel of paper money, has been on
lecturing tour in the West, and with a
view of presenting to our readers the
impressions received by Mr.. Phillips
while gone, a reporter interviewed
him at his residence on Essex street
yesterday afternoon. The old gentle
man was in chatty mood at the time.
and the result OF the interview is as
follows:
s'What has your western trip shown
you to be the state of the public mind
there with regard to the prominent
political questions =
"Well in answer to that question, l
should say l went West supposing
that the financial question was one OF
great prominence. and that the people
there largely sympathized with the
greenback view. l thought / under
stood how far this change in the
public mind extended, and how
widespread was their support Of the
paper money system. But l was
astonished at the profound, intense
feeling on the subject, and how widely
in the ranks of both parties, the con-
viction prevailed that there must be a
change in the financial policy Of the
hot ri
would have to consist in adopting the
greenback theory. / lectured more
than forty times, as far west as
Omaha, and there was hardly Il town
that | entered where | was not sur
rounded by men interested in the
greenback party, who wished me to
address them publicly on that
question. The wish to have silver
remonetiZed is nearly as unanimous
us any political question ever is. |
found more than nineteen men out of
every twenty in favor of that idea.
| do not think the eastern press. the
seaboard press, is at all a ware of the
rapid and deep change in public
feeling on this subject within the last
year. 1t will undoubtedly be one of
the governing elements. if not the
governing element in the next presi-
dental election.
us it, generally speaking subject
Of conversation -
Y es; | think | can say it is the
most frequent subject of conversation.
1t is talked about by citizens when
they meet casually, in the cars, at
hotels, and public assemblies. Yes,
sir, it seems to me to be fixed in the
minds of the people out there that it
is to be the great question of the
future"
docs the West suppose she can
govern the country on this issue =
The Yves. does not suppose that
she alone is to govern the country,
but western men are sure that. unless
circumstances change very materially
the Sodth is to have the governing
iefluence. and the South is almost a
unit on this subject. and, in any COM
bination with the West. she will lie
able to carry this question. over any
presidential veto or other obstacle.
The West is 50 much in earnest that.
unless gratitied by some concession on
this point, they would seem likely to
smash either or both parties. Times
are better there than here. and still
the commercial stagnation and
shrinkage of property is SO great that
no other issues seems for moment
of the slightest importance in com.
parison with this. Sellers and buyers
traders and farmers. and most every
class, except bankers land some of
ttem1. are dead in earnest to break
the yoke of what they consider a false
system-a system which rebounds
only to the advantage Of the seaboard
States. Money to be sure. has fallen
from 10 10 per cent. but it is only
able 10 pay this. hence they feel that
they are in circumstances which make
them slaves To States where capital is
boarded. The old cry. Republication
and national hishonor. that used ~
he flung So freely about by specie
basis men, has TO Il great extent
ceased. and in the respectful tone of
patient argument. or something which
affects TO he argument, now adopted
by specie-hasis men. would seem 10 he
the evidences how clearly they dis
Germ the vast majority which is
growing against them. The eastern
speeie-basis press tionts and insults its
opponents The western specie-hasis
editor meets his opponent with fair
arguments and respectful attention.
They seem TO feel that they are
standing on the eve of coming
majority The seaboard States are
loosing control OF the helm. and. If
they do not wish the West to take the
bit out of its mouth and rush some.
what hotly on its goal. the wiser
method is to meet it half way. ven.
tured to prophesv in the spring OF
1915. At a meeting of the Social Science
association. that this government
never would resume specie payments
by statute, and that authorization
seems TO he about fulfilled. Iventure
to prophesy now that, If met with
timely concession. the West would be
willing to have thu measure restored