The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13
GREENBACKS AND GOLD.

LETTER FROM WENDELL PHILLIPs-wHAT THE
GREENBACK CONFERENCE WANTED.
BOSTON. Jan. II, 1879.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
A few days ago you published some remarks
made at the Greenback Conference in this city The
report was correct far as it went but imperfect
Allow me to state my views little more definitely.
think the greenback party or the new finance
party has been thus far uniformly victorious and has
gained everything it has asked
First-That party demanded the remonetization OF
silver 1t is DONE and the step is not likely to be
versed.
Second-We claimed that the greenback should not
be destroyed but be reissued The Secretary of the
Treasury. who in his usual chronic state of per-
plexity and bewilderment gladly submitted to this
compulsion; indeed welcomed our victory. Thus the
derded .rag"-the "dishonored rags the national
currency to-day and likely to remain SO.
Tird-We asserted that il the greenbacks were
made receivable at the Custom House and for all debts
due the government coin and greenbacks would be
equal in ninety days, and that this was the proper
step to be taken.
For this we begged. argued and petitioned three
years ago. Then we got no attention Now the Sec
rotary. without law or authority, has ordered this
step to be taken and Congress is about to sanction
would be impossible extremely dangerous II pos
sible without this help resumption would be a
failure. When, in March, 1876. argued for such a
step before the Boston Board of Trade the Soomons
of that body held up their hands in holy horror, in
sising that the government was pledged to the pub
lie creditor to demand its customs in con 1t was
very convenient dodge plausible excuse
but easily forgotten the moment the gov
eminent needed the help of such a measure
proposed. That pledge to the national creditor
is as binding to-day it in March. 1876 But tho
men who screamed themselves hoarse in lying talk
about the greenback a dishonored note now camor
that the government shall break its pledge to its
creditors by receiving grcenbacks at the Custom
House! "When said I would die bachelor" cried
Benedict, Il did not think should live till were
married" When said would die hard money
man, excaims Sherman, did not think should live
to my salvation to grcenbacks.
With these three victories behind us we now adj
to the next outwork of the enemy In the
future in the past the true policy is TO attack
thing at timc-to pledge the movement to only
claim at time. The people can attend to only one
issue at time Every unnecessary word i'll a plat
form robs it of voters by the thousand The next
point to attack is bank issues of currency Put only
line on our flag mo State or National Banks OF
ISSUE" Let the government issue oil the currency
the nation uses. This caim-that the nation shall
resume its sovereignty the currency, and not
share it, heretofore. with private corporatonsis
debated to-day and well received in England. All
commercial nations must soon see its Importance
and all free nations its necessity
Let journals and conventions discuss all points as
freely they please-bonds or no bonds; demon
citation OF gold and OF all con funding the debt
paying IL in grcenbacks, and all methods of regulating
the amount of the currency; but let the party-the
movement-be responsible for only this one claim.
an exclusive national currency. When that step Is
gained we will rally on the next Planted now on
this issue shall not wait long for victory But
the moment that point is gained the republican party
and John Sherman will claim ii AS their thunder"
Let all good people remember this, my prophecy.
and when, few years hence they hear the loud
party boasts of what wonders they have done and
how much we owe them, ii will be seen prophcsed
truly to their selfconceit and adroit prctence of
been slyly stealing the measures and principles they
have all along denounced WENDELL PHILLIPS.