Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-22
GREENBACKs AND 0 L
Letter from Wendell Phillips WI tht
Greenback Conference Wanted.

BOsToN, January II, 1S79.-To the
Editor of the New York Herald A
few days ago you published some re-
marks | made at the Greenback con-
ference in this city. The report was
correct as far as it went, but imper-
feet.
Allow me to state my views a 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 re
monetization of silver. 1t is done,
and the step is not likely to be reyers-
ed.
SecOnd-We claimed that the green
back should not be destroyed, but be
reissued. The secretary of the treas
ury, who was in his usual chronic state
0 fperplexity and bewilderment, glad
ly submitted to this compulsiun; in
deed welcomed our victory. Thus the
derided ''rag'-the 'dishonored rag
lis the national currency to-day and
likely to remain so.
Third-We asserted that if the
greenbacks were made receivable at
the custom house and for all debts
due the government, coin and green
backs would be equal in ninety days,
and that this was the proper step to
be taken.
For this we begged, argued and pc
titioned three years ago. Then we got
no attention. Now the secretary, with
out law or authority, has ordered this
step to be taken, and congress is about
70 sanction what he illegally did
Without this step resumption would
be impossible, or extremely dangerous
if possible. Without this help re-
sumption would be a failure. When.
in March, 1876, ! argued for such a
step before the Boston board of trade.
the SOlOmOns Of that body held up
their hands in holy horror, insisting
hat the government was pledged to
the public creditor to demand its Gus
toms in coin.
1t was very convenient to dOdge-a
plausible excuse but n easily for
gotten the moment the government
needed the help Of such a measure as
I proposed. That pledge to the ma
tional creditor Is as binding to-day as
it was in March, 1876. But the men
who screamed themselves hoarse in
lying talk about the greenbaek as a
dishOnored note now clamOr that tho
government shall break its pledge to
its creditors by receiving greenbacks
at the custom house when ! said
[ would die a bachelor" cried Bene.
dict. Il did not think | should live
until | we're married" When | said
/ would die a. hard mOnsy man. ex-
claims Shefmqn, | did not think |
should live to owe my salvation to
greenbacks.
With these three victories behind
us we now advance to the next out
work of the enemy. In the future, az
in the past, the true policy is to attack
n thing at a time. to pledge the
movement to only one claim at q time
The people can attend to onlJ one is
sue at a time. Every unnecessary
word in a platform robs 1t Of voter,
by the thousand. The next point to
attack * bank issues of currency.
Put only one line on our flag" M
State or National Banks Of Issue.
Let the government Issue all the cur
rency the nation uses. This claim
that the nation shall resume ita goyer-
eighty over the currency, and ito,
share it, as heretofore, with private
corporations debated to-day and
well received in England. All com
mercial nations must see IL jmpor-
lance and all free nations its necessity.
Let journals and conventions dis
cuss all points as freely rs they please
bonds or no bonds characterization
of gold and of all coin; funding the
debt or paying it in ~greenbaeks, aud
all methods of regulating the amount
of currency; but let the party-thc
movement-bc responsible for only
this one claim, an exclusive national
currency. WhoN that step is gained
We will rally on the next. Planted
now on this one issue, we shall not
wait long for victory. But tho mo
ment that point is gained the Repub,
iican party and John Sherman will
claim it as their thunder. Let all
good people remember this. my proph-
ecy, and when, a few years hence, they
hear the loud party boasts Of what
wonders they have dona and how
much we owe them, it will be seen
/ prophesied truly as to their scif.con-
ceit and adroit pretcuse Of being them
selves victorious, while they have
only been slyly stealing the measures
aud principles they have all along de-
uounced. WENDELL PHILLIPS.
The Scientific American has just
discovered a new substance called