Excerpt from The Political and Financial Opinions of Peter Cooper The "opinions," financial and political, formed by Mr. Peter Cooper and given in the following pages, have been the result of much anxious thought, reading, and reflection during the last five years, under the pressure laid on every thoughtful mind and patriotic heart by the current events of the times. These events, confessedly, both in politics and in finance, have been disastrous and unhappy upon the interests and prosperity of the American people. Men have been divided as to the true reasons of this unhappy state of facts, but still all are agreed that such facts exist, and the causes of our political and financial troubles should be dispassionately inquired into, and the remedies should be applied speedily; for we are fast drifting, as a nation, into anarchy and ruin. The republic is in danger, and it behooves every man to be at his post as a citizen and a voter. The questions involved are very simple, and with a little reflection and true patriotism, the simple ideas involved in the public policy of this government can be understood by every intelligent voter. Methods of administration are sometimes very difficult to determine, and require large experience and great knowledge of affairs. But the principles of public policy on which parties are formed, are generally very simple, and can be understood by the average American mind, if men would but use their own reason, and not pin their faith to party leaders whose interest it may be to mislead the people. Mr. Cooper has a hearty faith in the good sense and patriotism of the American people, when questions affecting the safety and honor of the republic are fairly put before them. He, himself, has only a Common education, a common sense, and an earnest American patriotism to bring to bear on these questions of public policy. He, therefore, appeals to the American people from the common standpoint of thought and feeling, which belongs to all, and gives his views in a plain and hearty manner, "with good will to all, and with malice toward none." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.