The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-13

d frand, ~ t"S =
source :" -, iaboring and ..-. aDd such
y well ~ against p p;saJ and reformed
system ,hat We, the Independent Reform
,..rty of the State Of Illinois, invite the PEG
! PIE Of the state, regardless Of past political
affiliations, to unite with us in the support Of
the platform and ticket Of this convention,
and we appeal to the better Judgment Of all
our business and professional men to lend us
their and and sympathy, remembering, as they
well may, that upon our prosperity and hap
plness depends their success in business.
The Indiana Convention, to its honor be
it said, met the issue fairly and squarely.
After lucidly stating the objects sought to
be accomplished, that they desire a
proper equality and protection for the
week, restraint upon the strong in short,
justly distributed burdens and Justly dis
tributed power" they sum up in the fol-
lowing unmistakeable language
What then are the instrumentalities by
which these wrongs are inflicted
|. Banking and moneyed monopolies,
by which, through ruinous rates of inter
est, the products of human labor are con
centrated in the hands of non-producers
TINS is the great central sources Of these
wrongs, IN and through which all other
monuPohes exist and operate.
,. Consolidated railroads and other
monopohes, whereby all our industries are
taxed to the last mill they will bear, for
the benefit Of the stockholders and stock
jobbers.
3. Manufacturing monopolies, whereby
all small operators are crushed out, and
the prices Of labor and products are de-
termlned with mathematical certainty in
the interest of the capitalists.
A. Lard monopolies, by which the pub
lie domain is absorbed by few corpora
tons and spectators.
>. Commercial and grain monopolies
and speculation, enriching the hloated
corporations on human necessities.
We propose to restore the government
Il the original purpose and. AS far as pos
sibiv. t. remedy these evils and remove
their results first, by abandoning the gold
basis fallacy and establishing monetary
system based on the faith and resources Of
the government, and adapted To the ext
gencIes of legitimate commerce. To this
end the circulating notes of the National
and State Banks, well as all local cur
reucy should be Withdrawn from circula-
ton, and a paper currency issued by the
government, which shall bc a legal tender
ia the payment IL all debts, public and
private, duties on imports included, and
declared equal with gold, the lawful money
Of the United States. This currency or
money To be interchangeable at the pleasure
of the holders for government bonds, bear
ing low rate " interest say 800 the
government creditors To have the privilege
of taking the money OF the bonds at their
election rescrving to congress the right to
regulate the rate AZ interest on the bonds
and the volume Of the currency So AS to
effect the equitable distribution Of the pro-
ducts Of labor between money or non-pro-
ducIng capital and productive industry /;
and by paying the national debt III strict
accordance with the law under which it
was originally contracted, in gold where
specifically promised, but all other forms Of
Indebtedness, including the principal Of
the 80 bonds should be discharged at the
earliest option Of the government III the
legal-tender currency If the United States,
without funding It IN long bonds, or IN any
way increasing the gold on paying and I'M
taxed obligations ut the government.
OF course, We expect a howl of dIssatIs
faction from the money-m"ngers and gold
gamblers on the result, Labored essays on
the absurdity Of making paper rags money,
COMMUNICATIONS against Reputation i'll
disguise" and all that kind OF argument ;
but then such stuff goes IN at one ear and
out Of the other II don't effect the issue,
and fortunately, farmers and workingmen
have come to the conclusion to think and