The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-10-28
Declaration Of Principles
or THE
INDEPENDENT PARTY

Our Government is founded solely upon the
consent of the people, and its powers are
| subject to their control. The evils we now
live under have resulted from the acts of
unfaithful representatives, who have set the
interest of party above that of the people
These evils are chiefly displayed in our none
tary system and the monopolies which it has
engendered this system being monarchical
in its principles and subversive of Republi.
can Government And as experience demon
strates that we Ca. have no hope of reform
from existing political parties, it becomes our
Imperative duty to organize a new party, to
the end that We may resist the encroach-
ments OF the money power upon the rights Of
J the people, stay the tide of corruption and
extravaganza which overhows the land, and
place the control of the resources and finances
of the country in the hands of the people
We therefore establish the Independent
party, and declare its principles to be as fol-
| lows
l. 1t is the duty of the Government
establish a monetary system based upon the
faith and resources of the nation, in harmony
with the genius Of this Government, and
adapted to the demands Of legitimate bust
ness. To this end the circulating notes Of all
National and St@e banks, as well as all local
currency, should be withdrawn from circula-
ton, and paper money issued by the Gov
eminent directly to the people without the in
Intervention of any system OF banking corpora
tons, which money shall be a legal tender in
payment of all debts, public and private,
duties on imports included, Except that por-
ton of the interest and principal of the pres
ent public debt that is, by the express terms
OF the law creating it, made payable in me-
tallic money, shall be so paid. This money
to be interchangeable, at the option of the
] haldara xr1fh rauIztoroI l.
bearing rate Of interest not exceeding 8 IS
per cent. per annum.
2. This system Of finance will by stimu-
lating our industries and commerce, soon
make the United States the depository Of the
precious metals of the world.
3. The adoption of this system, by fur
nishing Sufficient money at low interest, will
solve the question of cheap transportation.
| because 1t will enable the railroadt and car
rying trades to relieve themselves Of their
loads OF debt, lower their rates, and enable
| the people to construct additional lines when.
ever internal commerce may require.
4. 1t is the duty Of the Government. in
all its legislation, to keep in view the full de-
velopment OF the agricultural and mineral
resources OF our country and its manufactur-
| ing interests.
5. That the great interests Of productive
industry claim their Just recognition at the
hands OF the Government, and through the
monetary system here proposed all these in
terests can be fully secured.
o. That as the public domain Ia the right
full heritage of the people, it should not be
distributed to spectators or corporations but
reserved for actual settlers.
7. That it is the duty Of the Government
to equalze the bounties Of soldiers, and to
bring to speedy settlement all other Just