Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-02-28
ana partly as melancholy evidence
tnat Birchyille possesses positively
the worst Of all existing small BOYS.
Greenback Platform.

Greenback Platform.
The Greenbackers 10 their Nation
al Convention last week adopted the
following platform.
Whereas throughout our entire country
the value of real estate is deprecated, indus
try paralyzed, trade depressed, business in
comes and wages reduced, unparalleled dis
tress inflicted upon the poorer and middle
ranks OF our people, the land filed with fraud,
embezzlement, bankruptcy crime, suffering,
pauperism and starvation, and
Whereas. This state of things has been
brought about by legislation in the interests Of
and dictated by money-lenders, bankers. and
bondho,ders, and
Whereas, While we recognize the fact that
the men in Congress connected with both of
the old political parties have stood up man
fully for the light of the people and met the
threats OF the money power and the ridicule
Of an ignorant and subsidized press yet Meth
er the Republican nor the Democratic parties
IN their national policies propose remedies for
existing evils, and
Whereas. The independent Greenback Par
ty and other associations, more or less effec-
tive, have been unable heretofore to make a
formidable opposition TO the old party organ
izations, and
Whereas, The limiting OF tho legal>tender
quality of greenbacks, the changing of cur
rency bords into coin bonds, the demonetiza-
ton of the silver dollar, the excepting of
bonds from taxation, the contraction of the
circulating medium, the proposed forced re-
sumption of specie payments and the prodigal
waste Of the public lands, were crimes against
the people, and so far as possible the results
OF these criminal acts must be counteracted
by judcous legislation therefore
We assemble in National Convention and
make a declaration of our principles and in
vite all patriotic citizens to unite in an eff
fort to secure financial reform and industrial
emancipation.
This organization shall be known as the Ma
tional Party, and under this name we will
perfect without delay national, State and lo>
cal associations, to secure the election of of
lice of such men only as will pledge them
selves to do all in their power, to establish
these principles
First-It is the exclusive function of the
general government to coin and create money
and regulate its value All bank issues de-
signed to circulate as money should be sup
pressed. Their circulating medium whether
OF metal or paper should be issued by the
government and made full legal tender for
all debts, duties and taxes in the United States
at its stamped value.
Second-There shall be no privileged class
of creditors. Official salaries, pensions, bonds
and all other debts and obligations, public
and private, shall be discharged in the legal
tender money of the United States strictly
according to the regulations of the laws I'M
der which they were contracted.
Third-The coinage of silver should be
placed on the same footing as that of gold
Fourth Congress shall provide said money
adequate to the full employment of labor, and
equitable distribution of its products and the
requirements of business, fixing a minimum
amount per capita to the population as near
as may be, and otherwise regulating its VOL
ume by wise and equitable provisions of law
so that the rate of interest will secure to la
Dor its just reward
Fifth--It is inconsistent with the genius
and spirit of popular government that any
species of private property should be exempt
from bearing its just share of the public bur-
dens. Government bonds and money should
be taxed precisely as other property and
graduated income tax should be levied for
the support of the government and the pay
ment Of its debts
Sixth-Ths public lands are the common
property of the whole people, and should not
be sold 10 spectators nor granted to railroads
or other corporations but should be donated
to actual settlers in limited quantities.
Seventh-The government should by gen.
eral enactments encourage the development
of our agricultural, mineral, mechanical, man
ufacturing and commercial resources, to the
end that labor may be fully and proftably en-
ployed, but no monopoles should be legalized.
Eighth--all useless offices should be ahol-
ished, the most rigid economy enforced in
every branch of the public service and severe
punishments inflicted upon public officers who
betray the trust reposed in them.
Ninth-As educated labor has devised a
means for multiplying production by inven.
lions and discoveries, and as their use requires
the exercises of mind as well as body, such
legislation should be had that the number of
hours of daily toll viii be reduced giving to
the working classes more leisure for mental
Improvement and social enjoyment, saving
them from premature decay and death.
Tenth-The adoption Of an American mon
etary system as proposed herein will harmon-
ize all differences in regard to the tariff and
federal taxation, to reduce and equaliZe the
the cost of transportation by land and dis
tribute equitably the joint earnings of capital
and labor, secure to the producers of wealth
the results Of their labor and skill, muster out
for service the vast army of idlers who under
the extising system grow rich on earnings of
others, that every man and woman may by
their own efforts secure competence, so that
overgrown fortunes and extreme poverty will
be seldom found within the limits Of our re-
public.
Elevenfh--~Both national and state governs
ments should establish bureaus of labor and
industrial statistics, clothed with the power of
gathering and publishing the same
Twelfth-That the contract system of ems
ploying labor in our prisons and reformatory
institutions works great injustice to our mechS
anics and artisans and should be prohibited.
Thirteenth The importation of servile la-
Dor iuto the United States from China is
problem of the most serious Importance and
we recommend legislation looking to its sup>
precision,