The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-06
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.


General Samuel F. Carey, as Chairman
read the subjoined resolutions, prefaceing I
the reading with brief remarks TO the ef I
feet that the Committee was singularly u
Eited in sentiment and that if the platform |
should meet with as unanimous favor in |
the Convention as il did in the Committee, !
there was hope for the country.
WHEREAS. Throughout our entire eoun-
try the value of real estate is deprecated
industry paralyzed, trade depressed, bus
ness incomes and wages reduced, unrpallel-
ed distress inflicted upon the poor and mid
die 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 interest
of, and dictated by money lenders, bankers
and bondholders: and,
Whereas, While We recognize the fact
that men in Congress connected with both
the old parties have stood up manfully for
| the rights of the people, and met the threats
of the money power and the ridicule of an
| ignorant and subsidized press, yet neither
the Republican nor the Democratic parties
their national policies propose remedies
/ FOR the existing evils; and,
WHEREAS, The Independent Greenback
party, and other associations more or less
effective, have been unable hitherto to make
a formidable oppositiod to old party organ
izalions, and
WHEREAS The limiting of the legl ten
der quality of Greenbacks, the changing of
currency bonds into coin bonds, the demon
etization of the silver dollar, the excepting
of bonds from taxation, the contraction of
the circulating medium, the proposed
forced resumption of specie payments
and the prodigal waste Of the public
lands, were crimes against the people, and
as far as possible, the results of these Grim
inal acts must be counteracted by .iudicious
legislation;
Therefore, we assemble in National Con-
vention and make a declaratiog of our
principles and invite all patriotic citizens
to unite in an effort to secure financial re-
form and industrial emancipation.
The organization shall be known the Ma
J tional Party, and under this name we viii
perfect, without delay, National, State and
local associations to secure the election to
Office of such men only as will pledge
themselves to do all in their power to es-
tablish these principles.
First-It is the exclusive function of the
General Government to coin and create mo-
: ney and regulate its value. All branch is
sues designed to circulate as money should
be suppressed. The circulating medium
whether of metal or paper, shall 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, pension
bonds and other debts and obligations in
the legal tender money of the United States
strictly according to the laws under which
they were issued.
I. Third-That the coinage of silver be
placed upon the same footing as that ot
gold.
ourth-Congress shall provide said
/ money adequate to the full employment o.
labor, the equitable distribution of its
, products and the requirements of business
fixing minimum amount per capita to the
population as near as may be, and other
wise regulating its volume, by wise and e
? quitable provisions of law, so that the rate
of interest will secure to labor its just re
! ward
Fifth-It is inconsistent with the genius
and spirit Of popular Government that any
species of private property should be ex
empt from bearing It's just share of The
public burdens. Government bonds anC
money should be taxed precisely as othel
: property, and graduated income ta2
n should be levied for the support of tn,
e Government and the payment of It's debts
t. Sixth-The public lands are the com
(, mon property of the whole people, ant
p should not be sold to SPECTATORS nor gran
b ted to railroads OF corporations, but shoult
it be donated to actual settlers in Limited
is quantities.
a Seventh-The Government should, b
IL general enactment, encourage the develop
7, ment of our agricultural, mineral, mechan
% ical, manufacturing and commercial resoul
1t ces, to the end that labor may be fully EN-
ployed, but no monopolies should be legal
lied
d Eighth-All useless offices should be a
,e bolshed the most rigid economy enforce
D. in every branch of the public service an
10 severe punishment inflicted upon public O.
10 ficers who betray the trusts reposed i
90 them.
le Ninth-As educated labor has devise
We means for multiplying production by il
SIS yention and discoveries, and as their Us
IN requires the exercise OF mind as well
e. body, such legislation should be had thu
Ut the number of hours of daily toll will t
O. reduced, giving the working classes MOI
leisure for mental improvement and socis
II. enjoyment and saving them from prematul
decay and death.
OF Tenth-The adoptson of an America
le monetary system as proposed herein wi
TX harmonic all differences in regard to tari
e, and Federal taxation, reduce and equaliz
oi the cost oftransportation by land and VIZ te
Us distribte equitably the joint earnings {
lf capital and labor, secure to the producer
m of wealth the results of their labor an
"
O. hordes of idlers who under the existing sys
y tenn grow rich upon the earnings of other
1e that every man and woman may by thei