The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-03-28
THE NATIONAL PARTY.
Platform of Principles. Adopted at Toledo.
Ohio, February p, 1878.


country the value of real estate is de-
preciated, industry paralized, trade de-
pressed, business incomes and wages
reduced, unparalleled distress inflicted
upon the poorer and middle ranks of
our people, the land filled with fraud,
embezzlement, bankruptcy, crime, suf-
fering, 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 the men in Congress con-
nected with the old political 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 remo-
cratic party, in their national politics,
propose remedies for the existing evils;
and
WHEREAS, The Independent Green
back party and other associations, more
or less effective, have been unable hith-
erto to makea formidable opposition to
the old party organization; and
WHEREAS, The limiting of the legal
tender quality of greenbacks, the chang
ing of currency bonds into coin bonds
the characterization of the silver dollar,
the excepting of bonds from taxation,
the contraction of the circulating me-
dunn, the proposed forced resumption
of specie payments, and the prodigal
waste of the public lands, were crimes
against the people, and, as far as posi-
BILE, the result of these criminal acts
must be counteracted by judicio us leg
islation:
THEREFORE,, We assemble in nation
al convention and make declaration
of our principles, and invite all patri-
otto citizens to unite in an effort to Sc
cure financial reform and industrial
emancipation. The organization shall
be known as the "National Party" and
under this name we will perfect, with
out delay national, state and local as
sociations to secure the election to Of
flee of such men only as viii pledge
themselves to do all in their power to
establish these principles:
F1RsT-It is the exclusive function
of the government to com and create
money and regulate its value. All
bank issues designed to circulate as
money should be suppressed. The cir
culating medium, whether of metal or
paper, shall be issued by the govern
ment, 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 pen
sions bonds, and all other debts and OBJ
legations, public and private, shall be
discharged In the legal tender money of
the United States, strictly according
to the stipulations of the laws under
which they were contracted.
Resolved, That the coinage
of silver be placed On the same footing
as that of gold.
FOURTH Congress shall provide
said money adequate to the full en-
ployment of labor, the equitable distri-
button of it's products, and the requir-
ments of business, fixing minimum
amount per capita of the popu alton as
near as may be, and otherwise regula-
ting its value by wise and equitable
provisions of law, so that the rate of in
terest will secure to labor its just IT.
ward
Firth 1t is inconsistent. with the
genius of popular government that any
species of private property should be
exempt from bearing its Just share of
the public burdens. Government bonds
and money should be taxed precisely
as other property, and a graduated in
come tax should be levied for the sup
port Of the Government and the pay
ment of its debts.
SlxTH-Public lands are the COM
mon property of the whole people, and
should not be sold to spectators nor
granted to railroads or other corpora
tons, but should be donated to actual
settlers, in limited quantities.
SEvENTH-The government. should
by general enactments, encourage the
development of our agricultural. min
eral, mechanical. manufacturing, and
commercial resources, to the end that
labor may be fully and protitably en-
ployed, but 10 monopolies should be
legalized.
EIGHru-All useless offices should be
abolished. the most rigid economy ia
vored in every branch of the public SER
vice, and severe punishment inflicted
upon public officers WHO betray the
trusts reposed in them.
NINTH AS educated labor has de-
visad means for multiplying production
by inventions and discoveries, and as
their use requires the exercss of mind as
we'll as body, such legislation should be
had that the number of hours of daily
toll will be reduced, giving to the work
mo classes more leisure for improve