The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-02-28
THE NEW PARTY.
Klarae Convention was held at

Alarge Convention was held at To-
ledo on Friday for the purpose of or
ganking snew party that is expected
to wipe sout both the other political
lorganizatfons1of the country. This
new party was christened "The Ma
tional Party" Aside from choosing
officers, laying down platform of
principles and considerable speech
making, nothing Of Importance was
done. The committee on resolutions
rerofted-the -foilowing,r which was
adopted:tet5 fssYzT4 safor
l. isroWHEREAsy Throughout our entire
country the value of real estate is de-
preciated, industry paralyzed, trade
| depressed, ed,business, incomes aud wages
reduced, unparalleled distress infiict-
ed upon the poorer and middle ranks
of our people, the land filled with
fraud, ,embezZlemen t,bankruptcy,cr ,crime
suffering pauperism and starvation;
and,
Q 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
swithr both the. old political parties
have stood up manfully for the rights
Of the people, and met the threats OF
the money power and the fidicule of
an ignorant ahd,subsidized press; yet,
neither the RepublicannOrit the Demo-
cratic party in their National policies
propose remedies for the existing
evils; and, ''i
WHEREAS, The Independent Green
back party ,and other associations more
or less effective, have been unable
hitherto to make a formidable Oppo-
sition to the old party Organizations !;
and, Sfsi' u f'hf ~ 'eifh at'-
/ WHEREAS, The limiting of the legal
TENDER. quality of greenbacks, the
changing of currency bonds into coin
bonds, the decentralization of the sill.
yer 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 criminal acts must be counter
acted byjudicious legislation. There
fore we assemble in National COnven-
tion and make a declaration of our
principles, and invite all patriotic cit
izens to unite in an effort 10 secure
financial reform and industrial eman-
cip8tion. The organization shall be
known as the National Party" and
under this name we will perfect, with
out 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.
establish these principles.
l. 1t is the exclusive function of the
General Government to coin and cre-
ate money and regulate it's 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
ali debts, duties and taxes in the
United States at its stamped value.
2. There shall be no privileged class
of creditors; official salaries, bonds
and all other debts and obligations,
public and private shall be discharg-
ed in the legal tender money OF the
United States, s<rictly accordingto the
stipulations of the laws under which
they were contracted.
3. That the coinage of silver be plac-
ed on the same footing as that of gold.
4. Congress shall provide said mon
ey adequate to the full employment of
of labor, the 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
value by wise and equitable provisions
| of law, SO that the rate of interest will
secure to labor its just reward.
3. 1t 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 burdens; Government
bonds and money should be taxed pre-
ciscly as other property, and a gradu-
ated income tax should be levied for
the support of Government and the
payment of its debts.
b. The public lands are the common
property of the whole people, and
granted to railroads or other corpora
tlons, but should be donated to actual
settlers in limited quantities.
Z. The Government should by gen.
eral enactments encourage the devel
opment Of our agricultural, mineral,
mechanical, manufacturing and COM
mercial resources to the end that labor
may be fully and probably employed,
but no monopolies should be legalized. |
8. All useless offices should be abol-
-,shed the most rigid economy favor
ed in every branch of the public SER
vice, and severe punishments inflicted |
upon public officers who betray the |
trusts repOsed in them
3 AS educated labor has devised |
means for multiplying the productions |
by inventions and discoveries, and |
their use requires the exercise of mind |
as well as body, such legislation should |
be had that the number of hours OF
daily toll will be reduced, giving to
the working classes moro leisure for |
mental improvement and social enjoy
ment, and saving them from prema-
turc decay and DEATH.
10. The adoption of an American
monetary system, as proposed herein,
will harmoniZe all differences in re-
gard to tariff and Federal taxation, re-
duce and eqnalize the cost of transpor-
tation by land and water, distribute
equItably the joint earnings of capital
and labor, secure TO the producers of
wealth the results of their labor and
skill, muster out of service the vast
army of idlers who, under the exist
ing system, grow rich upon the earn.
ings of others; that every man and
woman may, by their own efforts, Sc
care competence, so that overgrown
fortunes and extreme poverty will be
seldom found within the limits of our
republic.
i H. Both National and State Govern
ments should establish Bureaus of La
bOr and Industrial Statistics, clothed
with the power of gathering and pub
fishing the same.
IL. That the contract system of en-
ploying laborers in our prisons and
reform in ct iiiuiianc yuorlcs |