Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-26
NO. 49.
miscellaneous.
GRREENBiCks.
NATIONAL CONVENTION AT TOLEDO. THE PLAT.
FORM.

The National Greenback party held its first an
nual convention at Toledo Friday Twenty EIGHT
states were represented. The Committee on Per
manent Orga. zatIOn rep )rted for President j dse
Francis w uIhes Of Pennsylvania. Among
the Wee Presidents were Charles Mclean OF
Massachusetts, Scion Chase of Maine, and Fran
els Gillett OF Connecticut. The following plat
form Was read and adopted without debate
1he organization shall be known as the "Na-
tional Party" and under the name we shall per-
feet without delay, the NATIONAL State and local
associations, to the election to Office of such
men only as VIII pledge themselves to do all 10
their power to establish these principles
Fnst-lt Is an exclusive function Of the general
government to com and create money, and regn-
late its value. All bank issues designed to cir
culate as money should be suppressed. The cir
culsting medium, 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, duies aud taxes in the
United States, at its stamped value.
SecOnd-Ihere shall be no privileged class Of
creditors; Official salaries, pensions, bonds and all
other debs aud Obligations. public aud private
shall be discharged ia the legal tender money OF
the nited States strictly according the stipu-
lations of the laws under which they were con-
tracted
Third-That the coinage of silver be placed on
the same footing as that OF gold.
Fourth-Ihat Congress shall provide said money
adequate to the fall employment OF labor, eyuit-
able distrlhuuoQ OF its products and requirements
Of business, hXing minimum amount per capita
to the population as near as may be aud otherwise
regulating It's value by wise and equitable prov sion
by law so that the of interes. will secure to
labor its Just reward.
tilth--lt is inconsistent with the genius and
spiilt Ct popular government that any species
CT private property should be exempt from bear
ing It's just share Of pubic burdens. Government
bonds and money should be taxed precisely as
other property, and gradual income tax should
oe levied ior he support Of the government and
payment tf debts.
SiNth-Public lands are common property of the
whole people, aud should not be sold to speculs.
tons uor granted to railroads other corporations
but should be donated to actual settlers in limited
quAut,tie
Seventh-The government should, by enact
meuts, encourage the development of our agricul-
tulai, mineral, mechanical, manufacturing and
commercial resources, to the end that labor may
be fully and plottaby employed, but no monopo-
lies should be legaiized.
Eighth-lhat all useless offices should be ahol-
ished, the most rigid economy favored in every
branch Of public service, and severe punishment
iohicted upon public officers who belrays the trus
reposed in them.
Ninth-Ihst educated labor has devised
means for multiplying production BY inventions
and discoveries, ana as their requires the ex-
eicise OF mind Us well body, such Legislation
should be had that the numbers of hours of daily
toll be reduced, giving TO the working classes
more leisure for mental improvement aud enjoy
ment, and saving them from premature decay and
death
Ivuth-The adoption of an American monetary
system as proposed herein will harmonic all the
differences 10 regard to tariff and federal taxation,
reduce and equaize the cost of transport alton by
land and water, distribute equtably the joint earn
lDgs of capital and labor, secure to the producers
Of wealth the results OF their labor and skill mus
Ter out of service the vast army of iders who
der the existing system grow rich upon the earn
lngs OF Others, that every man and woman may by
their own Efforts secure competence, so that
ovelgr0wn fortunes aud extreme poverty will be
seldom found within the limits of our replblic.
Eleventh-Both the National and Stale govern
| ments should establish bureaus of labor and iu-
dustrlal statistics, clothed with the power of gath
ering and Publishing the same.
1weifh-Ihat the contract system of employ
| ing labor in our prisons and reformatory institu-
tons works great injustice TO our mechanics and
artisans, and should be prohibited.
Ihirteenlh-The importation of servile labor into
the United States from China is a problem of most
serious importance, aud we recommend Legislation
| iug to It's suppress on.
Mr. Dutant from the District of Columbia read
| a despatch from Hon. b F. Butler, which urged
| the convention to denOunce the modification in
the Silver bll insisted on by gold men, and to pass
antl-l esuu puon resolutions.
A resolution was unanimously adopted denounc-
ing the Silver bill just passed in Congress as
dcluson, and Indignantly condemning it as a
| fin ncai measure.
The convention then adjourned sine die.