The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-07
THE N.liONiL PARTY.
Platform of Principles. dopted at Toledo. A
Chic. February p, 1873.


WHEREAS, Throughout our entire
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 pemo-
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 demonstration 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 judicious 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
soeiations to secure the election to of.
flee of such men only rs viii pledge
themselves to do all in their power to
establish these principles:
FIRsT-It IS the exclusive function
OF the government TO coin and create
money and regulate its value. All
bank issues designed to circulate as
money should be suppressed. The cir
culatinr medium. whether OF saetal 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, anu all other debts and OBJ
legations, public and private, shall be
discharged IN the legal tender money oil
the United States, strictly according
to the stipulations of the laws under
which they were contracted.
TuIRD-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-
plovment OF labor. the equitable distri-
button of It's products and the requir-
ments of business, fixing minimum
amount per capita of the popu'asion 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 VIII secure to labor its just. ne