The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-21
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.

the reading With brief remarks to the ef-
feet that the Committee was singularly u
Iited in sentiment and taat if the platform
should meet with as unanimous favor in
the Convention as it did in the Committee,
there was hope for the country.
WHEREAS. Throughout our entire coun-
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 filled
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 me: the threats
of the money power and the ridicule of an
| ignorant and subsidized press, yet neither
the Republican nor the Democratic parties
in their national policies propose remedies
for the existing evils; and,
WHEREAS, The Independent Greenbaok
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 judieious
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 shan be known the Ma
tional Party, and under this name we will
perfect, without delay, National, State and
local associations to secure the election to
office of euch 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 a 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-oficiai 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.
a Third-That the coinage of silver be
q placed upon the same footing as that ol
!. gold.
; Fourth-Congress shall provide said
i money adequate to the full employment o.
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 rat
of interest will secure to labor its just re
ward.
Fifth-It is inconsistent with the geniu
and spirit of popular Government that an.
~ species of private property should be ex
.. empt from bearing its just share of th
public burdens Government bonds ant
- money should be taxed precisely as othe
property, and a graduated income ta
.. should be levied for the support of tn
- Government and the payment of its debts
IN Sixth-The public lands are the com
g. mon property of the whole people, an
is should not be sold to spectators nor gran
he ted to railroads or corporations, but shoul
Il be donated to actual settlers in limite
IT. quantities.
t. Seventh-The Government should,
be general enactment, encourage the develop
We ment of our agricultural, mineral, mechar
IN ical, manufacturing and commercial resoul
of ces, to the end that labor may be fully en-
be ployed, but no monopolies should be legal
r. lied.
Eighth-All useless offices should be &
bolished- the most rigid economy enforce
in every branch of the public service an
severe punishment inflicted upon public o.
fcers who betray the trusts reposed i
them.
Ninth-As educated labor has devise
means for multiplying production by in
vention and discoveries, and as their us
:" body, such legislation should be had tha
the number of hours of daily toll will b
" reduced. giving the working classes NOR
leisure for mental improvement and socia
. enjoyment and saving them from prematur
decay and death.
Tenth-The adoptson of an America
40 monetary system as proposed herein will
harmonic all differences in regard to tari
q, and Federal taxation, reduce and equaliz
the cost oftransportation of by land and waite,
r. distribte equitably the joint earnings O
capital and labor, secure to the producer
of wealth the results of their labor an,
skill, muster out of the service the vas
- hordes of idlers who under the existing sys
tenn grow rich upon the earnings of others
~ that every man and woman may by thei
own efforts secure a competence so tha
en- overprown fortunes and extrme novo-,1
will be seldom found within the limits o