The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
The "National Party.v

PLATFORM.
WHEREAS, Throughout our entire
country the value of real estate is de-
preciated, industry paralyzed, trade
depressed, business, incomes and
wages reduced, unparalleled distress
inflicted upon the poorer and middle
ranks of our people, the land filled
with fraud, enibezzlement, bank
ruptcy, 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 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 Demo-
cratic party in their National policies
propose remedies for theexisting evils;
and.
WHEREAS, The Independent Green
back party, and other associations
more or less effective, have been una
BILE hitherto to make formidable op-
position to the old party organizations
and,
WHEREAS, The limiting of the
legal tender quality of greenbacks, the
changing of currency bonds into coin
bonds, the demonetization of the silver
dollar, the excepting of bonds from
taxation, the contraction of the circu-
lating medium the proposed forced re-
sumption 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 counteracted bv
judicious legislation. Therefore, we
assemble in National Convention and
make II declaration of our principles,
and invite all patriotic citizens to
unite in an effort to secure financial
reform and industrial emancipation.
The organization shall be known Us
the National party" and under this
name we will perfect, without delay,
National sStateand Local Associations,
to secure the election to Office of such
men on,y 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
create money and regulate its value I;
ali bank issues designed to circulate
us money should be suppressed; the
circulating medium whether of metal
or paper, shall be issued by tie Gov
ernnent and made full legal tender
tor all debts, duties and taxes in the
United States at its stamped value
2. There shall be no privileged
class of creditors; official salaries,
pensions, bonds, and all other debts
and Obligations, public and private,
shall be discharged in the legal-tendcr
money OF the United States, strictly
according To the stipulations of the
Laws under which they were con-
tracted.
8. That the coinage of silver he
placed on the s;,nle footing as that OF
gold.
4. Congress shall provide said
money adequate to the fun employ
ment of labor, the equitable distribu-
ton of its products and the require
mcnts OF business, fixing minimum
amount per capita to the population ;ls
near as maybe, and otherwise rcgulat-
ing its value by wise and equitable
provisions. OF law, so that the rate oi
interest will sccuIc to labor its lust re.
ward.
D. 1t is inconsistent with tic genius
and spirit OF popular Government that
any species of private property shGuld
he exempt 1rOm bearing lis jus share
OF the public burdens: Government
bonds and money should be taxed
precisely as other property, and Il
graduated income tax Should he levied
ior the support OF Government and
the payments OF its debts
q. The public lands are the COM
mon property of the whole people,
and should not he sold to spectators
nor granted to railroads or other cor
poralions, but should be donated to
actual settlers in limited quantities.
Z. The Government should by gen
eral enactments encourage the de-
velopmento. ouragricuitural, mineral,
mechanical, manufacturing and COM
mercial resources to the end that labor
may he fully and protitably employed.
but no monoplies should he iegalized.
s. All useless offices should he
abolished; the most rigid economy
favored in every branch of the public
service. and severe punishments in
tiicted upon public officers who betray
the trusts repo>ed in them.
0. 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 legisla-
ton should be had that the number OF
hours of daily toll will be reduced,
giving TO the working classes more
leisure for mental improvement and
social enjoyment, and saving them
from premature decay and death.
10. The adoption of an American
monetary system, as proposed herein,
will harmonize ealiditference in regard
to tariff and Federal taxation, reduce
and equaiize the cost of transportation
by land and water, distribute equita-
bly, 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 existing
system, grow rich upon the earnings
of others; that every man and woman
may, by their own efforts, secure n
competence, so that OvergrOwn for
tunes and extreme poverty will be sell
dom found within the limits of our re-
public.
IL. Both National and State Gov
ernments should establish Bureaus OF
Labor and Industrial Statistics,
clothed with the power of gathering