The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-05-30
OF PHILADELPHIA.
THE PLATFORM.

ductions, rich minerals and temperate
climate could, wisely governed, sustain
in comfort and even luxury popula-
ton tenfold greater than at present oc-
cupy it. Nevertheless, with an enter
prising, industrious people, after a Sc
ries of abundant harvests, manufac-
turers are idle, business PROSTATE, labor
unemployed and starvation impending.
This condition of affairs has been pro-
duced by the control of the producing
interests of the country by the nom
producer and by legislation in favor of
productive capital and as against
the interest Of the laborer of the coun-
try. The policy adopted has reduced
the value of property, public and pri-
vate, over one-half whilst National,
State, municipal and private debts,
nominally the same have, by reason Of
such reduction, practically doubled
From such policy bankruptcy of the
producing interests has been the nat
ural and inevitable result. For such
control both the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties are responsible, and the
wisdom of such policy has been af-
firmed by the Republicans at Cincin-
natl and the Democrats at St. Louis, and
by both parties in their State platforms
adopted in Pennsylvania. Wisdom
would dictate as remedy for existing
evils, not only the repeal of pernicious
laws and the establishment of a wise
and judicious financial system, framed
in the interest of the productive labor
of the country, but also the condemna-
ton of the people, manifested at the
ballot-box, of the Democratic and Re-
publican parties, by whom the produ-
cling interestsof the country have been
betrayed; therefore it is
Resolved, That neither the Demo-
cratic nor Republican parties of the
country are entitled to the confidence
of the people or worthy of their sup
port, and that their record in the past
has been such as to render any pledge
they may make in the future as unre-
liable and unworthy of credit, to be re-
garded as pledges made under fear of
public wrath, to be unredeemed if by
reason of such pledges public indigna-
tiof is allayed.
ResolUed, That we affirm and in
dorse the platform of principles adopt
ed by the Toledo National Convention
on the 22d of February, 1873.
RESOLVED, That as the power to Gre
ate money is the highest prerogative of
government, and as upon the regula-
tion of the volume and value of such
money, by wise and judicious legisla-
ton, depend the prosperity and welfare
of the nation, such power should be
jealously guarded and controlled, and
no power to regulate either it's volume
or value should be given to banks or
other moneyed corporations which by
reason of such power could subserve
private ends and at will contract or ex-
pand the currency of the country and
thus hold all producing and laboring
interests in absolute bondage.
Resolved, That the present national
banking system is not only burthen-
some to the people by reason of the
substitution of an inferior currency
for money at heavy expense to the
country in the useless payment of in.
terest on bonds, but by reason of the
power in them such banks are obtain
ing permanent control of the govern
ment and are becoming the absolute
masters of all the business interests of
the country, and that in the interests of
themanufacturer, farmer, the mechanic
and the laborer, national bank cur
rency should be withdrawn from cir
culation and full legal-tender money
substituted by the government in lieu
thereof.
RESOLVED, That as the wealth of the
nation is founded upon labor, the la
borer should be protected in his just
rights. 1t is desirable that the hours
of labor should be so limited as to af-
ford the laborer an opportunity to cul-
tivate his mental faculties and enjoy
rational social intercourse with his
friends. TO earn such reasonable wa
ges as may be an equitable proportion
of the profits of his industry, and this
so that he may ameliorate his condi-
ton and obtain the comforts and lux
uries of life, and thus, by increasing
consumption, open new avenues for in
dustry, and new fields for labor. To
educate his children, and thus, through
universal education, elevate labor and
the character of the laborer. For the
purpose of attaining these ends,
Resolved, That the prison contract
system should be prohibited; that the
Federal and State Governments and
municipal corporations should limit the
hours of labor; that the manufacture
ing, mining and farming and laborers'
interests of the country be protected:
FIRST, By lowering the rate of inter-
est on money, and effecting this by the
government issuing full legal-tender
money sufficient for the wants of trade
and regulating its value and its volume
by wise and judicious legislation.
SECOND. By the protection of Amer
ss.I ..t. lNxrf fI,. -