The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-06-19
Platform Adopted by the Nation
al Greenbaek Party.

WHEREAS, Throughout our entire coun
try the value of real estate is deprecated
industry paralyzed. trade depressed, bust
ness incomes aud wages reduced, unpar
alleled distress inflicted upon the poore
and middle ranks of our people. the land
| filled with fiaud. euibezzelment, bank
ruptcy. crime, suffering, pauperism anC
starvation: and,
WHEREAs, This state of things has beer
brought about by legislation in the inter
est of and dictated by money lenders
bankers and bOnd-holders and.
WHEREAS, While we recognize the fac
that men in Congress connected with tn,
old political parties have stood up man.
fully for the people, and met the threat,
/ OF the money power and the ridicule oil
an ignorant and subsidized press; yet
neI'her the Republican nor the Democrat.
ic party in their National politics propose
remedies for the existing evils: and,
WHEREAS, The Independent Greehback
/ party, and other associations more OF les,
effective have been unable hitherto u
make formidable opposition to the old
party organizations; and.
! WHEREAS, The limiting Of the legal
tender greebGcks. the changing OF curren'
cy bonds into coin bonds. the denometi-
zation of the silver dollar, the exception o
bonds from taxation. the contraction oil
the circulating medium. the proposed
forced resumption OF specie payments. and
the prodigal waste of the public lands
were crimes against the people. and a.
far as possible the results of these crimi-
nal acts must be counteracted by judici-
Gus legislation Therefore we assemble
IN National Convention and make a de-
claratIon of our principles. aud invite all
patriotic citizens to unite in an effort Ia
secure financial reform and industrial
emancipation. The organization shall be
known as the National party and un~
der this name we will perfect. without
delay, National. State and local Associa-
ton, TO secure the election to office Of such
men only as will pledge themselves to dc
all in their power to establish these
principles.
l. IL is the exclusive function Of the
General Government to coin and create
money and regulate its value; all banks
issues designed TO circulate as money,
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, du.
ties 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~tender money Of the United
States, strictly according to the stIpula~
tons OF the laws under which they were
contracted
3. That the coinage Of silver be placed
on the same footing as that Of gold.
T. Congress shall provide said money
adequate to the full employment of labor
the equitable distribution Of its products
and the requirements of business, fixing
a minimum amount per capita to the
population as near as may be. and other
wise regulating its value 10y wise and
equitable provisions OF law, so that the
rate of interest will secure to labor its
Just reward
). 1t is inconsistent with the genius and
spirit OF popular government that any
species OF private property should be
exempt from bearing its Just share Of the
public burdens; government bonds and
money should be taxed precisely as other
property. and graduated income tax
should be levied tor the support OF the
government and the payment OF its debts.
6 The public lands are tie common
property Of the whole people. and should
not be sold to SPECTATORS nor granted Il
railroads or other corporations, but
should be donated TO actual settlers ia
limited quantities.
| I. The government should by genera
enactments encourage the development o.
our agricultural. mineral, mechanical
manufacturing and commercial resource:
to the end that labor may be fully anC
proftably employed. but no monopolie:
should be legaized.
8 All useless offices should be abol
ished; the most rigid economy favored
IN every branch of the public service
aud severe punishments inflicted upoI
public officers who betray the trusts re
posed in them
g. As educated labor has devised mean
for multiplying the productions by inven
lions aud discoveries, and their use re
quires the exercise OF mind as well a
body. such legislation shotrld be had tina
the number of hours OF daily toll will b.
reduced, giving to the working classe
more leisure for mental Improvement an
social enjoyment, and saving them from
premature decay and death.
10 The adoption of at American mon
etary system. as proposed herein, vii
harmonize all differences in regard {
tariff and Federal taxation, reduce an
equalIze the cost of transportation b
land and water, distribute equitably tn
, JOINT earnings of capital and labor, sc
cure 10 the producers of wealth the re
suits Of their labor and skill. muster on
of service the vast army Of Idlers who
under the existing system grow rich upo
the earnings OF others that every ma
and woman may, by their own efforts, 81
cure a competency, so that over-grOw
fortunes and extreme poverty will b
. seldom found within the limits OF on
, Republic.
IL Both National aud State Govern
menIs should establish bureaus Of labC
and industrial statistics, clothed with th
power OF gathering and publishing III
same.
IL That the contract system Of EN-
: ploying laborerS in our prisons and reiol
: natory institutions works great injustlC
, to our mechanics and artisans, an
' should be prohibited.
e Is The importation of seryile labC
. into the United States from China Is
: problem OF the most serious imPOrtanc,
$ aud we recommend legisl ton looking
its suppression.
The Counterfeit Trade Dollar.
5 The counterfeit trade dollar, of whic