The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-04
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.

s1tSu III SSUIlllSDt IL luS
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 PRESSED, bus
ness incomes and wages reduced unspallel-
ed distress inflicted upon the poor and i'd
die ranks of our people, the land filled
with fraud, embezzement, 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 boDdholders: 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 met the threats
of the money power and the ridicule of an
the Republican nor the Democratic parties |
in their national policies propose remedies
for the existing evils; and,
WHEREAS, The Independent Greenback
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 judicious
| legislation;
Therefore, we assemble in National Con.
vention and make declaratiog of our
. principles and invite all patriotic citizens
to unite in an effort to secure financial re-
, form and industrial emancipation.
J The organization shall 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 such men only as will pledge
S 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 10 circulate as money should
be suppressed The circulating medium
s whether of metal or paper, shall be issued
J. by the Government and made full lega
e tender for all debts, duties and taxes in the
n United States at its stamped value.
: Second-There shall be no privileged
t class of creditors-offcial salaries, pension
It bonds and other debts and obligations ii
IS the legal tender money of the United State
n strictly according to the laws under which
IT they were issued.
d Third-That the coinage of silver b.
W placed upon the same footing as that o
a gold.
g Fourth-Congress shall provide sai
y money adequate to the full employment Q
ly labor, the equitable distribution of it
III products and the requirements of business
es fixing minimum amount per capita to tn
population as near as may be, and Other
wise regulating its volume, by wise and {
quitable provisions of law, SO that the rat
be of interest will secure to labor its just IT
be ward.
en Fifth-It ia inconsistent with the geniu
:. and spirit of popular Government that an
' US species of private property should be e1
IL empt from bearing its just share of ih
.rt public burdens Government bonds an
nd money should be taxed precisely as 9th,
:. property, and. a graduated income ia
" should be levied for the support of II
er. Government. and the payment of it's deb,
MS Sixth-The public lands are the cor
all mon property of the whole people, al
- should not be sold to spectators nor gra,
ted totrailroads or corporations, hnt shou
ms be donated to actual settlers in limit
of quantities.
|, to Seventh-The Government should,
vn. general enactment, encourage the develo
ment of our agricultural, mineral, mecha
yes ical, manufacturing and commercial resor
ces, to the end that labor may be fully el
ployed, but no monopolies should be leg
an lied.
ent Eighth-All useless Offices should be
alt bolished- the most rigid economy enfore
o,. in every branch of the public service a
ou' severe punishment inflicted upon publis
re- icers who betray the trusts reposed
!, of them.
e of Ninth-As educated labor has devil
can means for multiplying production BY
,f vention and discoveries, and as their
requires the exercise Of mind as we'll
'lVe body, such legislation should be had Il
the number of hours of daily toll will
: reduced. giving the working classes m
leisure for mental improvement and soc
the enjoyment and saving them from prematl
M.s fhes decay and death.
20, Tenth-The adoptson of an Amerit
her monetary system as proposed herein v
the harmonic all differences in regard to ia
No: and Federal taxation, reduce and equal
ming ing the cost Transportation by land and wal
uare aae distribte equitably the joint earnings
ore capital and labor, secure to the produc
II OF of wealth the results of their labor q
hTH ~ skill, muster out of the service the v
wa hordes of idlers who under the existing $
lar ialr tenn grow rich upon the earnings of 9th,
ID to that every man and woman may by til
well own efforts secure competence so &
Tnts, nn, overgrown fortunes and extrme pove
ear will be seldom found within the limits
pay our Republic
'esn ah Eleventh-Both National and St
Government should establish bureaus
.or labor and industrial atatistics, clothed W
d. power of gathering and publishing
same.
Twelfth-That the contract system
employing labor in our prisens and rel
matory institutions works great in ustice
our mechanics and artizans, and should
prohibited.
oR Thireentn-The importation of serv