Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-15
The National Party Platform.

principles of the party in all the states:
Resolved, That neither the democratic
nor the republican party Of the coun-
try are entitled to the confidence of the
people. or worthy of their support; and
that their record in the past has been
such as to render any pledge they may
make in the future as unreliable and as
unworthy of credit to be regarded as
pledges made under fear Of public
wrath, to be unredeemed if by reason of
the pledge public Indignation is allayed.
Resolved, That we reaffilm and en-
dorse the platform and principles adopt
ed by the Toledo national convention
on the 22d of Feb. 1873.
RESOLVED, That as the power to create
money is the highest prerogative of the
value and volume Of such money
by wise and judicious legislation
depends the prosperity and welfare Of
the nation; such power should be zeal
ously guarded and controlled, and no
power to regulate either it's volume or
value should be given to banks or other
monied corporations, who by means of
such power could subserve private
ends and be controlled, and no power to
regulate either it's volume or values
should be given to banks or other
monied corporations, who by means of
such power could subserve private
ends, and at will contract or expand 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 burden
some to the people by reason of the
substitution of an inferior currency for
money at heavy expense to the coun-
try IN the useless payment of interest
on bonds, but by reason of the power
in such banks in obtaining permanent
control of the government, and becom-
ing absolute master of all the business
interests Of the country; and that in
the interest of the country and in the
interest of the manufacturer, the farm
er, the mechanic and labOrer, the ma
tional bank currency should be with
drawn from circulation and full legal
tender money substituted by the gov
eminent in lieu thereof.
Resolve1, That as the wealth of the
nation is founded on labor, the laborer
should be protected in his just rights;
and it is desirable that hours of labor
should be SO limited as to afford the la
borer an opportunity to cultivate his
mental faculties and enjoy rational
social intercourse with his friends; and
to earn such reasonable wages as may
be an equitable proportion of the prof
its of his industry; and this SO that he
may ameliorate his condition and OBJ
tain the comforts and luXuries of life,
and thus by increasing the cOnsump-
ton open new avenues for industry and
new fields for labor; to educate his
children, and thus, through universal
| education, to elevate the labOrer and
the character of the laborer for the pur-
pose of attaining these ends.
| Resolued, That the prison contract
| system should be prohibited; that the
federal and state governments and mu-
nicipal corporations should limit the
| hours of labor. that manufacturing,
mining, and farming and laborers' in
terests of the country be protected, first
| by lowering the rate Of interest on
money, and effect this by the govern
ment issuing full legal tender money
sufficient for the wants Of trade, and
regulating it's value and it's volume by
wise and judiciOus legislation; second,
by a protection Of American industries
by the enactment Of a tariff
based on constitutional limits
for revenue, but with a
discrimination for the protection Of
labor, the farmer, miner, the manufac-
turer and producing interest; third,
by the holding of public
lands for the use of actual settlers,
and where subsidies have been granted,
to hold such corporations to strict
accountability, and where the terms Of
the grant have not been complied with
to reclaim such lands as having been
| forfeited and as having reverted to the
government; fourth, by opening new
field for labor for the construction of
works of importance, whether directly
by the government itself, or by render
ing assistance in no case to be in the
form of subsidies but all OUTLAWS of the
government to be adequately secured !;
fifth, by encouraging our ship-building
int erests and carrying of American pro-
ducts in American ships, and to render
such aid under proper guaran-
tees against fraud as will
enable the American ships
to compete with foreign lands;
sixth, to afford a safe depository for
money, and to protect the people
against fraud and loss occasioned by
savings banks and trust companies, a
postal depository system should be
established from which upon money be-
ing deposited, certificates of deposit
| hearing a low rate of interest shOuld be
issued and which certificate should be
payable on demand in full legal tender
government money; seventh, that we
demand a repeal by the state govern
ment of all its charters and special priv
ileges inconsistent with the present cons
titution of the state, the damage of any
when judicially ascertained to be paid
by the state; eight, that we demand the
passage and enforcement of such laws
as will prevent all combina-