The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-13
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.

read the subJoined resolutions, prefaceing
he reading with brief remarks to The eff
fect that the Committee was singularly IT,
cited in sentiment and that if the platform
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 1 ,r. ssed, bus
ness incomes and wages reduced unrpallel-
I'D distress inflicted upon the poor and i'd
die ranks of our people, the land filled |
with fraud, embezzlement, 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 bondholders: and,
Whereas, While we recognize the fact
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
ignorant and subsidized press, yet neither
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
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.
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
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 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 duties and taxes in the
| United States at its stamped value.
Second-There shall he no privileged
class of creditors official salaries, pension
bonds and other debts and obligations in
the legal tender money ofthe United States
strictly according to the laws under which
they were issued.
Third-That the coinage of silver be
placed upon the same footing as that o.
gold.
Fourth Congress shall provide sale
money adequate to the full employment o
labor, the equitable distribution of its
products and the requirements of business
fixing minimum amount per capita to the
population as near as may be, and other
wise regulating its volume, by wise and e
quitable provisions of law, so that the rat,
of interest will secure to labor its Just re
ward.
Fifth-It is Inconsistent With the geniu.
and spirit of popular Govemment that any
species of private property should be ex
empt from bearing its just share of tn,
public burdens. Government bonds ant
money should be taxed precisely as othe
property, and graduated income Ia,
should be levied for the support of tn,
Government and the payment of its debts
j Sixth-The public lands are the com
mon property of the whole people, an,
should not be sold to spectators nor gran
ted to railroads or corporations, but shoult
be donated to actual settlers in limite,
, quantities.
/ Seventh-The Government should, b
general enactment, encourage the develop
ment Of our agricultural, mineral, mechar
; ical, manufacturing and commercial resoul
r ces, to the end that labor may be fully en-
:. ployed, but no monopolies should be lega
: lied.
: Eighth-All useless offices should be
:. bolished. the most rigid economy enforce
Z in every branch of the public service an
. severe punishment inflicted upon public o
: fcers who betray the trusts reposed
, = them.
Ninth-As educated labor has devise
! means for multiplying production by il
|. vention and discoveries, and as their III
requires the exercise Of mind as we'll
body, such legislation should be had th
o the number of hours of daily toll will
Q reduced, giving the working classes mo-
= leisure for mental improvement and soci
a enjoyment and saving them from prematu
J. decay and death.
Tenth-The adoptson of an Americs
monetary system as proposed herein wi
harmonic all differences in regard to tari
and Federal taxation, reduce and equali;
the cost Transportation by land and waite
{6stribte equitably the joint earnings
i. capital and labor, secure to the produce
of wealth the results of their labor an
skill, muster out of the service the va
hordes of idlers who under the existing sy
tenn grow rich upon the earnings of other
that every man and woman may by the
own efforts secure competence SO th'
overgrown fortunes and extrme povert
will be seldom found within the limits
our Republic.