The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-16

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-I 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-oficial 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 OF
gold.
Fourth-Congress shall provide said
money adequate to the full employment Of
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 rate
of interest will secure to labor its just re-
ward.
Fifth-It is inconsistent with the genius
and spirit of popular Government that any
species of private property should be ex-
empt from bearing its just share of the
public burdens. Government bonds and
money should be taxed precisely as other
property, and a graduated income tax
should be levied for the support of the
Government and the payment of its debts
Sixth-The public lands are the com.
mon property of the whole people, and
should not be sold to spectators nor gran.
ted to railroads or corporations, but should
be donated to actual settlers in limited
quantities.
Seventh-The Government should, by
general enactment, encourage the develop
ment of our agricultural, mineral, mechan.
ical, manufacturing and commercial resour
ces, to the end that labor may be fully en-
ployed, but no monopolies should be legal
lied.
Eighth-All useless Offices should be a
bolished- the most rigid economy enforced
in every branch of the public service ane
severe punishment inflicted upon public of
fcers who betray the trusts reposed il
them.
Ninth-As educated labor has devised
means for multiplying production by in
vention and discoveries, and as their us
requires the exercise of mind as we'll a
body, such legislation should be had tha
the number of hours of daily toll will b
reduced, giving the working classes NOR
leisure for mental improvement and socia
enjoyment and saving them from prematur
decay and death.
Tenth-The adoptson of an America
monetary system as proposed herein vii
harmonic all differences in regard to tari
and Federal taxation, reduce and equaliz
the cost oftransportation of by land and wate
distribte equitably the joint earnings {
capital and labor, secure to the producer
skill, muster out of the service the vaE
hordes of idlers who under the existing sys
tenn grow rich upon the earnings of other
that every man and woman may by thei
own efforts secure competence so ths
overgrown fortunes and extrme povert
will be seldom found within the limits {
our Republic.
Eleventh-Both National and Stat
Government should establish bureaus O
labor and industrial atatistics, clothed wit
power Of gathering and publishing th
same.
Twelfth-That the contract system {
employing labor in our prisons and refol
matory institutions works great injustice I
our mechanics and artizans, and should b
prohibited.
Thireentn-The importation of servil
labnr in TO the United States from China
a problem of the most serious importance
and we recommend legislation looking I
its suppression.
| 8. F, CAREY, President.
III. A. ROBINSON, Secretary.