The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-25
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.

The report of the Committee on Resolu-
tions and Platform was loudly called for
General Samuel F. Carey, as Chairman
read the subjoined resolutions, prefaceing
the reading with brief remarks to the Ell
feet that the Committee was singularly u
rited 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 depressed, bus
ness incomes and wages reduced unrpallel-
ed distress inflicted upon the poor and MD
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
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
ignorant and subsidized press, yet neither
the Republican nor the Democratic parties
in their national policies propose remedies
for the existing evils; and,
i 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
3 to unite in an effort to secure fRancial re-
s form and industrial emancipation.
8 The organization shall be known the Ma
2 tional Party, and under this name we will
perfect, without delay, National, State and
local associations to secure the election to
y Office of such men only as will pledge
. themselves to do all in their power to es.
z tablish these principles.
First-It is the exclusive function of the
4 General Government to coin and create mo-
3 ney and regulate its value. All branch is.
4 sues designed to circulate as money should
9 be suppressed. The circulating medium
4 whether of metal or paper, shall be issued
. by the Government and made a full lega
2 tender for all debts, duties and taxes in the
4 United States at its stamped value.
. Second-There shall be no privileged
4 class of creditors-official salaries, pension
3 bonds and other debts and obligations il
4 the legal tender money of the United State
9 strictly according to the laws under which
4 they were issued.
3 Third-That the coinage of silver b
9 placed upon the same footing as that o
gold.
5 Fourth-Congress shall provide sai
3 money adequate to the full employment O
3 labor, the equitable distribution of it
8 products and the requirements of business
3 fixing minimum amount per capita to tn
4 population as near as may be, and other
. wise regulating its volume, by wise and G
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 Government that an
species of private property should be ez
empt from bearing its just share OF tn
public burdens. Government onds an
4 money should be taxed precisely as othe
3 property, and a graduated income ia
4 should be levied for the support of th
2 Government and the payment of its debt
Sixth-The public lands are the con
. mon property of the whole people, an
+ 4 should not be sold to speculators nor graz
3 ted to railroads or corporations, but shoul
3 be donated to actual settlers in limite
9 quantities.
Seyenth-The Government should,
general enactment, encourage the develo
. 1 ment of our agricultural, mineral mecha
ical, manufacturing and commercial resou
'' ces, to the end that labor may be fully er
J. ployed. but no monopolies should be legs
/. 9 lied.
i. 3 Eiehth-All useless offices should be
:. boliahed the most rigid economy enforc
:. in every branch Of the public service Al
. severe punishment inflicted upon public
r fcera who betray the trusts reposed
:. them.
:. Ninth-As edncated labor has devils
. 2 means for multiplying production bv
:. vention and discoveries, and as their I
;. 5 requires the exercise OF mind as we'll
:. body, such legislation should be had II
:. l the number of hours of daily toll will
reduced. giving the working classes mt
leisure for mental improvement and soc
enjoyment and saving them from prematr
decay and death.
Tenth-The adoptson of an Americ
:. monetary system proposed herein W
;; harmonic all differences in regard to tai
3 and Federal taxation, reduce and equal
:. 2 the cost Transportation by land and wat
:. distribte equitably the joint earnings
:. capital and labor, secure to the produc
Is of wealth the results Of their labor n
:. skill, muster out of the service the VI
:: hordes of idlers who under the existing g
d tenn grow rich upon the earnings of othe
:, that every man and woman may by tn
own efforts secure a competence 30 Il
:. overgrown fortunes and extrme power
= will be seldom found within the limits
= 8 our Republic
= Eleventh-Both National and ST.
Government should establish bureaus
labor and industrial atatistics, clothed W
power of gathering and publishing I
90 same.
50 Twelfth-That the contract system
90 employing labor in our prisons and ref
IN matory institutions works great injustice
M our mechanics and artizans, and should
5O prohibited
on Thireentn-The importation of serv
50 labnr in to the United States from China
On a problem of the most serious importan
50 and we recommend legislation looking
. 90 its suppression.
90 S. +, CAREY, President
90 III. A. ROBINSON, Secretary.