Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-08-20
PLATFORM 4:

WHEREAS, At the end of thirteen
years spent in peaceful efforts at recu-
peration the people OF Virginia fiud
themselves overwhelmed with finnn-
cial disaster. While production has
increased and kept pace with the in
crease of population the mOnied circu-
lation has decreased, thus augmentiDg
the purchasing power of money, in
creasing the Indebtedness of all classes
and destroying the value CT property.
Thus, under Republican rule. labor
has been driven TO distress and despe-
ration, the business industries have
been wrecked, strikes have been pro-
vOked and deep seated dissatisfaction
has been developed. Thus, without
any increase OF the rate thereof, the
amount of taxation has been so grew
Ously increased that the people are
and have been paying to the monied
power a greater proportion of their
earnings than was stipulated per con-
tract. The banking power has been
indirectly taken from the people and
practically conferred upon few, who
have increased the rate of interest to
figures, Believing this
state of affairs to be productive of the
greatest evil to the greatest number,
we do not hesitate to declare our pur-
pose to come with all the power we
possess, to the rescue of labor and the
industries of the country
and to the accomplish of these
ends we are willing to dedicate the
whole power Of the ballot in our
hands therefore.
ReSOLCed, l. The greenback dollar
must be a full legal-tender for the pay
ment of all debts, public and private,
and by the government issusd, pro-
tected and received as absolute money.
ReSOIUed 2. We declare all acts of
Congress, changing the original bond
tO-wit, of 1869, 1870 and 1873, |
and the resumption act Of 1875, were
without consent, priority or
procurement, and were aud are frauds
upon the rights of the people, and
therefore We demand the immediate
calling in and payment of all bonds |
with absolute paper money, without
regard to the time they may have to |
run on their face, and that there be no |
further issue by the government of
any bonds.
ReSoIUed 8. We demand the repeal
Of the national bank act, the iD1me.
date withdrawal from circulation of |
the national bank notes, and the sub |
therefore of absolute paper |
ResotUed 4. The equal taxation of
Ill property owned by individuals or
Resolved 5. The present internal
.evenue system should be abolished.
ResolUed 6. We declare our unalter-
Ible hostility to the funding bill of
81, which, like the decentralization
If silver and the raising of the nation
u bonds from currency to gold. was no
'art of the original contract, and was
without the consent of the
people, and obtained without conside-
alton. We demand its destruction
md a return to the original terms of
'ur State bonds.
RESOLVED 7. We are willing to levy
UGH tax as the people can bear with
tut destroying the recuperative power
II the Slate, and after the mainte-
lance of the Institutions and discharge
It the natural functions of the State,
including the free school system, we
avor the payment of the entire re-
OF the revenues of the State,
II SO much thereof as may be necessa-
y, to the payment alike pro rata of
ii classes of the States creditors.
ResOLVed 5. That we are unAlterably
opposed 10 comforting upon the United