Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-26
THE GREENBACK PLATFORM.

Civil government should guarantee the divine
right of every laborcr to the results oi MS toli,
thus enabling the producers OF wealth To proviue
themselves with the means for physical coniorl;
and the facilities for mental. social an" moral
culture; and We condemn as unworthy ol our
civilization the burbariSm winch imposes upon
the wealth producers Il state OF perpetual "ru"-
gerry us the price of bare animal existence. -,
Notwithstanding the enormous increase OF
productive power, the universal Introduction
of labor saving machinery, and the discovery
OF new agents for the increase OF weai'n, the
task of the laborer is scarcely lGhtened, the
hours Of toll are but little shortened, and lew
producers are lifted from poverty into comfort
and pccuniary independence.
The associated mOnopolies, the international
syndicates and other income classes demanded
dear money and cheap labor, u strong govern
ment' and hence u weak people.
Corporate control of the volume oil money mas
been the means OF dividing society INTO hostile
ducts OF labor, and of building up monopolies
Of associated capital. endowed with power 10
scarce, and scarcity of money enforces debt
trade, and public and corporate loans debt en-
genders usury, and usnry ends IN bankruptcy
Other results are deranged markets.. uncer-
taInty IN manufacturing enterprise and ayr
nent for the laborer, Industrial war, increasing
pauperism and crime and the consequent MUM
ldalion and disiranchisement of the producsf'
and u rapid declcnsion into corporate ieuuaiisih.
| Therefore We declare
1 That the right to make and issue money ID a
sovereign power to be maintained by me people
| for the common benefit. The delegation oil this
right to corporations Is a surrender OF the CEN
trail attribute Of sovereignty. void OF constitu-
tional sanction, cOnferring upon u subordinate
irresponsible power. and absolute dominion
over industry and commerce. AL money,
whether metallic or paper should De lssuet am u
its volume controlled by. the government anu
not by or through banking corporations. anu
when 30 issued should be a full legal tender ior
all debts, public and private.
=. That the bonds OF the United states shouiu
not be refunded. but paid as rapidly AS Is prsc.
ticable. according TO contract; 10 enable sne
.~nn~S 20 rnAof IhAlo nIlIUttInnS. IeQHl
tender currency should be substituted for the
notes of the national banks, the national oanK-
ing system abolished. and the unlimited coinage
3. That labor should be 30 protected ny na-
tionul and state authority as to e4uallze is
burdens and insure u just distribution OF is
results; the eight-hour law OF congress shouln
he enforced; the sanitary condition oil Industrial
establishments placed under rigid controls; the
u bureau OIL labor statistics established; iactories'
mines. and workshops inspected; the employ
ment of children under fourteen years Oh age
forbidden, and wages paid in cash.
Slavery being simply cheap labor. and cheap
labor beliE simply slavery the imRGr'a taoII anu :"
brutalIze and degrade American labor; there-
tore immediate steps should be taken TO aoro-
| gate the Burlingame treaty.
5. Railroad lands grants forfeited by reason
OF non-fulhllmen of contract should be III me,
diatcly reclaimed by the government and
henceforth the public domain reserved exciu-
sively Ms homes for actual settlers.
&. 1t is the duty OF congress to regulate inter-
stale commerce; All lines OF Gom nnnhh nnIe,
such legislative control ~ shall secure mooeli
ate, fair and uniform rates for passenger ano
I. We denOunce, rs destructive to prosperity
and dangerous To liberty. the action 81 me Oh
parties III fostering and sustainingx igahtic ihhu
railroad aud money corporations anu mohopo'
lies, invested with. and exercising. powers
belonging to the government. ana yet not re
sponsIble to il tor the manner OF their use.
$. That the constitution. In giving congress III
1 power to borrow money. to declare war. y
t raise and support armies; to provide anu man AIN
loaned their money for an interest consideration
should be preferred to the soldier and sailor VIII
j, periled their lives ami shed their blood o
= land and sea in defense Oi their country. anu W
y condemn the cruel class legislation OF the re
publican party . which: h %a' md ptoi uniust:y st Gis
criminated against him and In iavof Oh .he pohe
holder.
ton Of taxation, and We demand u graduate
d 10. We denounce rs most dangerous II
n efforts everywhere manifested to restrict Il
ii. we are opposed to an increase of Il
standing army in time Of peace and the insidio'
scheme to establish AN enormous military pow
under the guise of militia law.
q, L.. We demand absolute democratic rules II
the government OF congress, placing NIL repf
seniatives Of the people upon an equal lootini
and taxing away from committees u veto pow
greater than that Of the president, =. .o,
-. Ii. We demand u government oil Inc Peop
by the people, and for the people, instead OF
government OF The bondhnlders, by the bon
holders, and for the bOndhold.rs; and we u
nounce every attempt to stir up sectinnai sur
e. as an effort TO conceal monstrOus crimes again
is the people.
Il ln the furtherance OF these ends we a
the cooperation OF all fair minded people. v
III have no quarrel with Individuals, We wage .
war upon classes, but only against vicious !
situations. We are not content 10 EMU
u further discipline from our present actual ruler
p who having, dominion over money, over iran
an porlatiol. over land and labor. over the IL
h., chInery OF government and largely over The pres
" WELD understandable power over our insti'
ON l tiana and over Lie and urOpertY.