The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-07-01
PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL
GREENBACK PARTY.

That the right to make and to issue
money is sovereign power to be man
lained by the people for the common
benefit. The delegation of this right to
corporations is Surrender Of the central
attribute of sovereignty, void Of constitu'
tional sanction, eonferring upon n aubor-
dinate irresponsible power, and absolute
dominion over industry and commerce.
All money, whether metallic or paper.
should be issued and its volume controlled
by the government and not by or through
banking corporations, and when 30 issued
should be full legal tender for all debts,
public and private.
9. That the bonds of the United States
should not be refunded, but paid "a rapid
ly as practicable, according TO CONTRACT
To enable the government to meet these
obligations, legal tender currency should
be substituted for the notes Of the national
banks, the national banking system abol-
ished, and the unlimited coinage Of silver
M we'll ~ gold established by law.
3. That labor should be ~ protected by
national and state authority as to equalize
iis burden and insure just distribution oi
its results; the eight hour law of Congress
should be enforced; the sanitary condition
Of industrial establishments placed under
rigid control; the competition of contract
convict labor abolihed; bureau for labor
statistics established; factories, mines, and
workshops inspected; the employment ol
children under fourteen years Of age for
bidden, and wages paid in cash.
4. Slavery being simply cheap labor, and
ehesp labor being simply slavery, the i'm
portatioD and presence of Chinese serfi
necessarily tends to brutalize and degrade
American labor; therefore immediate stepl
should be taken to abrogrte the Burlin
game treaty.
s. Railroad land grants forfeited by rea
son Of non fnlhillment of contract shoulC
be Immediately reclaimed by the govern
ment; and henceforth the public domain
reserved exclusively rs homes for actua
settlers.
q. II is the duty Of congress to regulate
interstate commerce. All lines Of commu
nication and transportation should b,
brought under such legislative control nj
shall secure moderate, fair and uniform
rates for passenger and freight traffic.
7. We denounce as destructive to pros
perity and dangerous to liberty, the actor
Of tho old parties in fostering and sustain
ing gigantic land, railroad and money cor
porations and monopolies, invested with
and exercising, powers belonging TO th'
government, and yet not responsible to i
for the mar ner of their use.
3. That the constitution, in giving con
gress the power TO borrow money, to de
clare war, 10 raise and support armies, Il
provide and maintain navy, never inten
ded that the men who loaned their none
for an interest consideration should be pre-
ferred 10 the soldier and sailor who prrile
their lives and shed their blood on Ian
and sea in defense Of their country, an
We condemn the cruel class legislation @
the Republican party which, while profei
sing great gratitude to the soldier, ha
most uDjus,ly Disseminated sgainst hir
and in favor Of the bondhOlder.
Q. All property should bear its just PR
dortion Of taxation, and We demand