The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-08-26
Gen. Weaver's Letter of Accep
tance.

oESiLEMEN-it IN my pressure W ac'
knowledge the receipt Of your letter of the
23d of June, formally notifying me of my
nomination for the Office of President Of
the United States by the united Greenbsck
Labor party, whose representatives con-
veneo at Chico, June 9th, 1880.
1 am profoundly grateful for the honor
conferred Fully realizing the high re-
sponsibility to which I have been called,
and conscious that the position was un-
sought by me, accept the nomination as q
solemn duty. The convention is to be
congratulated upon the great work accom-
plished in the unifcation of the various
Greenback and Labor elements into one
compact organization. This was Of first
importance, and thoroughly prepares our
forces TO strike . decisive blow for indus
trial emancipation during the impending
struggle.
Our party hath this significance: 1t is
q great labor movement, composed of earn
est people, who earn their bread by honest
toll, whether of hand, head or heart; and
as the world depends for the comforts OF
life upon the various departments of hu-
man toll, 40 will every part of society feel
the vivifying influence of the grand
achievements Of our organization that lie
just in the future; for when labor is pros
porous, every other element of society
feels the impulse ct vigorous life.
The three great political parties have
each selected their candidates, and made
formal declarations of their principles. II
is now the high duty OF every citizen OF
the United States to Judge between them
and after careful inquiry into the aims
and purposes OF each, to determine the or.
ganization with which duty calls him so
act. s. ...a ...
The a a'mirable platform adopted BY the
convention meets my cordial approval. j,
is comprehensive, reasonable, and progres
sive-containing those principles OF eco
nomic reform essential to the preservation
of the liberty and prosperity of the whole
people.
1t being the duty of man to earn hi
bread in the sweat of his face, il becomes
the srst duty of civil government to fostel
industry. All laws, therefore, which
place q premium upon idleness, whether
Of men or money, uDjustly discriminate il
favor Of capital, or withhold from homes
men the full and just reward of their Ia
Dor, are simply monstrous. Capital should
be the servant Of labor rather than its mas
ter.
This great truth can never be realizet
until there is an adequate circulating me
dium. Inasmuch a. this circulating me
dium is for the benefit of all, its issue ant
volume should be sacredly kept under tn,
control OF the general government, with
out the Intervention of banking COZ pora
tions. All money, whe ther gold, silver o.
paper, should be issued by the supreme
authority of the nation, and be made
full legal tender in payment OF all debts
public and private.
The system which now prevails, give
into the hands Of banking corporations ab
solute control over the volume of the cur
rency, and through this they have thu
power to fx the price of the labor ant
property Of fifty millions Of people. BY
provision Of law, the method 10 clearly de
fined whereby they may, without limit, in
fate or contract the currency at will. Cog
nate 10 this and part Of the same schem,
stands the system of funding the public
debt. Like national banking, this wa,
borrowed from the English monarchy. BY
this system m. enormous non-tAxabls inter
test bearing debt 10 to be perpetuated. The
bonds support the banks and the bankl
foster the public debt. II you pay of the
bonds the banks must cease to exist
Hence, IL the national banks are to contin-
Nc. We must have q perpstuatsd bonded
debt. Both patriotism and sound states
manship loudly call for the abolition OF
banks of issue, and the substitution of le.