The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-10-23

Sixth District-Wm. p Denham of West
Baton Rouge.
The Greenback Platform.
Address ~ the State Committee of the Ma
tional Greenback Labor Party.
HDQRs. STATE CENTRAL Elk COMMITTEE, }
National Greenback Labor Party. :
New Orleans, September Is, 1880. }
To the qualified roters of Louisiana:
We have reached crisis IN the politi-
cal history of our country which de-
mands the careful attention and consid-
Grafton of every voter in the land, with
out regard to past political affiliations or
convictions.
Our government, destined by its patri-
otto founders to secure to their descend
ants all the blessings Of liberty, in the
full and free enjoyment Of civil and po-
litical equality, has passed under the
control of bankers, stock jobbers, land
grabbers and professional politicians, to
the exclusion Of those whose labor pro-
dnces it's wealth and pays its taxes.
The constitutional rights of the people
ars being denied or usurped by a grasp
ing and relentless money power in whose
interest cunningly devised financial laws
have been passed, which if continued
mast eventually enslave the producers of
wealth. from the fruits of whose toll q
privileged class are enabled annually to
accumulate vast fortunes. while the
great mass of our people are becoming
poorer. We see the fruits Of productive
enterprise grasned by corporate monopo-
lies, until the large share Of the accumu-
lated wealth aud undeveIoped resources
OF the nation are being concentrated in
the hands Of 4 small class, while all
property interest in the stability of our
institutions on the part of a large major
it,. Of voters is being flissirated.
These evils have already filled the land
with pauperism, misery and crimes,
while oininous murmnrs of discomfort
have or should have awakened many of
the more thoughtful of cur citizens to a
sense Ct approaching danger to our insti-
tutions.
If we would perpetuate and establish
this government (the hope of the worldly
as pure democratic Republic, we must
admit the sacred right of suffrage to lie
the very cornerstone Of our system.
Yet laws have been enacted in various
States to curtail the sacred right.
The Republican party may be justly
chargeahle with corruption in the adj
ministTation Of the government, and
with the class Legislation that has
brought about this state of affairs, ye:
the Democratic party offers no prospect
of reform, being notoriaasly under con-
troll Of extreme partisan leaders, who
care but little for any thing but success,
and who Hare not offer opposition to tho
present evils.
Hence they have adopted National
platform which, with the exception Of
the question Of tariff, is 50 near the Re.
publican as to make the partition di-
vldlng the two parties thin indeed !;
while neither proposes relief from exist
ing evils, but seek to keep intact the or
nf hi
upon the dead issues Of a sectional war
These issues, we claim, are forever set
tied by the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the constitution
of the United States.
Deeply impressed by the gravity of
this crisis, and aware that to continually
array the prejndices Of the South against
the North or the North against the South
only serves to detract She attention of
the people from vital issues, while the
designing can consummate their schemes
of plumber, We call upon you to join with
us in sustaining q platform of principles
that may we'll demand your careful at
tention.
We ask You to sacrifice all minor diff
fereHces and to unite for tho purpose of
restoring the control Of the government
to tie whole people, through representa-
tives chosen by them, uninfuenced by
bribery, intimidation or sectional hate.
While much money will doubtless be
raised by the Office holders and beneficial
ries of the Republican party, and vast
sums be furnished by Aug. Belmont (the
agent of the Rothchilds) and others of a
privileged noneyed class in controlling
the Democratic party; we ask you to
prefer principle to success, and Tallying
around Weaver and Chambers and he
platform of the National Greenback La
Dor party, TO demand q government "of
the people, By the people, aud for the
people," instead OF government Of the
bondholdsrs, by the bondholders, and for
the bondholders." You are told that our
party is too weak, and that if you vote
with it your vote will be thrown away
but you should reflect and consider that
. vote for principle is not lost, for it is
an Endorsement of the principle.
Hence, to vote for the National plat
form is an Endorsement Of the principles