The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-09-15
ADDRESS
~ the Central COMMITTEES Of the Ma.
ttOmnl ssrecMback Labor Party. BY
Its Executive Committee, To the
People Oi the United states.

There are certain fundamental principles
necessary FOR the government Of mankind,
which, when strictly observed, insure the per-
nanelit welfare of society. These principles
are essentially embodied in the constitution or
the United States and the Union, and, when
practically enforced by appropriate legislation
promote the peace, liberty, happiness and pros
pefiis Of the people, but, when disobeycd or vi
dated, bring multiplied woes on individuals
aud communities History tells us that how
ever perfect tisil Governments may he IN their
inception, mans rroneness To 20 astray rem
uefs reform III all ages an imperative necessity
,his time u calmly and dSpaseionat,lv investi-
gate the causes about which universal COM
plants are made, and to provide remedies to
correct such evils.
Political parties and public officials, long In
trusted With legislative power and viii the
administration oi the laws. are prone to abuse
their privilege, and use the power placed in
Their hands for selfish, or Tor party purposes,
and when once they have served the ends OF
government. seldom, II ever. correct their own
abuses, hut continue their enormities until dis
placed by the sovereign will and organized
poser OF the people.
The Democratic parry III 1860, on account Of
its corrupt and party-blind administration Of
public affairs, Was swept from power by sucu
an organized effort for civil and constitutional
reform.
The patriotic citizenship OF the country. re-
cognlzng tue indifference and conteinptuous
regard IN which their individual rights and pub
lie institutions were hell, inaugurated, aud
pushed to success. measures which resulted in
the 3nal overthrow Of party whose impe rlous
will had oniroled the desties Of the repub-
lie for near forty years.
A civil war involving the perpetnity Of
the Union ensned as the consequence of the
passions AID violence cnlcndeied by party
spirit All y rsoilal ambition.
The Democratic party was succeeded by the
Republican party. 10 which was in,rusted the
duty OF preserving the Union.
This party las. by it, long continuance in
Office, By its nsur ,ation or power. BY is greed
for spcils. by the Irtsping avaricc of its lead
efs, by its passage OF laws the aim Of which
was to plumber the people, demonstrated its
unworthiucss. and the necessity for its eSpul-
sion from power and authority.
We therefore arralgn these two parties as
principal Or accessory for their criminal abuse
OF public trust.
For their imp, rfect. partial and vicious adj
niinlstration Of public affairs, State and
national.
For their dellnquencics i'll the cardinal viz
tues OF true craftsmanship and unworthy OF
the continued confidence and support Of a free
people.
For the personal and sectional strife en-
gendered and fostetd by them.
For causing and exciting domestic violence
and insu in the interest Of their re-
spectisepartics.
Fer making party fealty the test Of political
and social worihincss.
For their hsgrant disregard OF the known or
expressed will Of their constituency.
For voting to their representatives higher
salaries and for their wanton proillgacy i'll the
public expenditures.
For tier costly splendor in the administra-
ton OF Government.
For having created multitude OF new Of
fees ia both State and national Governments 10
pension men for party service.
For appointing biased and dependent Judi
ciary for partisan purposes.
For neglecting to enforce the criminal laws
when violated in the execution of party
schemes.
For bringing law and government into con-
tempt by licensing crime and legalizing fraud
and rascality.
For their disregard of the sacred rights OF
suffrage, BY intimidation corruption, fraud and
violence at the ballot box.
For exenpting funded wealth and corporate
property from taxation.
For the imposition of every form of taxation
on the properties OF labor deyisatlc by the IN
genuitv Of man, to make the rich richer ana
the poor poorer.
For class e1islaton and discrimination in be-
half Of aggregated wealth and corporate mo-
nopolics.
For making usury in all its varied forms the
honared rule OF .those who feel power and
forget ri Iii"
For system zing opprt ssion. to deprive the
poor OF many Of the comforts OF life.
For nominating. elec,ing and appointing to
Offices 81 pubic trust and profit national bank
crs. Railroad officers and agents, aud attorneys
oil oth.r coritofat+ niunoloe
For degrading hone labor bv Frosti.uiing the
system Of coa,ict Labor to the greed and ava
rice of spectators.
For Investing railroad companies, national
banks and Other corporate menopoes with the
regulation aud colrol Of inter State COM
mtrce.
Fer permitting robbery and other criminal
offenses committed by these favored clas SEES to
60 unnot cci, while treating the nsdesds OF
the weak AMI more humble as crimes to be
vigorously punished
For gNin' the pm ,lc lands to railroad CON-
panies.
For the transfer Of the property Of the
many to the fc3. trough the irs!ramentalitv
OF usury, eAsprtlon and taxation.
When the war closed, the people OF this eonn-
Try found themselves bnrdcned with publ.
debt which amounted to about s2s45. 900 Ooa
Over 81, 603. uGn. 0G9 of this debt at that tine
was in tine form Of United States legal-tender
notes. Componnd-attre-t notes. CERTIFICATES of
Indebtedness, 1.3g notes. enc anu two-vcar
notes and fractional currency, nearly ill Of
VIII ch were made lcsa. tender and were ia use
con had entirely disappea red from circulation.
Nearly the entire tn>iness of the country was
based upon and transacted in this Government
currency. Property VAS bought and sold and
IT, value measured with T. AL contracts be-
tween creditors AMI deators were made in this
curf' hey. and both parties expected thev would
be iultiled III such currency. Now what took
place. The Officers Of tie Government. uaier
tie control OF the tanks and money-iendlns or
creditor class, hegaa System Of legislation.
the design of which was To make all d. BITS
contracted III United States currency payable in
COIN 10 secure coin payments, iha following
acts OF Congress wefe passed either previous
TO or sui sequant to the close of the war:
|. The net OF Congress Of 1862 placing two
exceptions upon the g,eeihack dollar, ami thus
making foreign imports AMI interest On the
public debt payable In coin.
2. The act Of Congress creating the national
banks.
3. The act of Congress OF 1865 converting
&l.200, O00,09e of the public debt that was used
~ currency as coin honds A law 10 make less
money and to increase the burden Of debt.
l. The act Of Congress u 1869 that changed
the condition OF payment OF the five twenty
bonds from payment in paper money to pay
mtnt in coin.
s. The act OF Congress of 1870 authorizing
the Refund ne OF the bonds, the object of wlicE
Was to place them where they could not be PAID
and to make them the basis for the issue OF
8. The act Of Congress or 1873 acknowledging
SILVER, thereby making our debt payable in gold
alone.
Z. The resumption act Of 1875
These lswswere intended by their incxorablc
operation to accomplish these results
!. 10 contract the volume of currency and
increase the purchasing power OF what re-
manned.
3 To destroy the grecnbacks.
j. To make all debts, public and private,
payable IN gold coin. and TO make that gold
coin The only standard and measure Of value.
4. To fasicn the bonded debt upon the poo-
pie in way that it can never be paid.
9. To secure the issue Of bank notes upon
thtsc bonds. that could be inflated and con.
tracted at the pleasure Of bank corporations.
thus giving them absolute control Of the wages
OF every mans labor and the price OF every
species Of property and merchandise.
Out OF tair legislation has grown great
money monopoly that Is without 4 parallel in
the worlds history. All Of the other great cor
porstions oil the nation arc closely allied with,
center I'D, rest npon ana arc built up through