The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-03-24
AN ADDRESS.

BkGCOvm
ixaaiom 81 the National Party.
FELLOW CITIZENS The time has come when
tils Government should be administered by
new political party.
The national banks, through years Of unwise
and unjust legislation in their interest, now
assume to control the Government and defy its
sovereign right to issue and regulate the vol
une OF currency, and through their influence
over Congress have defeated honest efforts to
compel the issue Of legal-tender notes to take
the place OF their notes, thereby preventing
the payment Of one-half Of the interest-bear-
ing debts Of the Go. ernment falling due in
1881.
Beyond this they have rebelled against the
pay at the rate OF 900 per cent. annual interest
for its use-and by such action influenced y
weak executive to veto the Funding bill because
il contained provision DENYING them the right
to contract and expand the volume OF currency
ct their pleasure. All OF which has been in
dorsed by the new President. whose inaugural
address is filed with assurances Of his friend
ship, while II 10 silent ~ to the wrongs now
being inflicted on the people through these and
other forms Of incorporated capital.
Railroad and telegraph companies conduct
their business in violation of the private rights
and the fundamental law Of eminent domain
without which no legislation could sanction the
construction Of the property such companies
represent. Through this false system less than
twenty men, none Of whom are legally re-
sponsiblc for their acts, levy tax amounting
10 over 600. 100000 dollars .. year on the
American people for transporting their persons
and property, and through this false system =
few illen have accumulated such vast fortunes
Is enables them to exercise dangerous influence
over legislation and tho avenues Of public in
formation.
Public lands have been sold or granted to in
dividuals and corporations in such quantities ~
to threaten this country with landed aristo =
racy and lan,lless people.
Nov. experience proves that these and Kim
drcd WRONGS cannot bC corrected through either
Of the old parties, because both are allied with
such abuses.
The Republican and Democratic parties are
and must remain sectional on all questions re-
lating to the general or political welfare Of the
whole country. The people Of the South hate
the Republic can party, and charge all OF their
nisfortnnes to that organization, and the peo-
pie Of the North despi-c the Democratic party
for its record, its want Of courage, purpose.
policy and principles. while both perpetnate
their existen,e solely through sectional prcju
dice on Questions determined forever by the
late war.
The Republican party has abandoned its
championship Of human rights to become the
servant OF corporate rights, and the people
Tolerate its control Of the Government simply
because they fear to SOC il administered by the
Democratic party.
Under these circumstances. we repeat. the
time haa come when the Government should
be administered by n new party-a party based
on questions Of equal interest to every home
throughout the entire country, and conducted
in spirit thst will drive hatred and prejudice
n
to the principles on which It was founded and
administered until incorporatcdcapitsl asserted
| its dcmoralizing influence ovsr legislation.
Believing that the National party viii, il sue
! cessful. correct these WRONGS. and pass sucl
| laws as will promote the civilization. prospcri
| tv and happiness Of the people, We earnestl,
| advise the formation Of clubs IN every village
ward, town and city in the United states, b!
| admitting to membership al who subscribe x
the following obligation:
.We, the undersl, ned, citizens OF --
| county OF -----, and State Of ----, believing
| that the greatest danger 10 our free insttu
tiona arises from = lack OF proper Legislative
control over incorporated capital, and contin
ued appeals to sectional prejudice, hcreb
pledge our word Of honor to unite with, am
! use our best efforts to promote the success Q
the National party for the purpose Of carrying
ont the following objects and principles:
First. That the general Government sha
issue all money. determine its value, and kee
its volume uniform. so ~ to insure peruiancnc
to the employment Of labor, just reward 70
its services, and stability to the value Of prol
erty.
s.Second. That railroad and telegraph con
panies shall BE- controlled by such just laws I
will prevent commerce, travel or the transmi'
sion OF intelligence from being taxed to pay II
terest or dividends on greater amount {
capital than has been actually paid by the
stock OF bond holders for the property the
represent, and actually and in good faith G!
pended on such property, from such source, 4
the public welfare.
.Third. That all public lands shall be he
exclusively for actual settlers.
Fourth. Absolute protection and guarant'
to every voter to cast his vote and have 1t ho
estly counted"
We also advise the formation OF county AZ
State organizations OF the National party whe
none now exist.
II il not the purpose OF this paper to pro
the dangers referred to. nor argue the adya
tages Of the remedies proposed. bnt in concl
sion We assert that the former cannot be owe
stated, ana that the latter are in cccord wi
progress and the fundamental principles
. free government.
Nv order o: the Congressional Committee.
WASHINGTON, y. q, March 2, lssl.