The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-24
NEW YORK GREExBACKERs.
y Brief Statement Of the Principles of
the NauoaaI-Greenback Party.

The following reasons explain why
the objects. purposes and principles of
the National party are not more gener-
ally understood by the people:
1st. Because the corporate interests which
control majority Of the Republican and
Democratic newspapers viii not permit
their readers to know what the National
party desires 10 accomplish
ID. Because such newspapers persist in
asserting that tue Greenback party is de al,
while statistics stow an increase OF over four
hundred t4G) per cent. OF votes cast by that
party in 1SSJ, d compared with those cast
for its ca Ididate in 1S1o; and
Sd. Because it has always been too poor
topay for printing and distributing papers
and documents in sufficient numbers to
overcome the influence watch the misrepre-
sentations OF is pr 'ciples have wrought on
the public mind; therefore, this statement
has been prepared TO meet the demand, now
coming from all classes of the pc e,ple, and
from al sections of the country, 10 know in
plain language just what the National party
proposes to carry out should it get control
OF the Government.
/. The National party holds that the right
to make and issue money is a sovereign
power ahicn belongs to tae General Gov
ernmenf oHly, and that that power under
the Fe'crej Constitution cannot be dele
gated to any State corporation or ind ividuai.
That the General Govern nent can through
its laws place iis stamp on any maCerial and
make the material so stamped the lawful
money OF the country, by making it a FIJI
kgat te.dsr u J5yp,s'ft Of al pIiyate deBfS;
and Teceir1b& far oil p,.ti.c dues.
1t holds thal the volume of money should
be equal to the business requirements of
the country, 60 that the people viii not be
compelled to pay interest on seven dollars
for every dollar in circula' ion, as they do
now. Ii holds that gold and silver are Ut
terly inadequate Ia their amount TO furnish
the sIInlllV nI TpHUlrpH- and tn Il The
only purpose mi ] money now serves in
this country j. to promote the interest Of
usurers and professional mOney-lenders,
and that its use as money Will soon be re-
garded as a relic Of barDarism. 1t holds
that the value attached to all money is gov
erned by the confidence in which it is held
by its owner. and that the American people
have so much confidence in the stability aud
perpetuity OF their Government that they
Will always accept the money it issues be-
cause they have that confidence. 1t holds
that when money has been issued in suffi-
cient amount 10 meet the demands of busi-
ness Its volume should be made permanent,
so as to give peTmsnenee to the value OF
property and the employment and cOmpen-
sation OF labor.
2. The National party holds that all Rail.
road and Telegraph Companies which have
increased heir capital beyond the amount
actually paid by their stock and bOnd-hGld-
ers for the property represented have done
30 Ill NlDIdtlOH Oh lft IInuIHleHLal INV VI
eDasae1d domain or the right to take private
property for a ptOt6c use. under which law
only legislative sanction can be given for the
construction Of railroads and teegraphs, and
that all burdens levied an the public to pay
interest or dividends beyond the amount 50
paid should be prohibited by State and
National authority. and that all charges
hereafter made by such companies should
be regulated by law on basis which VIII
restrict such charges % fair return on the
money actually invested, and the necessary
expenses of operating the property.
3. 1t recognizes the dangerous influence
which concentrated capital now exercises
over legislation and the avenues OF pub
itc information, and would restrain such
Influence by imposing a gradual income tax
on all corporations ami individuals whose
annual income exceeds two thousand del
lars.
4. 1t holds that the public lands belong
ing to the Government should be held for
actual settlers, and not be granted or sold
Ill large tracts 10 corporations or Indlyld-
uals.
5. 1t holds that all property should bear
Its equal portion of taxation, and tnat no
man has the right to proclaim the protec-
tion of the law, who, by investing his
money in untaxed bonds, escapes the bur-
dens following the enforcement OF law.
8. 1t holds mat II Is the duty of the Gov
ernment to protect every legal voter in his
counted, and it would disfranchise forever
any man who either buys or sells vote at
the polls.
z. 1t believes that the most important
political necessity of the present time Is to
restore harmony and good feeling between
the people of the North and South. which
result cannot be brought about through
either the Republican o. democratic parties,
because their names are asso. lated with the
prcj and hatred engendered by twenty
aHgst Iii C
slavery, and the four Years of civil war that
discussion brought about.
The questions for which legislation is de-
manded by the National party are entirely
separated from the dead past; they relate
to the present and future nome interests of
every family, and must prevail i'll order 10
preserve 'he Tree Government AMI liberty Of
the American people; being OF equal inter
est u ali GLASSES, those WA0 adopt its prln-
cipes experience more kindtN lie ling
towards their fellow men. No true National
ever thinks uf the nationality, rel giOn,
color, or on which side his brother National
fought in he late war; to uudei stand and
adopt lis principles is like experiencing the
baptism which washes away all sins. lis
miss on means peace and the advancement
Of civilization BY legislatlng in the intere It's
of the many inst I'd of the lew.
Having read this statement, ask your con-
science 10 deci ,e whether the LriHci pies set
forth are right CT wrong; and let YOUR fut-
ure political action he governed by its an
swer.
The oppressive burdens now resting on
the people in the shape of vast public debts,
many OF which were dishonesty created,
and by corporate capital representing four
times liz cost, Is the joint work of both OF
the old parties, and neither can nor ever will
make an honest effort 10 correct the wrongs
they have already done.
The dissatisfaction and disintegratiOn now
being manifested in the old parties give
evidence of their speedy dissolution. The
seleciion'o of Chauncey NJ. Depew as Chair
man of the late Republican State ConVen-
tion should be regarded as ample notice tC
the people of this State and country that the
Republican party still sides with corpora
ti0ns and monOpolies against any beneficial
lie zislatiOn calculated to promote the public
welfare, while on the other hand The elec.
ton of Thomas +. Bayard, the most nOto.
rious contraetionlst in the country, as the
presiding officer Of the Senate, ami thereby
possibly President of the [ nited States, bl
the votes OF Senators elected on their prGJe ,Se5
dey0tOn 10 GTeen back 1Tincipies, was another
evidence of the utter lack of honesty anon.
the leaders of the Democratic party, and tht
hopelessness of expecting any relief from it
success.
A majority of the candidates nominated
for State officers by old parties are well
known agents of Incorporated capital, ant
the slight reference made in their platform
to the gross wrongs under which the peopl
OF the state are now suffering is an insult Il
all voters who profess to be either Anti
Monopolists, Changers, Nationalists, or hon
est men.
|. With this plain statement of our prin
ciplcs and truthful representation of .ou
opponents, we ask all who agree with us t
unite IN perfecling thorough local organ
iZatiOn OF our party in the community wher
| they reside, To vote for our candidates a
the coming election, and TO unite with us il
future UPiilpra ions of the DartV
George Blair. Secretary; Pierce Pearson
Treasurer; George o. Jones, Chairman New
| York State Committee.
What Has Been Accomplished.
A correspondent writes as follows t
| IHlS.OIlsiIl .-tnte JO7krn0k: