The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-10-13
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PLATFORM

Or THE NATIONAL GREESRAcK-LABoR PARTY or
THE UNITED STATES, ADOPTED AT CHICAGO,
JUNE 8, lssO.
1. That the right to make and issue money i
a sovereign power to be maintained by the peo-
pie for the common benefit. The ds legation
Of this right to corporations Il a surrender OF
the G ntral attribute of sovereignty, weld Of
constitutional sanction, comforting upon a anb
ordinate irresponsible power and absolute CO.
miDion over industry and commerce.. All
money, whether metsilic or paper, should be
issued ana ita volume controlled by the Gov.
eminent. and not bs Or through banking cor
porations. and, when 80 i-snca should DO
inll legal tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate.
2. That the bonds of The United States
should not be refunded. bu' paid ~ rapidly N
practicable, according to contract. To elab.
The Government to meet these obligations.
legal-tendcr currency shonld DO substituted
for the notes of the national banks. the IN.
tional-banklns system abolished, and the nm
limited coinage Of silver, AZ well as Iold e.
tablishcd by law.
8. That labor should lie 40 protected Nv
national and State authority as to elualize il.
burdens. and insure 4 just distribution ~ IT.
results the eisht-Eonr Law Of Congress should
be enforced ; the sanitary condition OF indus
trial establishments placed under rigid c,n;rol :
the competition OF contract convict labor abol-
ished; bureau Of |, Dor statistics established .
| factories, mines md workshops inspected !,
the employment or children under IA years oil
age forbidden. and wages paid III cash.
4. Slavery being simply cheap labor. ana
cheap labor being simply slavery, the impor.a-
ton and presence OF Chinese aerfs niece ,saiily
| tends to brutalizc aud Grade American labor.
| therefore immediate stefs should be taken 10
| abrosate the Burnl.ame trca'y.
s. Railroad land grants rorfei cd by reason oil
non-fultllment Of contract should be mmedi.
ately reclaimed by the Government, ana hence
forth the public domain reserved exclusively rs
homes for actual settlers.
6. 1t is the duty Of Congress to regulate in
ter-State commerce. All lines Of communica-
ton and transportation should be brought un-
der such legislative control az shall secure mod
eratc, fair aud uniform rates for passenger and
frei; BIT traffic.
Z. We denonnce as destructive to prosperity,
and dangerous to hbtrty, the actions Of the old
p.rties Ill fostering and sustaining gigantic.
land. railroad and money corporations and mo-
nopolics, invested with and exercising power.
belonging 10 the Government, and not respon-
slblc to 1t for the manner Of their exercise.
9. That the constitution, giving Congress the
power to borrow money, to declare war, to raise
and suppt IT armics, 10 provide and maintain q
navy. never INTENDED that the men who loaned
their money fer an interest consideration should
DC preferred to the soldier ana sailor who
pcrled their lives and she'd their blood on land
and SEA i'll defense Of Their country. and we
condemn the cruel class legislation Of the Re-
publican party which, while processing lreat
gratitude to the soldi r, has most unj,istly di
terminated against him and in favor OF the
bondholdes.
o. All property should bear its just proper
tion Of taxation, and We demand q graduated
income tax.
10. We denounce as most dangerous the eff
forts everywhere manifest to restrict the rights
| Of suffrage.
II. We are opposed TO an increase OF the
| standing army IN time Of peace, and the in
| sldious scheme TO establish an enormous mil.
itary power under the guise Of militia laws.
II. We demand absolute democratic rules
for the government of Congress, placing ali
| representatives Of the people upon an equsl
| footing, and taking away from committees
| q veto power greater than that OF the Presi-
dent.
Is. We demand Government Of the people,
by the people and for the people, instead of a
Government Of the bondholdcrs. by the bond
hold RS and for the boldholders, and we de-
nouilce every attempt tn str up sectional strife
| as an effort to conceal monstrous crimes
against the people.
"A. In the fnrtncrance Of these ends we ask
the cooperation Of all fair-mlndcd people.
We have no quarrel with individuals, wage no
war upon classes, bat only against vicious in-
sttutions. We are not content to endure fur
Their discipline from our present actual rulers,
who, having dominion over money, over trans
por,ation, over sea and land, and largely over
| the press and the machinery Of Government,
WELD unwarrantable power over our lnstit,i.
tons aud over our life and property.