The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-01-26
PLATFORM

Or THE NATIONAL HREENRAcY-LABoR PARTY on
THE UNITED STATES, ADOPTED AT CHICAGO
June o, 1850.
!. That the right to mske and issue money ID
q sovereign power to be maintained by the peo-
pie for the common benefit. Tho delegation
Of this right to corporations il . surrender Of
the central attribute Of sovereignty, void Of
constitutional sanction, comforting upon sub.
ordinate irresponsible power and absolute do
minion over industry and commerce. All
money whether metallic or paper, should be
issued and its volume controlled By the dov-
crnment. and not by or through banking cor
porations, and, when 40 issued, should be 4
full legal tender for all debts public and pri-
yate.
q That the bonds Of the United States
should not be refunded, but paid 80 rapidly %
practicable, according to contract. To enable
The Government to meet these obligations,
legal-tender currency should DO substituted
for the notes Of the national banks, the ma
tional-banking system abolished, and the un-
limited coinage Of silver, - we'll q gold, es-
tabished by law.
8. That labor should be1so protected sby
national and State authority % to equalize its
burdens. and insure Just distribution OF its
results /; the eight-hour law Of Congress should
be enforced the sanitary condition OF indus
trial establishments placed under rigid control !;
the competition Of contract convict labor abol-
ished bureau Of labor statistics established !;
factories, mines and workshops inspected !;
tho employment Of children under Il years Of
age forbidden, and wages paid in cash.
1. Slavery being simply cheap labor, and
cheap labor being simply slavery, the importa-
bends to brutalize and degrade American labor,
therefore immediate steps should be taken to
abrogate the Burlingame treaty.
5. Railroad land grants forfeited by reason OF
non-fulfllment Of contract should be immedi-
stely reclaimed Dy the Government, and hence
forth the public domain reserved exclusively .
homes for actual settlers.
G. 1t is the duty Of Congress TO regulate In
ter-State commerce. AL lines Of communica-
| ton and transportation should be brought uu-
der such legislative control - shall secure mod
crate, fair and uniform rates for passenger and
| freis bit traffic.
Z. We denounce AZ destructive to prosperity.
and dangerous to liberty, the actions Of the old
parties in fostering and sustaining gigantic
| land, railroad and money corporations and mo-
| nopolies, invested with and exercising powers
belonging to the Government, and not respon-
| sble to it for the manner Of their exercise.
3. That the constitution, giving Congress the
power to borrow money, to declare war, to raise
and support armies to provide and MAINTAIN .
| navy, never intended that the men who loaned
their money for an interest consideration should
be preferred to the soldier and sailor who
periled their lives and shed their blood on land
| and sea in defense OF their country, and We
condemn the cruel class legislation Of the Re
| publican party which, while processing great
gratitude to the soldier, has most unjustly dis
eliminated against him and in favor OF the
bondholder.
3. All property should bear Its Just proper
ton Of taxation, and We demand Z graduated
| income tax.
10. We denounce as most dangerous the ef-
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 mill
itary power under the gnise Of militia laws.
IL. We demand absolute democratic rules
for the government of Congress, placing all
representatives Of the people upon an equal
footing, and taking away from committees
| veto power greater than that Of the presi-
dent.
13 We demand q Government OF the people.
by the people and for the people. instead OF q
Government OF the bondholders by the bond
holdt rs and for tho bondholders, and We de-
nonnce every attempt to stir up sectional strife
| ~ an effort to conceal monstrous crimes
against the people.
a. In the fnrthcrancc Of these ends we ask
the cooperation Of all far-minded people.
We have no quarrel with individuals, wage no
war upon classes, but only against vicious in
| sttntions. We are not content to endure fur
Their discipline from our present actual rulers,
| who, having dominion over money, over trans
portation, over sea and land. and largely over
tho press and the machinery or Government,
WELD unwarantable power over our institu-
tions and over our life and property.