The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-28
NATIONAL PLATFORM.
Adopted Mt Indianapolis May, 1884.

in this city for the first time, and pro-
claimed to the world It's immortal prin-
ciples, and placed before the American
people ns Presidential candidate that
great philanthropist and spotless states
man, Peter Cooper. Since that con-
vention our party has organized all
over the Union, and through discussion
and agitation, has been educating tho
the people to sense Of their rights and
duties TO themselves and their country
These labors have accomplished won
ders. We now have great, harmon
ious party, and thousands who believe
in our principles, in the ranks Of other
parties.
1--WE point with pride to our history.
| We forced the reconciliation Of the
silver dollar; prevented the refnnding
Of the public debt into long time
bonds; secured the payment Of
the bonds, until the "best
banking system the world ever saw
for robbing the producer now tottcrs
because Of its contracting foundation
we have stopped the squandcring Of
our public domain upon corporations
we have stopped tho wholesale dcstrnc-
ton Of the greenback currency, and So
cured decision Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States establishing for
ever the right Of the people to issue
their own money.
Notwithstanding oil this, never in
our history have the banks, Immigrant
railroads, and other monopolies, been
more insolent in their demands for
further priyilcges-still more class
legislation. In this emergency the
dominant parties are arrayed against
the people, and are the abject tools oi
the corporate monopolies.
In the last Congress they repealed
over $12, 600, 900 Of annual taxes for the
banks, throwing the burden upon the
people to pay or pay interest thereon.
Both old parties in tho present
Congress, vie with each other in their
efforts to further repeal taxes in order
to stop the payment of the public debt
and save the banks whose charters they
have renewed for twenty years. Not
withstanding the distress Of business,
the shrinkage of wages and he panic,
they persist in locking up on various
pretcxts, 800, O0O, 900 of money, every
dollar of which the people pay inter-
est upon, and need, and most Of which
should be promptly applied to pay
bonds now payable.
The old parties are united--as they
cannot agree what taxes to repeal--in
efforts to squander the income Of the
Government upon every pretext rather
than pay the debt.
A bill has already passed the United
States Senate making the banks pres
ent of over $3O,OoO,OOO moro Of the
peoples money in order to enable them
to levy still greater burden Of interest
taxes.
A joint effort il being made by the
old party leaders to overthrow the sove-
reign constitutional power of the
people to control their own financial
affairs, and issue their own money in
order to forever enslave the masses to
bankers and other usnrpers. The
House of Representatives has passed
bills reclaiming nearly 100, 900. 900 acres
of lands granted to, and forfeited by,
railroad companies. These bills have
gone to the SenalH. body composed
largely Of aristocratic millionaires who,
according to their own party papers,
generally purchased their elections
in order to protect the great mo-
nopolics which they represent. This
body has thus far deiicd the people and
the House, and refused to act upon
these bills in the interest of the people.
Therefore, We, tia National party Of
the United States, in national convcn-
ton assembled, this 29th day of May,
A. d. 1891, declare:
l. That we hold the late decision Of the SUI
prcme Court on the legal tender question to be
y full vindication of the theory which that party
has always advocated on the rinht and author
notes. and we hereby pledge ourselves to uphold
said decision and to defend the Constitution
against alterations or amendments intended
to deprive the PEOPLE OF any rights
or privileges conferred by that instrument. We
demand the issue OF such money in sufficient
quantities TO supply the actual demands Of trade
and commerce i'll acct rtlanec with the increase
OF population and the development of our indus
tries. We demand the substitution OF grcenhacks
Tor national bank notes and the prompt payment
of the public dcbt. We want that money which
saved our country In time OF war. and which has
given II prosperity aud h" pplness in peace. We
condemn the retirement Of the fractional ,ur-
rency and Email denominations of greenhacks
AMI demand their restoration We demand the
issue of the boards OF money now locked up in
the United States Treasury by applying them Ia
the payment II the public debt now due
,. We dcnounce ~ dangerous TO our rcpub-
lican institutions those methods and policies OF
the Democratic and Republican parties which
have sanctioned or permitted the establishment
of land railroad, money. and other gigantic
corporate monep0lies, and we demand such
governmental action as may be necessary TO
take from such monopolies the powers they
have so corruptly and unlustiy us,rped and IT.
store them To the people to whom they belong.
B. The public lands being the natural inner
itance Of the People. we dennnncc that policy
land, and we demand that immediate and Wig
| orons measures hc taken to reclaim from snch
corporations for the peoples use and benefit all
| such land ~ have been forfeited by rea-
| son OF non-Iulhliment of the conf rAct, or that
| may have been wIonafully acquired bv eorrup,
| legislation; and that such reclaimed lands and
Il OIntT puDIbC Ue HeuGclUitu M y
| sacred trust, 10 he granted only to actual set.
| tiers In limited quantities: and We demand tina,
alien ownership of land, individual or corporate
/ ehall be prohibited.
| 1. We demand Congressional regulation Of in
/ terstatc commerce: we dcn0unce pooling,
stock watering. and Discrimination In rates and
| charges: and that Conxr, ~ shall correct thcss
/ abuses. even II necessary by the construction Of
| national railroads: we also demand the estab,
lishment of governmental postal telegraph
i system.
/ s. All private property. all ferns Of money
/ and obligations to pay money, should Deal
| their just proportion 81 public taxes: we de.
/ mand graduated income tax.
1 g. We demand an amelioratlon Of the condi
/ ton of labor by enforcing sanitary laws In In
i dustrinl establishments by the abolition Of tn,
| consict-labor system: by rigid Inspection o
j mines and factories; by reduction OF the hour
i Of labor in industrial establishments; by tn
fostering Of educational institutions: and b.
| abolshing child labor.
/ !. We condemn all importation of contract 10
Dor made with view Of reducing to starvation
| wages the workingmen Of this country, and dc
| mand laws TOR its prevention.
| H. We insist upon constitutional amendment
| reducing the terms Of United States Senator
one half, and making them elective directly b,