The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-30

Iabors upon this subject as speedily and early as we
possibly could. There are two reports from the com
mittee on resolutions, a majority report and a minority
report, the minority report being sustained by six
States. Mr.. Jones. as a matter of courtesy, | suppose,
will have the privilege of reading the minority report
first.
Mr.. Jones then said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen-I regret very
sincerely that | feel it my duty to read this paper, as
the majority Of the committee have presented or will
present one which, in almost every regard, meets with
my hearty approval. My reason for reading this
paper is to call attention to two questions that l desire
to see go out from a convention of our party as cardin'
al principles. These are, first, the replacing of the sec
tionalisiL that keeps alive the Democratic and Repub-
lican parties by the truly national spirit of our party;
and the expenditure of money for the construction of
public improvements in order that money be placed in
circulation to a degree sufficient to handle the prod
ucts of the soil, which are equal to all requirements of
our race, in order that business be done on a cash basis.
MIR. JoNEs's RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Jones then read the resolutions Endorsed
by himself and delegates from five States, as
follows:
Whereas, The spirit of sectional prejudice which
perpetuated both the Republican and Democratic par
ties not only endangers the union of the States, but
enables corporations. monopolies and the enemies of
free government everywhere to control Legislation in
their interests, robs the people and endangers free
government,
Resolved, That in order TO restore harmony, fra
ternity and good feeling in all sections, and preserve
and transmit to future generations the free institu-
tons we inherited, a new party, based on principles of
equal interest in every home, with candidates truly
representing such principles must obtain control of
the government to make and execute its laws, and
thereby infuse a Iegenerated spirit of patriotism
throughout the whole land and we also hold that a
practical appreciation of the theories we have hereto
fore advocated will produce these beneficial results.
Resolved, That we recognize the late decision of
the Supreme Court on the legal tender question as a
ylndlcatlon OF our arguments IN the past, and we Will
defend the Constitution against amendments or altera-
tons intended to deprive the people of the beneficial
results that decision contributes.
Resolved, That we now demand that Congress
shall create full legal-tender notes and issue the same
in payment of government debts, constructing public
improvements, to reduce transportation charges,
completing public buildings, building a navy and for
such other purposes as Congress is now asked to APP
propriate money, until the surplus labor of the
country is employed, a profitable home market for the
products of American farms and workshops created,
and business is done on a cash basis.
Resolved, That the railroads and telegraphs are
public institutions and should be treated as such by
limiting their debts to the actual cash cost of property
represented and their charges to a fair return
not be allowed to own more land
than is actually required for the convenient
transaction of their business, nor individuals more
than they intended to occupy and develop; that all
public lands should be held for actual settlers and that
no alien should be permitted to hold title to land in
this country; nor exercise any control over the man
agement or charge of any railroad, telegraph, coal
mine, or property affecting the present or future wei
fare of American citizens. The National Green
back Labor party, as its name indicates, knows no
sectional feeling, entertains no sectional hatred, has
buried all past sectional prejudices. 1t believes in a
natiOndl currency thaC VIII enable Americans 10 40
business independent from foreign aristocrats, and we
claim that all recent economic reforms have been
brought about through the influence that party has ex-
erted over public opinion and reform. tasks the sup
port of all good mon; it knows that it will succeed and
that its principles must prevail, or free institutions
will be lost to this generation, and the hopes of pa
triot, throughout the world delayed until oppression
develops more wisdom, honesty and virtue
Mr.. s.. c. Blanchard, the Michigan member of
the committee, presented an individual platform,
which proposed to regulate and reform all the
aA,-x- cd I~,l n 46a BOD Aa1ifsn A~NAn-
other things, it declared that the bonds of the
United States should be paid as rapidly as posi-
BILE, and with the lawful money of the country;
that labor should be protected by State and ma
tional authority; that railroad land grants for
feited by non-fulfllment of contract should be
redeemed; that Congress should regulate inter
state IN denouncing monOpOlies; favor
ing the liberal system of pensioning soldiers and
sailors; demanding a graduated income tax; ia
voring a reform in the tarl1 system, but not too
rapid; favoring compulsory education; declaring
that the Offices belong to the people, who should
elect the Office holders; demanding honest and
temperate men for Office; declaring an honest con
viction that our people cannot long enjoy the
blessings of peace and prosperity half sober and
half drunk, etc.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
Col. Norton then read the majority report, as
follows:
Eight years ago our young party met in this city for
the first time, and proclaimed to the world its immor-
tai principles, and placed before the American people
as a presidential candidate that great philanthropist
and spotless statesman, Peter Cooper. Since that
convention our party has organized all over the
Union, and through discussion and agitation has been
educating the people to a sense Of their rights and
duties to themselves and their country. These labors
have accomplished wonders. We now have a great,
harmonious party, and thousands who believe in our
principles in the ranks of other parties.
We point with pride to our history" We forced
the recommendation of the silver dollar; prevented the
r~efunding of the public debt into longtime bonds; Sc
cured the payment Of the bonds, until the best
banking system the.world ever saw for robbing the
producer now totters because of its contracting
Foundations; we have stopped the squandering of our
public domain upon corporations; we have stopped the
wholesale destruction Of the greenback currency, and
secured a decision of the Supreme Court of the United
States establishing forever the right Of the people 10
issue their own money.
Notwithstanding all this, never in our history have
the banks, land grant railroads, and other monopo-
lies. been more insolent in their demands for further
privileges-still more class Legislation. In this eneIg-
ency the dominant parties are arrayed against the
people, and are the abject tools of the corporate
In the last Congress- they repealed over $12, 600
600 of annual taxes for the banks, throwing the
burden upon the people to pay or pay interest thereon.
Both old parties in the present Congress vie with
each other in their efforts to further repeal taxes in
order to stop Che payment of the public debt and save
the banks whose charters they have renewed for
twenty years, notwithstanding the distress
of business, tho shrinkage Of wages and
the panic, they persist in locking up on
various pretexts 500, 900. 900 of money. every
dollar of which the people pay, interest upon
piled 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 q present Of over $5O, oo0,0 03
more of the peoples money in order TO enable them
to levy a still greater burden of interest.taxes.
A joint effort is being made by the old party leaders
to overthrow the sovereign 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 business. The House OF
Representative has passed bills reclainins nearly
100, 900 900 acres of lands granted to, and Forfeited
by railroad companies. These bills have gOni to the
Senate. a body composed largely Of sristocr3tio mill
ionaires who, according TO ther own
party papers, generally purchased. thelr
elections in order to protect great monopoles which
they represent. This body has thus far deiiei the PEG
pie and the House, and refused to act upon pieSe oils
Ia the interest of the people.
Therefore, we, the National party of te United
States, in national convention assembled, ths z9th