The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-21
NATIONAL PLATFORM.
Adopted Mt indianapolis May, 1884.


claimed TO the world It's immortal prin-
ciples, and placed before the American
people MS Presidential candidate that
great philanthropist and spotless states.
man, Peter Cooper. Since TINT con.
vention our party has organized all
over the Union, and through discussion
and agitation, has been educating the
the people to sense Of their rights and
duties 10 themselves and their country
These labors have ACCOMPLISHED won
ders. Wo now have great, harmon
ious party, and thousands who believe
in our principles, in the ranks of other
parties
I'VE point with pride to our history"
We forced the reconciliation Of the
silver dollar; prevented the refunding
of the public debt into long time
bonds; secured the payment Of
the bonds, Until the "best
banking system the world ever saw
for robb;ng the producer now tutters
because of its contracting foundation
We have stopped the squandering OF
our public domain upon corporations; ;
we have stopped the wholesale destruc-
ton Of the greenback currency, and Sc
cured decision Of the Supreme Court
of the United States establishing for
ever the right Of the people to issue
their own money.
Notwithstanding all this, never in
our history have the banks, land-grant
railroads, and other monopolies, been
more insolent in their demands for
further privileges-still more class
legislation. In this emergency the
dominant parties are arrayed against
the people, and are the abject tools Of
the corporate monopolies.
In the last Congress they repealed
over 1900, 900 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 the payment of the public deb,
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
pretexts, $500, DOC, 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-if
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 $4,000, 900 more of the
peoples money in order to enable then
to levy a still greater burden Of Interest
taxes.
A joint effort il being made by ths
old party leaders to overthrow the soye
reign constitutional power of til,
people to control their own financia
affairs, and issue their own money II
order to forever enslave the masses t.
bankers and other usurpers. Th'
House of Representatives has passet
bills retaining nearly 100, 900. 900 acre'
of lands granted to, and forfeited by
railroad companies. These bills hav,
gone to The Senate. body composed
largely of aristocratic millionaires who
according to their own party papers
generally purchased their elections
in order to protect the great mo
opolics which they represent. Thi
body has thus far deiied the people ant
the House, and refused to act upoi
these bills in the interest of the people
Therefore, We, thu National party o
the United States. in national conven
ton assembled, this 2.th day Of May
A. ID. 1881. declare:
/. That VIC hold the late decision of the Su
preme Court on the legal-tender question to b
full sindication of the theory which that part
has always advocated on the right and author
ity of Congress over the issue OF lcgal-tendc
notes, aud we hereby pledge ourselves to uphol
said decision and to defend the Constitntio
against alterations or amendments intende
TO deprive the leorle OF any right
or privileges conferred by that instrument: W
|, demand the issue OF such money in snfficien
quantities TO supply the actual demandso Of trad
and commerce in acet rlance with the fncrcas
OF population and the development of our indus
tries. Wedemand the substitution of crecnbach
Tor national bank notes and the prompt paymex
| OF the public deht We want that money whic
saved our country In time OF war, and which Ia
given II prosperity and happiness In peace "
, condemn the retirement Of the fractional GU
ren,y and small denominations Of grecnback
AMI demand their restoration. We demand Il
Z issue of the boards OF money now locked up
the United States Treasury 10y applying them
the payment Of the public debt now due
.. We dcnounce as dangerous to our reput
lcan institutions those methods and policies
\ the Democratic and Republican parties whic
= have sanctioned or permitted the estabishmei
r OF land, railroad. money, and other gigans
: corporate monorolies, and we demand sur
: take from such monopolies the powers the
have so corruptly and nniustly usurped and r
: store item to the PEOPLE to whom they beion
! The public lands being the natural inhe
= itance If the eople. We denounce that polis
a which has granted to corporations vast tracts
!. land. and we demand that immediate and VII
oious measures he taken TO reclaim from sui
: corporations for the peoples use and benefit q
n such land grants AS have been forfeited by re-
!, son of non-tulfilment OF the contract, or tn
!, | may have been wrongfuly acquired by CORFU
q legislation; and that such reclaimed lands al
: other public domain he henceforth held as
L sacred trust, TO lie granted only to actual sc
, / tiers III HInileu QHdHtitiG~s Aui VIC utIuAHu III
y ali n ownership OF land. individual or corporal
: rhall be prohibited.
|, l. We demand Congressional regulation Of i
4 terstate commerce. We denounce poolini
~ ock-watering. and discrimination in rates N
= charges: and that Congrs SIS shall correct the
e abuses, even ii necessary by the construction
5 national railroads: we also demand the esta
n lishment of a governmental postal telegra
= system.
. g. All private property. all ferns OF mon
Ia and obligations to pay money, should be
~ their Just proportion of public taxes; we
:. mand graduated income tax.
~ d. We demand an aneliofatlon OF the cone
l. ton of labor by enforcing sanitary laws In |
d dustrial establishments by the abolition Of
n convict-labor system: by rigid inspection
!. mines and factories: by reduction OF the hol
III of labor in industrial establishments; by I
fostering of educational institutions; and
ahohshing child labor.
Is T. We condemn all importation Of contract
10 Dor made with view Of reducing to starsati
wages the workingmen Of this country, and q
mand laws for its prevention
III e. We insist nj on constitutional AMENDING
reducing the terms Of United States Senate
10 one-balf and making them elective directly