The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-14
NATIONAL PLATFORM.
Adopted mt indianapolis May tssA.


claimed TO tho world its immortal prin-
.iplts, md placed before tho American
people M Il Presidential candidate that
great philanthropist and apctlcss states.
man, Petor Cooper. Since that con-
ycntion our party has organized all
over tho Union, and through discussion
and agitation, has been educating tho
tho people To sense Of their rights and
duties TO themselves md their country
Those labors have accomplished won
ders. We now have great, harmon
ious party, and thousands who believe
In our principles, In tho ranks OF other
psrticsi
I'VE point with pride to our history"
We forced tho RECOMMENDATION u the
silver dollar; prevented the rcfunding
Of the public debt into long time
bonds, secured tho payment OF
the bonds, until tho "bcst
banking systofi tho world ever saw
for robbing tho producer now sotters
because Of its contracting foundation
We na~c stopped the squandering OF
our public domain sron corporations;
we have stopped tho wholesale asntrnc.
ton of the greenbaek currency, aud sc
cured decision Of tho Supreme Court
Of tho United States establishing for
ever Che right Of the people to issue
their own money.
Notwithstanding all this, never in
our history have tho banks, Immigrant
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
tho people, and are tho abject tools Of
the corporate monopolies.
In the lust Congress they repealed
over ST., GCo, 900 of annual taxes for tho
banks, throwing the burden upon tho
people to pay or pay interest thereon.
Bah old parties in the present
Congress, vie With each other in their
efforts to further repeal taacs In order
to stop the payment of the public debt
and .cva Abe banks whose charters they
have renewed fot twenty years, Not.
withstanding the distress N business.
the shrinkage Of wages and he panic,
| - IA Ia ~ ySx
hrtte>ts, &iOO. 100000 Of money, every
dollar Of Mhitl, the people pay inter.
est upon, and need, and most Of which
should be promptly applied 10 pay
bonds now payable.
The old parties are united-as they
cannot agree what taxes to repeal-in
efforts TO squandcr tho income of the
Government upon every pretext rather
than pay the debt,
A bill has already passed the United
States Senate making the banks Il pres.
ent of over 80, 700, 900 more of the
peoples money in order to enable them
to levy still greater burden of interest
taxes.
A Joint effort in being made Ivy the
old party leaders to overthrow the sove.
reign constitutional power al tho
people 10 control their own financial
affairs, and issue their own money in
order to forever enslave the masses to
bankers and other usurrers. The
House of Representatives has passc,!
bills reclaiming nearly loo, o00. ooa acres
Of lands granted to, and forfeited by,
railroad companies. These bills have
gone to the Senate, n body composed
largely Of nristocratic millionaires who,
according to their own party papers,
generally purchased their elections
in @orler to protect the great mo.
nopolies which they represent. This
body has thus far deiied the people and
the House, and refused to act upon
these bills in the interest Of the people.
tt refors. We, thu National party OF
the United States, in national conven-
ton assembled, this 2gth day of May,
A. ID. 1881, declare:
| l. That we hold the late decision of the SUI
prcme Court ON the lcgal-tcnder question tn he
a full yindication OF the theory which that party
| has always advocated Oh the right and author
lily Of Congress over the Issue Of lesal.t.ndo.
notes. and We hereby pledge ourselves tn uphold
said decision and to defend the Constitution
| against alterations or amendments Intended
to deprive Tire leopie OF any risntS
| or privileges conferred by that instrument, We
4 demand the issue OF such muney In sufficient
| quantities 10 supply tie actual demands et trade
| aud cemmsrse IN aess riance With the increase
| oil population and the development Of our indus
tries We demand the substitution III sfeenhacks
| tor national bank notes and the prompt payment
| OF the public dcst, We want that money which
saved our country In time oi war, and which has
| given IL prosperity aud h Appness i'll peace. W,
| condemn tho retirement III the fractional cur
rcney and small aenaminatieas OF srsenhseks
Sl..Kk has
| issue Of the huards OF money now locked up IN
| the United States Treasury hy applying them I,
the payment II the public debt now due
| J. We denounce as dangerous TO our repnb.
lican institutions those III 'thoas and policies al
| the Democratic and Republican parties which
| have sanctioned or permitted the establishment
| of land, railroad, money, and other gigantic
| corporate monaloltes, and We demand snet
| governmental action as may he necessary Il
tax. trom such moaapolics tho powers the,
| have 81 corrnitly and nntnstly usnrpsd and re-
| store them Ia the leople To whom they belong
| 4 The luhlie lands being the natural inner.
iianes, ~ TIN lcenle. We denonncc that policy
| which has Granted tn corporations vast tracts u
/ land, and we demand that immediate and Wig
| ofous measures le taken 10 reclaim from suel
corporations Tor the peoples use and benefit nj
| such land giants rs have been forfeited by rea
| SON OF non-tulfiment OF the contract, or thai
| nav have been WI ongfnly acquired nv eorrun
legislation; and that such reclaimed lands an,
| other public domain he heneeiofth held as
| sacred trust, to lie granted only To actual set
tiers in limited quantities; and we demand tina
alt n ownership OF land. individual or corporate
shall he prohibited.
| 1. We demand Congressional regulation Of In
tcrs.ate commerce. w aenounee "naoling,
s,ock-wat, ring, aud discrimination I'm rates an.
charges. and that Itngrs ~ shall correct thes
| abuses, even II necessary hy the construction d
| national railroads: we also dem nd the cstab
lishment of governmental postal TELEGRAPH
Rystem,
8. All private property. all 4 rms of none,
and obligations To pay money, should tea
their just proportion at public taxes. we de
mand graduated income tax.
d. We demand an amelloiatton Of the condi
ton Of labor hy enforcing sanitary laws in In
dustrial establishments by the abolition uf tn
convict labor system: by rigid inspection q
| mines and factories. hy reduction OF the hour
| Of labor i'm snau strial establishments: by tn
| fostering Of educational institutions. and b.
| abuiishinv chill lahaf
| Z. We condemn all importation af contract 10
| Dor made with view OF reducing to stars atiul
| wages the moskingmen IL This country. and do
| mand laws for its prevention.
| T. We insist M ON a constitutional amendmen
| reducing the terms III United States senator
| one la II, and making them elective directly b
1 4 hs al mai