Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-02
The Gresnback Conyen tIon.

history of the greenbaclS party and IL the
party died in this campaign, yet its history
was bright. The reforms 1t had favored
would make il immortal. While we have
been willing TO work with another minority
party we never agreed to strike the green
back flags, and ii any party thought there
was no strength in the greenback party,
let them try IL on.
II. B. Hudson, of Mancelona, was intro
duced as temporary chairman and was re-
cetved with great applause.
MIR. Hudson on taking the chair made
some brief remarks, thanking the conven-
tion for the honor and stating that he could
never believe the men who bound them
selves together in 1873, 1880 and 1889 would
surrender these principles. He believed
that when the convention adjourned the
people wopld know what they wanted. He
was protectionist, but 1t was for the pro-
tection OF American homes and not the
taxing of the necessaries OF life for the
benefit of the monopolist (applause).
Whatever the convention did let it adjourn
as the greenback party of the state OF
Michigan.
Jacob Barr, Of Grand Haven, was chosen
temporary Secretary.
Commstees on resolutions, organization
and conference were appointed.
The committee on permanent organiza-
ton reported j. Il. Whiting, OF St. Clair,
for permanent chairman, Jacob Baar, of
Ottawa, for secretary, and Charles Dewey,
OF DenaWee, for assistant secretary. The
order Of business was report OF conference
Com mittee, report OF resolutions, nomina-
tons. Representative j. X. Whiting was
introduced by ID. w. Fuller as q live con-
gresham.
On taking the chair Mr.. Whiting thanked
the convention for the honor and was proud
TO preside over greenback convention,
because that party believed in live issues.
The Greenback party believed that the
present tariff was menace To the pros
perity of the people, and that was the main
issue to-day, and the Greenback party
should join to bring about the reforms so
necessary, and it was In no sense an offer
ing for sale Of the party. They could ask
for nothing which was not sensible and
would not tend to relieve the distress OF
the country.
Pending a report of the committee on
conference, at $50 a recess of half an
hour was tax IN and when the convention
re-assembled the committee on resolutions
presented the following platform, which
was adopted:
l. The greenback party was organized to
protest against the funding laws, national
bank system, interruptions monopolies and
class legislation that formed the sacred love
of the republican party. 1t had for its fur
/ Their object the perpetuation OF the legal
| tender greenback as the proper currency OF
this nation for all time TO the absolute eX-
clusion of bank issue of money. 1t saw that
the greenback fought the great war Of tire
rebellion 10 glorious close, proving con-
! ciusivcly that il is the only form of public
credit the American people will ever need
in any national emergency, however peril
Gus or distressing
The greenback party reaifirms its conserv-
! alive utterances in past platforms against
bonded debt, against banking system
| for the issue of money, whether national or
state, against any law Of any kind that dis
eliminates in favor of the few; and thus re
| affirming, proud of its wholesome influence
upon public policy and determined to con-
tinue the exercise of that influence for the
| common welfare it refuses to diSband
while monopoly and money trusts and jobs,
subsidies and bribers presume TO rule the
country.
1t now as heretofore demands of the gov
eminent that it exercise fully and alone
| its sovereign power to issue money and reg
ulate its value
IL demands the payment of the bonded
! debt in accordance with the law, as rapidly
as possible, and protests for all future time
| against the issue by the nation of another
interest bearing bond, either through re-
| funding or TO meet any unusual expenditure
! in peace or war.
We also demand a state law which shall
| fairly aud equitably divide taxation on real
estate between the owner Of the fee and the
| holder of the mortgage liens thereon, wheth
! or otherwise.
The greenback party, in harmony with
| intelligent, organized workingnen, distinct
ly demands laws for the protection of hon
| est labor; not so much in the form of inn
! port duties, but rather by penal statutes
! leveled at railroadwrecking, stock water
| ing, pauper and contract immigration, con-
| vict and child labor, corners, trusts, COM
bines and pools Strikes and boycotts are
equally deplorablc whether invoked by capt.
tai or labor. In place of these and dyna-
mite or PinlSerton murderers we ask for
| Cancellation, mutual esteem and impartial
| arbitration.
The greenback party further declares
| for the absolute forfeiture of all unearned
land grants and the careful preservation of
the public domain for actual settlers, also
| for the reduction OF taxation TO the needs
of frugal, economical administration.
The greenback party not only cordially
sympathizes with temperance and morali-
| ty,n but most emphatically demands that
such laws shall be enacted, even to changes
in the constitution, as may seem necessary
| to remove from our midst the blighting
curse of intemperance, it being our earnest
conviction that the people cannot long enjoy
| the blessings of liberty, peace, happiness,
prosperity and pure government one-half
drunk and one-half sober.
With sincere gratitude we express our
admiration for the patriotism and heroism
of the soldiers and sailors who defended the
flag and the union. We believe the time
has come to grant every soldier and sailor
service pension and the equalization of
his pay TO the standard of gold, the same as
the bondholders received, and that disabil-
ity pensions should begin from date of dis
ability in all cases. We therefore declare
for the repeal Of the date clause of the ar
rears of pension act, and to meet the add.
tional expense of the generous treatment
we would extend to soldiers and sailors, we
favor graduated income tax and a new is
sue Of legal tender greenbacks.
Giving due credit to President Cleveland
| for the appointment Of Gen. John G.. Black
TO the head of the pension bureau, we thank
the brilliant and gallant pension commits
sioner for his unequaled devotion TO the
claims or pensions of disabled and diseased
| soldiers and in this connection further we
thank the fusion members of congress from
| Michigan for their earnest efforts under
the lead of Gen. James b. Weaver to defeat
the wilkins bank bin.
RESOLVED, That taxation of the people
| for other purposes than raising revenue
for the expense of the government economi-
cally administered, is robbery under the
form of law. We are therefore in favor of
| the revision OF the unjust tariff and its adj
| iustment to a revenue basis.
The committee of conference reported
the agreement as to fusion made with the