The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-09-20
POLITICAL PLATFORMS.
A Series of Interesting Documents.
MiIestO1oes IN the Development OF POEiti
cal Parties Since the Organiza-
tiO11 of the GOUern n1eTt.

Civil government should guarantee
the divine right of every laborer to the
results of his toll, thus enabling the
producers of wealth to provide them
selves with the means for physical
comfort, and the facilities for mental,
social and moral culture; and we con-
denim as unworthy of our civilization
the barbarian which imposes upon
the wealth producers a state of per-
petual drudgery as the price of bare
animal existence.
Notwithstanding the enormous IN
crease of productive power, the univer-
sal introduction of labor saving ma
chinery, and the discovery of new
agents for the increase of wealth, the
task Of the laborer is scarcely light
ened, the hours of toll are but little
shortened, and few producers are lifted
from poverty into comfort and pecu
mary independence.
The associated monopolies, the inter
national syndicates and other income
classes demand dear money and cheap
labor, a strong government and
hence weak people.
Corporate control of the volume of
money has been the means of dividing
society into two classes; of the unjust
distribution of the products of labor,
and building up monopolies of asso
ciated capital, endowed with power to
confscate private property. It has
kept money scarce, and scarcity of
money enforces debt trade, and public
and corporate loans-debt engenders
usury, and usury ends in the bank
ruptcy of the borrower.
Other results are deranged mark cts,
uncertainty in manufacturing enter
prises and agriculture, precarious and
intermittent employment for the
laborer, Industrial war, increasing
intimidation and disfranchisement of
the producer, and rapid declination
into corporate feudalism.
Therefore we declare:
L. That the right to make and issue
money is a sovereign power to bemain-
tanned by the people for the common
benefit. The delegation of this right
to corporations is surrender of the
central attribute of sovereignty void of
constitutional sanction, comforting
upon a subordinate, irresponsible
power, absolute dominion over indus
try and commerce. AllmOney, whether
metallic or paper, should be Issued 2nd
it's volume controlled by the govern
ment, and not by or through banking
corporations, and when so issued should
be full legal tender for all debts, public
and private.
2. That the bonds of the United
States should not be refunded, but
paid as rapidly as is practicable, and
according to contract. To enable the
government to meet these obligations,
legal tender currency should be sub
stituted for the notes of the national
banks, the national banking system
abolished, and the unlimited coinage
of silver as we'll as gold established by
law.
3. That labor should be so protected
by National and State authority, as to
eQualize it's burdens, and insure just
distribution of it's results; the eight
hour law of Congress should be en-
forced the sanitary condition of indus
trial establishments placed under rigid
CONTROL the competition of contract
convict labor abolished; bureau of
labor statistics established; factories,
mines and workshops inspected; the
employment of children under II years
of age forbidden, and wages paid in
cash.
4. Slavery being simply cheap labor,
and cheap labor being simply slavery,
the importation of Chinese serfs neces-
sarily tends to brutalize and degrade
American labor; therefore, immediate
steps should be taken to abrogate the
Burfngame treaty.
5. Railroad land grants, forfeited by
reason Of non fulfillment of contract,
should be Immediately reclaimed by
the government; and henceforth the
public domain reserved exclusively as
homes for actual settlers.
6. It is the duty of Congress to regu-
late inter State commerce, all lines OF
communication and transportation
should be brought under such legisla
tive control as shall secure moderate,
fair and uniform rates for passenger
and freight traffic.
z. We denounce as destructive Of
prosperity, and dangerous to liberty,
the action of the old parties in foster
ing and sustaining gigantic land, rail
road and money corporations and
monopolies, invested with and eXercls-
ing powers belonging to the govern
ment, and yet not responsible to it for
the manner of their exercise
8. That the Constitution, in giving
Congress the power to borrow money,
to declare war, to raise and support
armies, to provide and maintain
navy, never intended that the men who
loaned their money for an interest con-
sideration should be preferred to the
soldier and sailor, who perilled their
lives and shed their blood on land and
sea in defense of their country and we
condemn the cruel class legislation Of
the Republican party which, while pro-
Tossing great gratitude to the soldier,
him and in favor of the bondholder.
9. All property should bear it's just
proportion of taxation, and we demand
a graduated income tax,
10 We denounce as most dangerous,
the efforts everywhere manifest to re-