Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1878 — National State Platform. [ARTICLE]

National State Platform.

The National Greenback Labor Party of Indiana, in convention assembled, declare: 1. VV e declare our fealty to the American monetary system—the abolition of all bank issues, the free aud unlimited coinage of gold and silver, and tbe issuing by the govorumoni of full legal-tender paper money, receivable for ail duos and payable for debts, public auu private, in amount sufficient to meet tbe wants of trude, to give employment to all labor, uud to enable the people to do a cash business, and to relieve them from the debt system which bus made tbe industrial and commercial classes the slaves and drudges of tbe creditmongers of the world. a. We declare our opposition to every measure looking to the resumption of specie payments, tbe monarchical system of finance which puts all the interests of industry, trade and commerce in the hands of the few, uud enforces a mouopoly of wealth destructive of the highest material good of society. 3. We proclaim our uncompotnising hostility to the perpetuation of the system of goverinent bonded indebtedness which is intended to hind unborn generations iu chuius, and we declare that the government should use all the funds now hoarded tor resumption purposes to puv and cancel outstanding bonds, aud that it should make new and liberal issues of money to be applied to the same P'trposa; aud that the issue of future interestbearing bonds should be prohibited by constitutional amendment 4. Wo demand that all legislation should be so enacted and so administered as to secure to each man, us nearly as practicable, tha just reward of his owtt labor; and we denounce all lawlessness, violence aud fraud that refuses submission to the will of the people honestly expressed through the ballot.

5. We denounce the red flag communism imported from Europe, which asks for an equal division of property, uud we denounce the communism of the uational banks, of the bond syndicates, und ot the consolidated railroad corporations, which have secured aud are enforcing an unequal division of property, huving already divided among themselves ten thousand millions of the pioperty of the people by eorruptfug the rapresentutives and servants of the people. The one system of communism ignores the inequalities of capacity which have been planted by nature in the human family, and both systems are destructive of the rewards of toil and of the iucontiye to industry aud exertion, ti. We declare that until the American monetary system, which will result in the practical extinction of debt and usury is established the State should by all the powers that it can exert, limit and reduce the rate of interest so that it shall in no event exceed the average increase of wealth by productive industry. 7. We favor simple, plain and economical government, as few laws as possible, and they rigidly enforced—as few officials as practicable, andjtliey held to a close accountability. To this end we demand the abolition of all useless offices, and the overthrow of the system by which offices are made to yield almost princely fortunes. It is the lirst duty ol the next general assembly of Indiana to secure such legislation as shall make it impossible for auv local or State official to receive more than adequate pay lor his services; and when practicable the compensation should be fixed bv a specific salary'.

8. We denounce the conspiracy of the Democratic and Republican leaders of Indiana to build j a costly and magnificent slate house, which, us j experience has proved in all similar eases, would | result in the general plundering of the people.— We denounce the action of the governor in calling a special session of the legislature for the purpose of lostering this scheme. We denounce the indecent haste with which the state house commissioners are proceeding to let a contract to bind tbe people of the state, and we demand that no contract shall be let until the voters of the state have had an opportunity to express their will upon the subject through the legislature to be chosen in October next. it. We protest against the weak and ineffective election laws of Indiana, aud we ask that the next legislature shall euaet statutes which shall secure fair elections in the state, and which shall provide severe and adequate punishment for fraudulent voters, and for those who bribe voters or procure fraudulent votes. 10. We denounce the criminal and unfair apportionment ot the legislative and congressional districts of the state in the interest ol the Republican party, and tbe equally unjust apportionments made in the past by the Democratic party, and we pledge our members of the legislature to vote for a fair and equitable apportionment which shall secure a full a,<d untrammeied expression of the sen. tiineuls of the people. 11. The State shall enact laws which will abrogate the abuses aud protect tbe interests of men who work iu mines, by providing for the proper ventilation of the mines; aud the earnings of all employees of corporations should be a first lien upon the property of said corporations. 1;J. If it was wise and needful in 1807, when money was plenty and the country prosperous to enact a bankrupt law, it is certainly humane now to amend such law so to prevent frauds aud to continue iu force this last escape of tile oppressed debtor from the extortions of tbe money power And we favor the exemption of not less than SI,OOO worth ot property to the householder from forced sale on execution. 13. The constitution should be so amended that the President, Vice-President aud Senators of the United States shall be elected by direct vote of the people. 14. We are unalterably opposed to adding to the bitrthcus of the people by an increase of the standing army, believing with Washington that ■'overgrown military establishments under any form of government are inauspicious to liberty, and particularly hostile to republican liberty. 15. We indorse and reaffirm the platform of principles acopted at Toledo, February 22,1878, uud we congratulate the country upon the union of the political interests subserving the useful ranks of society, in .one party which shall advance this decree to a higher and better civilization and this oldest gospel, that t here shall be work for all and that, all shall work. cheapest place in town to get groceries is at Catt & Smoot’s. Try them and see for yourselves.