Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1878 — National State Platform. [ARTICLE]

National State Platform.

The National Greenback Labor Party of Indiana, in convention assembled, declare: 1. We declare our fealty to the American monetary system—the abolition of all bank issues, the l'ree and unlimited coinage of gold and silver, and the issuing by the government of full legal-tender paper money, receivable for all dues aud payable for debts, public ami private, in amount sufficient fd meet the wants of trade, to give employment to uli labor, und to enable the people to do a cash business, and to relieve them from the debt system whjeli has made the industrial and commercial classes tbe slaves and drudges of the creditmoimers of the world. 2. Wo declare our opposition to every measure looking to the resumption of specie payments, the monarchical system of finance which puts all the interests of industry, trade aud commerce in the hands of the few, und enforces a monopoly of wealth destructive of the highest material good of society. 3. \Ve proclaim our uncompomising hostility to the perpetuation of the system of govermeut bonded indebtedness which is intended to hind unborn generations in chains, and we declare that the government should use all the funds now hoarded tor resumption purposes to pay and cancel outstanding bonds; and that it should make new and liberal issues of money tube applied to the same purposu; und that the issue of future interestbeariugbonds should be prohibited by constitutional amendment 4. We demand that all legislation should be so enacted and so-administered as to secure to each man, as nearly us practicable, tlw just reward oi his own labor; aud we denounce all lawlessness, jriolcucc and fraud that refuses submission to the wiil'of tbe people honestly expressed through the ballot. 5. We denounce the red tlag communism imported from Europe, which asks for an equal division of property, and we denounce the communism of tiie national banks, of the bond syndicates, and of (he consolidated railroad corporations, which have secured ami are enforcing an unequal division of property, having already divided among themselves ten thousand iniilkms'of the pioperty of the people by corrupting the ropresentatives and servants oi the people. The one system of communism ignores tixe inequalities of capacity which have been planted by nature in the human family, and both systems are destructive of the rewurds of toil and of the incentive to industry and exertion. 6. We declare that until the American monetary system, which will result in the practical extinction of debt and usury is established ttie 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 aud economical gov eminent, as few laws as possible, and they rigidly enforced—as few officials as practicable, audjthey held to a close accountability. To this end we demand the abolition of all useless offices, aud tbe overthrow of the system by which offices are made Co yield almost princely fortunes. It is the first duty ot the next general assembly of Indiana to secure such legislation as shall make it impossible for any local or State official to receive more than adequate pay tor his services; aud when practicable the compensation should be fixed by a specific salary. 8. We denounce the conspiracy of the Democratic and Republican leaders of Indiana to build a costly and magnificent state bouse, which, as experience lias proved in all similar eases, would result in the general plundering of the people.— We denounce t lie action of the governor in calling a special session of the legislature for the purpose (if fostering this scheme. We denounce the indecent haste with which the state house commissioners are proceeding to let a contract to hind the people of tlie slate, and v.e 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. ’ 9. We protest against the weak and ineffective election lajvs of Indiana, and we ask that llie next legislature shall enact statutes which shall secure fßir elections in the.state, and which shall provide sevens and adequate punishment for fraudulent voters, and for those who bribe voters or procure fraudulent votes. 10. We denounce the criminal aud unfair apportionment of the. legislative and congressional districts of tiie siate in the interest of the Republican party, and tbe equally unjust apportionments made ill 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 and untrammeled expression of the sen* tiinenfs of the people, 11. The State ehail enact laws which will abrogate the abuses and protect tho interests of men who work in 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. 12. If it was wise aud needful in 18n7, 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 and to continue in force this last escape of the. oppressed debtor from the extortions of the money power And we favor the exemption of not less than ip,ooo worth of property to the householder from lorced sale on execution. 13. The constitution should be so amended that the Presideni. Vice-President and Senators of tiie United Slates shall be elected by direct vote of the people. 11. We are unalterably opposed to adding to the burthens of the people liy 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 i epiibiican liberty.’"' 13. We indorse and reaffirm the platform of principles acopted at Toledo, February 22,1878. and 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 there shall be work for all and that all shall work.