The Placer herald., 1873-10-11
PEOPLES INDEPENDENT PLATFORM,
ADOPTED BY THE INDEPENDENT
JUDICIAL CONVENTION AT SAC
RAMENTO, SEPT. IS, 1873.

RAnIENTO, SEPT. IS, 1873.
This convention, representing what 1t be-
eves to be the honest sentiment of the people
of this State, and encouraged by the splendid
success achieved in the recent State election.
wherein the people, almost without organiza-
ton, met and overthrow the combined power OF
the incorporated monopolists and the corrupt
political and financial rings do hereby resolve
to organize into a party all good citizens who
desire to Join in the work Of reform and political
regeneration throughout the State, the better to
enable them to move forward upon the enemy,
to rout such corporations from their stronghold
rulers and practically as law makers, and,
finally, to rescue the government from the
clutches of the corruptionists who have so long
held it in subiection therefore be it
Resolved, That the opponents of incorporated
greed and organized corruption do form them
selves into political body to be known the
PEoPLEs INDEPENDENT PATTY.
Resolved, That one of the most serious OBJ
stact s in the way Of political and governmental
reform lies in the doctrine of so-called party
fealty," that tyrannical rule which degrades the
citizen and sinks him in the seryile partisan,
rendering him the helpless tool of selfish wire
pullers and caucus manipulators In view of
this long standing evil, the Peoples indie
pendent Party now in its very inception once
for all lays down its fundamental principle that
parties are nstrumentalities to be en-
ployed only in the furtherance of good govern
ment; that they should be followed no longer
than while they act in the interest Of the entire
people, of which fact each individual must
judge for himself; and that it is the duty of the
citizen to abandon instantly any party which
swerves from the path of right or passes into
the control of unscrupulous leaders, and finally
it utterly spurns and repudates the doctrine
that any citizen owes allegiance to any political
organization, or that a pure and upright man
in public life can or ought to be under special
Obligation to any source short of the people Tor
Office position.
Resolved, That one of the great evils which
earnestly demands correction is the tyranny of
party discipline, which as maintained through
the system of primaries and caucuses by pro
fessonal politicians aided by Government
patronage and moneyed power, has become
despotic rule of the few over the many, and that
we hold and affirm that any citizen has a right
to take part i'll good faith in the actions and
deliberations of any political organization.
caucus or convention without being bound
there by except so far as his own Judgment and
conscience may approve and that the obligations
of the citizen and patriot are paramount TO those
of the partisan before and after party nomina-
tions are made
Resolved, That we are determined to use ali
lawful efforts to drive out the corrupt political
rings that control the action of national Gov
ernment, welding its power and dispensing its
patronage with the sole end of benehtng them
selves and their hangers-on, and of porpstuating
their vicious rule; and to that end we hereby
and for all time instruct all representatives. of
the people elected under the auspices of the
Peoples Independent party to urge and enforce
n strict examination into the affairs and manage
inent of the great railroad corporations Of the
country as well as their auXlliaries, the Credit
Nlobiher and Contract and Finance Companies,
and their several dealings with the various de-
partments of the Government executive legjs-
latiye and judicial. in order that their past
corrupt practices may be exposed, the rights
and property of the people recovered, the guilty
punished and purity and economy in admins
ir0tion and legislation be restored throughout
the land.
Resolved, That the abominable and infamous
practice of securing election to office by the
corrupt use of money at the polls and in brib-
ing members of legislative bodies, which has
become so prevalent of late years is an evil
which strikes at the foundation of free govern
ment and that no man guilty of the atrocous
crime of obtaining or attempting to obtain
Office by such means can ever merit the conf
dence of the people. |1t
Resolved, That affirming and asserting the
absolute and final sovereignty of the people,
we claim and will ever assert the right and
authority of the peoples representatives to con-
troll and regulate all such corporations as exer-
else any franchise or special privilege obtained
by legislative enactment, and especially the
Incorporated common carriers of the country,
and that such right of control and regulation
is an undeniable prerogative of the State and
nation; and further, that we will use all lawful
means to bring said corporation within a Just
and reasonable control. to rescue their rates of
freight, fare and charges to an equable and
uniform standard, prohibiting all unjust dis
ordinations and oppressive regulations leveled
at localities or individuals; to overthrow their
political power, and finally to reduce them to
the legitimate purposes Tor which they We're
created and endowed, as the servants and bene-
fcial aids and not the masters of the people.
We further denounce the acceptance of free
passes by public officers, and believe that it
should be prohibited by law
Resolved, That we are pledged to thorough
reform of the civil service of the country to the
end that capacity, honesty and fitness, and not
political zeal and partisanship, shall be the only
indispensable qualifications for place. And
especially we utterly oppose the pernicous
custom now so common and productive of
evil of the interference of Federal officials with
State and local politics. And we dcnounce the
law passed at the last session of Congress,
known as the "back pay steal. as shame and
disgrace to American legislation.
Resolve d. That we take ground absolutely
against the system of land distribution now in
vogue, whereby the public domain is granted
away in vast tracts to railroad and other corpor-
ations, or to private individuals, through the
means of scrip or warrants issued under various
Plc'ehSes, vi ny private entry on the part OF
nonresident spectators; that the true policy of
the nation is to retain its public lands for the
benefit OF actual occupants upon the sole con-
dtion of residence thereon in order to secure
to each family home.
RESOLVED, That we are opposed to granting
AID IN subsidies of money, lands, bonds, in
terest on bonds, to any railroad or other cor
poration, either by the Federal. State, or
county governments, and to all laws designed
to procure any such subsidies under the specous
plea OF submitting to vote of the people the
question as to whether or not particular sub
sidy shall be granted.
Resolved, That we take ground against the
present tariff, believing that it is the result of
dishonest and corrupt system of bargaining in
Congress, whereby each interest seeking pro-
lection conspres with all other interests to sup
port them in their claim. to the great injury of
the cause of good government and to the loss of
the people, who are taxed thereby
Resolved, That in view of the climate of
oil x,la f,lic