The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-09
Tur ocALA PLATFORM.

GREAT deal is being said by public
men and in the public press about the
Ocala platform. 1t is quite prooaoie
that great many who talk and Wrile
about this platform do not know us
provisions. and we feel satisfied that
MANY who read do not know all the
pianks. In order that every one may
know lust what that platform is we re-
produce it here.
Some of its demands are alright
and there is little doubt that lhe
members of the Ocala convention,
who were interested in the success OF
the farmers and the laboring people OF
this country, were actuated by the
parest of motives. The tendency OF all
revolutions is to go to extremes. Yet
the cardinal principles of this platform
will be found to be alright and safe
when some Of the ohjectlonaole
features are Topped OF.
The fight is the fight OF the mas
ses, against the classes; OF the men
who make their living by the
sweat of their own brow in the held
and the workshop, against those VINO
become rich aud miliionaires in day
in the field of speculation and by IN
hatine bonds and stocks. But 1ne
Alliance should not demand for ltseii
what it 50 strongly condemns IN others"
IT should not condemn class Legislation
in one breath and then in the next ask
the government TO become its banker
and enact legislation purely 1or tne
hanefit of one class. 1t should not an"
nounce the doctrine of "equal rights to
all and special privileges to none, ana
then demand legislation for the oenene
IF one class. And when the whole
matter is sifted down the Alliance Will
realize that this legislation Will noV IN
the end benefit this class.
But we intended only to give the
Ocala platform and leave 1t Tor the
present for your consideration. Here
it is:
First-Ws demand the abolition OF
National banks. We demand that the
government shall establish suo-treasu-
ries or depositories in the several States
which shall loan money direct TO the
neoDIe at a low rate Of interest not TO
exceed 2 per cent. per annu n on non
nerishable farm products and also upon
Real estate, with proper limitations
upon the quantity of land ana amount
ofmoney. We demand that the amount
of the circulating medium be speeolly
increased to not less than sou per
Second-We demand that Congress
shall pass such laws as shall eHectually
prevent the dealingin futures on all aS-
ricultural aud mechanical productions,
nreseryinp a stringent system OF pro-
ce6nre in trials such as shall secure the
prompt conviction and imposition OF
such penalties as shall secure the most
perfect compliance with the law. :,
Third-We condemn the silver bill
recently passed by Congress and de-
mana IL 1lSU GuCAeoA InS AANN N
limited coinage of silver.
Fourtf,-We demand the passage OF
the laws prohibiting alien ownership OF
land. and that Congress take promPII
action to devise some plan to obtain all
lands now owned by aliens and foreign
syndicates, and that all lands now he!o
by railroads and other corporarlons 10
excess of such as is actually used ana
needed by them be reclaimed by the
Government and sold for actual settlers
only. .:
Fifth-Believing in the doctrine OF
equal rights to all and special privileges
to none. we demand that our national
legislation shall be so framed ID Tue
future as not to build up one lnoustry
at the expense of another; and we 1ur-
ther demand a removal OF the eAlsting
heavy tariff from the necessarles OF lie
that the poor of our land must nave;
we further demand a just and equltaole
system of graduated tax on incomes;
we believe that the money OF the coun-
trv should be kept, as puch as possible,
in the hands of the people, and hence
we demand that all National and State
revenues shall be limited to the neces-
sary expenses of the government,
economically and honestly admins
tered. -,
Sixth-We demand the most rigid.
honest and just State and National
governmental control and supervision
of the means of public communication
and transportation, and if this control
and supervision does not remove the
abuse now existing, we demand the
government ownership of such means
Of communication and transportation.
Seventh-We demand that Congress
of the United States submit an amend
ment to the constitution providing tor
the election of United States Senators
by direct vote of the people of each
State.