The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-07-07
NUMBER 80.
PROHIBITION PLATFORM.
Declaration of Principles Laid Down ~
Giucinnl


Declaration of Principles Laid Down at
Cincinnati.
The platform, as il was finally adopt
ed, is as follows
The Prohibition party in national convention
assembled acknowledging Almighty God
the source of all true government aud His law
the standard to which all human cnactmcnts
must conform to seci r the blessings of peace
and prosperity, presents the following declara-
tion Of principles:
Prpsifb:tion of Liquor Traffic.
The liquor traffic is foe to civilization. the
arch enemy of popular government; and a pub
lie nuisance. 1t il the citadel of the forces
that corrupt politics. promote poverty and
crime, degrade the nations home life. thwart
the will of the people, and deliver our country
into the hands of rap2cious class interests.
All laws that under the ruise Of regulation
isEzs ana r"tee, TINS trans or ain nne .ne nre
vicious IN principle nnd powerless AZ
remedy.
We declare anew for the entire suppression
of the manufacture sale, importation. exporta-
tion and trans ~portation of alcoholic liquors as
beverage by Federal and state legislation.
and the full powers of the government should
he exertcd tn secure this resiIi ANY part0
that fails to recognize the dominant nature Z.
this issue III American politics is undeserSing
OF the support of the y, ople.
Woman Suffrage.
No citizen should he denied the right to vote
on account of sex. and equal labor should re-
ceivc equal wages without regard to sex.
As TO Money.
The money Of the country should he issued
by the general government only and in snf-
fci.nt quantities to meet the demands or
business and gise full opportunity for the ein-
rloymcnt of labor. To this end an increase in
dividual or corporation should be allowed 70
make any profit through its issue. 1t should
be made legal tender for the payment OF al
debts. public and private. Its volume should
be fixed at definite sum per capita and made
to increase with our increase in population.
The Tarin.
Tariff should be levied only as a defense
against foreign countries which levy tariff
upon or bar out our products from their mar
kets. revenue being incidental. The residue or
means necessary to an economical atimlfi1stra-
levyiny burden on what the people possess
instead OF upon what we consume.
Control at Railroads.
Railroad. telegraph. and other public cor
rorations should be controlled by the Govern
lncnt in the interest of the people, and no
higher charges allowed than necessary to give
fair interest on the capital actually invested.
Immigration Laws.
Foreign immigrat ion has become q burden
upon industry one of the factors in depressing
wages and causing discomfort. therefore our
immigration laws should be revised and strict
ly enforced The time of residence for nat
uralization should lie extended, and no natUr-
allied person should be allowed to vote until
one year after he becomes a citizen.
Alien Landowners.
Non-residents should not lie allowed to ac-
Guire land in this country. and we favor the
| limitation of individual and corporate owner
ship OF land All unearned grants OF lands to
railroad companies other corporations
should be reclaimed
The Recent I.ynchings.
Years of inaction and treachery on the part
of the Republican and Democratic parties have
resulted in the present reign of mob law. and
we demand that every citizen be protected In
the rgh: of trial by constitutional tribunals.
One Day of Rest.
All men should be protected by law in their
right TO one days rest in seven.
Favortng Arbitration.
Arbitration is the wisest and most econonl-
ical and humane method OF settling national
differences.
Speculation In Margins.
Speculation in margins the cornerng Of
grain. money. and products, and the formation
Of pools. trusts and combinations for the
arbitrary advancement of prices should be sup
| pressed.
We pledge that the Prohibition party. IL
elected to power. will ever grant just pensions
| to disabled veterans of the Union army and
| navy, their widows and orphans.
The SchOo! Que tion.
We stand unequiyocally for the American
| public school ana opposed TO any appropria-
| tion of public moneys for Sectarian schools
| We declare that only by united support Ol
such common schools. taught in the English
| language, gan we hope to become and remain,
| Homogeneous and harmonious people.
| Arr.iSnment of the Old Parties.
| We arraign the Republican and Democratic
parties as false TO the standards reared by their
| founders: faithless to the principles of the
illustrious leaders of the past to whom they do
homage with the lips: recreant to the higher
law" which is infiexiblc in political affairs
| as in personal life: and as no longer ernbodying
t the aspirations of the American people or in
confidence enlightened,
| i've patriotism. Their protest against The ad-
mission of moral issues into politics is a con-
| fession of their own moral degeDeracr. The
declaration of an eminent authority that nlunic-
| ipal misrule is the one conspicuous failure OF
| American politics" follows as natural conse-
nuc.lce of such Gegeneracy. and ia true alike OF
! cities under Republican and Democratic con-
| troll. Each accuses the other OF extravaganza
! in Congressional appropriations. and both are
against the infraction of the cirilservice laws.
| and each in power violates those laws in letter
| and spirit. Each processes feaity to the inter-
ests OF the toiling masses, but both cuvertly
truckle to the money power in their admins
/ tration of public affairs. Even the tarif issue
/ represented in the Democratic Mills and
the Republican Mckinley bill Is no longer
/ treated by them an issue upon great and
! divergent principles of government. but is n
mere catering to different sectional and class
/ interests. The attempt in many States to wrest
I the Australian ballot system from its true
purpose and to deform it as to render it eN-
tremely difficult for new parties to exercise the
| rights of suffrage Is an outrage upon popular
! government. The competition of both the par
ties for the vote Of the sunis and their assfdu-
Gus courtinc Of the liquor power and subser-
vicncy to the money power has resulted IN
| placing those powers in the position of practl-
cal arbiters of the destiuies of the nation. We
renew our protest against these .perilous ten
denotes and invite all citizens to Join rs in the
| upbuilding of party that has shown in hve
| national campaigns that il prefers temporary
| defeat to an abandonment of the claims OF JUS
tice, sobriety. personal rights, and the pro-
! lection Of American homes.