The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-07-14
PlA 7 ORM
OF THEPEOPLE'sPARTY.
Adopted by the Convention at Omaha
Last Week.

| Assembled on the anniversary of the
birthday of the nation and filled with
the spirit of the grand chief who
established our independence, we seek
to restore the government Of the re-
public to the hands of the plain
! people, with which class it originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical
with the purposes Of the National con-
stitution-to form a more perfect
union and establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings Of
liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
We declare that this republic can only
endure as free government while
built upon the love of the whole people
for each other and for the nation;
that it cannot be pinned together by
bayonets; that the civil war is over,
and the passion and resentment which
grew out of it must die with it, and
that we must be in fact, as we are in
name, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted
| by conditions for which there is no
precedent i'll the history Of the world.
Our annual productions amount to
billions of dollars in value, which must
within few weeks or months be ex-
changed for billions of dollars of CON-
modities consumed in their produc-
ton. The existing currency supply
! is wholly inadequate to make this
exchange. The results are falling
prices, the formation of combines and
rings, the impoverishment of the
producing class. We pledge our
selves that if given power we will labor
to correct these evils by wise and
reasonable legislation in accordance
with the terms of our platform.
We believe that the powers Of
government-in other words, of the
people-should be expanded Gas in
the case of the postal service) as rap
idly and as far as the good sense of
an intelligent people and the teach
ings of Providence shall justify, to the
end that the oppression, injustice and
poverty shall eventually cease in the
land. While our sy1npathies as
party of reform are naturally upon
the side of every proposition which
will tend to make men intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, we neyerthe-
less regard these questions-important
as they areas secondary to the great
issues now pressing for solution, and
upon which not only our individual
prosperity, but the very existence of
free institutions depend; and we ask
all men to first help us to determine
whether we are to have a republic to
administer before we differ as to con-
ditions on which it is to be admins
tered.
Believing that the forces of reform
this day organized will never cease to
move forward until every wrong is
rlghted, and equal rights established for
all the men and women of this country,
we declare, therefore,
First. That the union of the labor
forces of the United States this day
consummated shall be permanent and
perpetual. May its spirit enter into
all hearts for the salvation of the
republic and aid in the uplifting Of
mankind.
Second. Wealth belongs to him
who creates it, and every dollar taken
from industry without an equivalent is
a robbery. IF any will not work
neither shall he eat The interests of
rural and civic labor are the same;
their enemies are indentical.
Third. We believe that the time
has come when the railroad corpora
tions will either own the people or
the people must own the railroads, and
should the government enter on the
work Of owning and managing all
railroads we should favor an amend
ment to the Constitution by which all
persons engaged in the government
service should be placed under civil
service regulations of the most rigid
character, SO as to prevent the increase
Of the power of the national admins
ton by the use of such additional
government employees.
! Fourth. We demand a national
currency, safe, sound and flexible, is
sued by the general government only,
full legal tender for all debts, public
and private, and that, without the use
of banking corporations, just, equit-
able, and efficient means of distribu
ton direct to the people at tax not
to exceed 2 per cent. per annum be
provided, as set forth in the subtreas-
ury plan OF til: Farmers Alliance, or
a better system also by payments in
the discharge of its obligations for
public Improvements.
(A.) We demand the free and un-
limited coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of 16 to I.
(B.) We demand that the amount
of the circulating medium be speedily
increased to not less than $50 per
capita.
| co. We demand a graduated in
come tax.
| (D.) We believe that the money
of the country should be kept as much
as possible in the hands of the people
and hence We demand that all state
and national revenues shall be limited
to the necessary expenses Of the gov
ernment, economically and honestly
administered.
| (E.) We demand that postal saving:
banks be established by the govern
Eaent for the safe deposit of the