Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-21
Tha sd. L.onis Platform.

Plantations on the 22d OF February. 1872.
Tho Virginia Farmers Alliance ratified
that platform after six months had been
allowed TO them to study its features and
approve or disspprove the same. The rati-
flying vote was overwhelming. too-slmost
Ave to one. We have, for these reasons,
hunted MP the st. Louis platform IN order
70 learn what is exactly the creed OF the
Virginia Farmers Alliance. The creed
aforesaid is much longer than the mora!
law. and VIC take IL that good many of
the Virginia Alliance men have never read
II. But il Is surely time for ali Of them to
know what is in a creed in which Eve
sixths of them profess 10 believe.
The st. Louis platform proper Is pre-
ceded by long introduction setting forth
that the nation has been Il" brought to the
verge of moral. political. and material
ruin; " that corruption dominates the
ballot-b the legislatures, and Congress-
and touches even the judicial ermine;
that the people are demoralized: the news
papers subsidized OF muzzled public
opinion siienced; business Frustrated; our
homes mortgaged; labor impoverished;
capitalists monopolizing the land; the
fruits of the toilers' labors stolen to build
mp colossal fortunes unprecedented in the
history of the world that ours has be-
come o country of millionaires and pau
pers; tha, the national power 10 create
money is appropriated TO enrich bond
holaers; that silver. which has been &C
cepted as COIN since the dawn of history,
has been demonetized TO add to the pur-
chasing power of gold; that the supply of
currency is purposelY abridged to fatten
usurers, bankrupt enterprise, and enslave
industries. &c.
Our army swore terribly in Flanders"
said my Uncle Tony. But the swearing
was not exactly after the order of the st.
Louis uttarances. Nevertheless, we must
let our Virginia Alliance men see the ma
ture Of the platform upon which they
took their stand last Wednesday. We
have not room for the whole preamble;
nor is it necessary TO reproduce that pre-
liminary ebullition of indignation md
wrath. The platform proper is what con-
Germs us just now. and here il is:
We do ordain and establish the following plat
form OF principles;
I. We declare an union Of the labor forces of
Rhe United states this day accomplished perma-
psnt and perpetual. May its spirit enter into all
hearts for the salvation OF the republic and the
uplifting Of mankind.
9. Wealth belongs 20 him who creates II.
Ivory dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent Is robbery. n any will not work
neither shall he eat. The interests OF rural and
urban labor are the same; their enemies are
Identical.
xTa ma ne al afa
pound, and flexible. issued By the General Gov
srnment only; full legal tender for ali debts,
public and private, and without the use OF bank
ing corporations; a Just and equitable means Of
circulation at . tax not 10 exceed per cent, as
set forth in the sub-Treasnry plan OF the
Farmers' Alliance, or some better system; also,
BY payments in discharge Of its obligation for
public improvement
4. We demand the FREQ ana unlimited coinage
o. silver
s. We demand that the amount OF the eircu-
,ating medium be speedily increased TO not less
than $50 per capita.
O. We demand graduated income tax.
2. We believe that the money Of tho Treasury
thould DO kept as much as possible in the hands
OF the people. and hence We demand that all
national and State revenues shall be limited 10
Che necessary expenses Of tho government eco
homically and honestly administered
4. We demand THAI postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe do
posit Of the earnings Of the people and to facili
tafe exchange.
q. Your subcommittee upon the land plank
beg 10 submit 20 your approval tho following
The land, including all the natural resources OF
wealth, Is the heritage OF oil the people, end
phonid not be monopolized for speculative pur-
al IL. Il. No
yrohibifed, Ailirnd nov held by railroads or
corporations In excess OF their actual needs and
all land now owned by aliens should be reclaim
ID by the government and held for actual SET
tiers only.
10. Transportation being q public necessity,
she government should own and operate the
tsads IN the interest Of the people.
IL. The telegraph aud telephone, Ike the
postal system, being a necessity for tho trans
mission Of news. should DO owned and operated
By the government 10 the interest OF tho people
IL. We demand that the governments issue
iseai-tender notes, aud pay tho Union soldier
the difference between the price of the depre-
eisted money 10 which he was paid and gold.
Resolved, That wc hsil this conference as the
contamination OF the pertest union Of the hearts
and hands Of al sections Of our common ooun-
try The men who wore the gray aud the men
who wore the blue meet here 70 extlngulsh tho
last smouldering embers OF evil war in tue tears
Of 10Y OF n united ana happy people, and We
pgree 70 carry tho stars and stripes forward for
ever 70 the highest point OF national greatness.
1t is worthy of notice that upon gov
ernment which has done all the horrid
things charged 10 its account in the pre-
Hmble heretofore quoted the Alliance men
should make such demands as are con-
tanned IN this platform. Instead of en-
larging the powers Of the General Govern
rnent. ga proposed at ST. Louis and second
Cd In Riehinond. the people ought TO rise
in their might and curtail the power OF
she government to its smallest possible
limits. II the government has committed
half the outrages charged upon IL It ought
never 10 be entrusted with the power to
make money out OF paper. nor 10 coin sill
ver into money. nor TO issue fiat green
backs or treasury-notes redeemable no.
where. nor 10 levy an income tax. nor to
establish portal savings banks. But espe-
oisliy should no southern Alliance man
5oin "a the demand that whilst Confederate
soldiers fhhil receive ho attention aud DO
Showed to live IN no Federal soldiers
bofae. the Union soldiers shall be fed,
.jodeed. petted. and. above ell. pad now
the difference between geld and the green
backs In which they were paid OF nearly
thirty years ago.
II viii be seop that the st. LOUIS "con-
fesencep was IS hcstiIe to the national
banks a. are the good yirg,niaps who are
bow engaged in the work Of trying to
Substitute Tor the notes Of those banks q
curreney which viii not circulate far from
home vhseh would b. 90 unfit "a be |
used Is the ciroulssine medium of great !
eommsrcial country that Il would hasten /
book 70 Virginia Whenever iss owner found !
binseh without the borders Of tho Old /
pominion. But We m1ght omit that last