The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-10-12

&eenth anniversary or the D0ClarAuo1 oE Noe@
pendence, the Peoples party of America, In tts
frst national convention, invoking upon their
seton the blessing OF Almighty GOD, puts IorCn'
Ia the name and on behalf Of the people OF thlH
country, the following preamble and declaration
Of principles: The conditions which surround
US best Justify our cooperation; we meet In the
midst OF nation brought TO the verge OF moral
political and material ruin; corruption domi;
mates the ballot-boX, legislatures, congress, ana
touches even the ermlne OF tne Dehch' 1hS
ueople are demOraliEed; most OF the states nave
been compelled to isolate voters at polllng
places 70 prevent universal Intimidation or
bribery. Newspapers are largely, subsidized
or muzzled; public opinion sllencedi business
prostrated: our homes covered with mortgages
labor impoverished and the land concentrating
In the hands OF the capitalists. Urban Workmen
are denied the right OF organization for selH,pro-
lection; imported, pauperized labor DeaS uoWn
their wages; a hlreling, standing army unrecoB-
ni2ed by our laws 10 established 10 snoot Cnem
down, and they are rapidly degeneratlng into
European conditions; the fruits OF the toll OK
millions are bodily stolen to build up collogeal
fortunes for the few, unprecedented IN the MS
tory of mankind, and the possessors or these IN
tprn desDise the republic and endRnger liberty;
from the same prolific womb OF governmental
injustice, we breed two great classes - TampS
and millionaires; the national power 70 create
money is appropriated TO enrlch DonohodefSi
the vast public debt, payable in legal tender cur
rency has been funded into gold bearing bonds
thereby adding millions to the bardenB OF the
people; silver which has been accepted a. coin
since the dawn Of history, has been demonetlEed
creasing the value Of all forms OF property 20
we'll as human labor, and the supply OF currency
10 Durposey abridged to fatten uburerB, Dank-
Fupt enterprise and enslaVo industry; vast
conspiracy against mankind mas peen 0rga l1eo
on the two continents and 10 rapidly taking pos
session Of the world; il not met ana oVerthroWn
at once IL fOrebodes terrible social conVulsion,
the destruction Of capitalization or the eetablish
ment Of absolute despOtism; we have witnessed
for more than quarter OF a Century the strug-
Rles of the two great political parties for power
and plunder, while grieVons wrongs have been
inflicted upon the people; We charge that the
controlling influences dominating both these
parties have permitted the existing dreadtnl
conditions to develop without serious effort to
prevent or restrain them; neither do they now
promise as any substantial reform; they have
agreed together in the coming campaign to tgD
more every issue but ono; they propose to drown
the cries Of the plundered people with the up
roar OF sham battle over tariff, 80 that capital,
corporations, national banks, trusts, waterOd
stocks demonstration Of silver and ths oppreS-
sion OF usuTers may be lost sight or; they pro-
pose to sacrifice our homes, lives and children
on the altar OF mammOn; to destroy the multitude
IA order to secure corruption funds from mil
nOnAires Assembled on the anniversaTy OF the
birthday OF the nation, and hled with the spirit
Of the grand generation who established our lns
dependence, VIZ se to restore the government
class 1t originated; we assert our purposes 70
bo identical with the purposes OF the national
constitution; TO form more perfect union e9-
tabliRh Justice, insure domestic tranquil
lty, provide for common defense promote
general welfare and secure the blessings
Of liberty for ourselves and our poSterlty;
W0 declare that this government can only
endure a. a free government while built
npon the love Of the whole people for each
other and for the nation; that It cannot be
pinned together by bayonet; that the civil war
Is over and that every passion and resentment
which grew out OF the war must die with II, and
that we must in fact aS we'll "a In name become
: united brotherhood Of free men; our country
hnds itaef confronted By conditions for which
there is no precedent in the world; our annual
AGRICULTURAL productions amount TO q billion or
dollars in value, which must in few weeeks or
months be exchanged for billions or collars
gorth OF commodities OF other productions; the
currency supply is wholly inadequate TO make
ehis exchange and the results are falling OF
prices the formation OF combines ana rlngS
and the impoverishment OF the producing claSs;
We pledge ourselves that, IL given the power, we
will labor to correct these evi by wise and
reasonable legislation in accordance with the
terms of our platform; we believe that the pow
srs IT government, in other words, OF the people,
should be expanded las IN case OF the pOstA
BerVice) as rapidly and as far as the good sense
OF ap intelligent people ard the teachings OF ex-
perience shall justify, to the end that oppres-
sion, injustice and poverty shall eventually
cease in this land. Whle our sympatMea, ~
the party OF reform, are naturally upon the side
Of avery proposition which will tend to make
men intelligent, Virtuous and temperate, We
nevertheless regard these questions, important
Rs they are, as secondary to tho great issues now
pressing for solution, and upon which not only
OuR individual prosperity, but the very existence
OF our free institutions depend; and we AJAX all
men to help u FIRST determine whether we are 10
have tn republic to administer before WO difer
m to the conditions upon which 1t is to be sd-
ministered; believing that the forces Of reform
ward until every wrong is remedied and lawful
rights and equal privileges se ourely established
Cor all men and women 10 this country, we do.
clare therefore;
FirSt-That the union Of the labor forces Of
che United Sta eB, this day contaminated, shall
bs permanent and perpetual; mny its spirit come
Into all hearts for the talvation OF mankind.
Becond- Wealth belongs to him who creates It,
and every dollar taken from industry without