Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-05

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1 moral, political, and material ruin. Cor.
ruption dominates the bai1ot-box, the
! legislatures. the congresses, and touches
1 even the ermine of the bench. The people
are deuoralized. Most OF the States have
been compelled to protect voters at the
/ polling places to prevent universal intimi-
largely subsidized or muzzled, public
| opinion IL silenced, business is pxos-
| trated, our homes are covered with
| mortgages, labor Is impoverished, and
| the land Is concentrating in the
| hands of capitalists. Urban workmen
are denied the right of organization
| for seli-Wotection. Imported pauper-
| lied labor beats down their wages. A hire
| ling standing army, unrecognized by our
laws, is established 20 shoot them down,
and they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions. The fruits OF the
toll OF millions are boldly stolen TO build
| up for few colossal fortunes unprece-
| dented In the history Of mankind: and the
| possessors OF these ia turn desplse the re-
| pubic aud endanger liberty. From the
| same prolific womb Of governmental inius-
tice We breed the two great classes
tiarnps and millionaires.
A VAST CONSPIRACY.
"The national power TO create money is
vast public debt, payable ID legal-teDder
currency. has been funded into gold-bear-
iug bonds. thereby adding millions 70 the
! burdens Of the people. Silver, which has
! been accepted as coin since the dawn ot
! history has been demonetiZed 20 add
| TO tho purchasing power OF gold
| by decreasing the value OF all forms
OF property, as vel as human
labor. and the supply Of currency Is pur-
poseiy abridged 20 fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise. and enslave industry. A
vast conspiracy against mankind has been
| organized on two continents, and II IS
| rapidly taking possession OF the world. III
! not met and overthrow II fOrebodes ter
rible socia commissions. the destruction
| of civilization. or the establishment OF aO-
sOlute despotism.
TIE OLD PARTIES RRsPoNsIBLK
we have witnessed for more than quar-
ter OF century the struggles OF the two
| great political parties for power aud PUN
| der. while grievous wrongs bavefbeen IN
| flcfed on tine suffering people. We charge
/ that She controlling influences DOM;
hating both these parties have permitted
the existing dreadful conditions TO de-
velOp without effort TO prevent or restrain
them. Neither do they now promise
ne any substantial reform. They nave
agreed together 70 ignore ID the coming
campaign every issue but one. Ihey pro,
oose TO drown tho outcries of q plundered
people with the uproar Of a sham baltic
over the tariff, so that capitalists, corpora
tions. national banks, rings, trusts,
watered stock, the demonetization OF
silver, and the expressions OF the usurers
may all be lost sight of.
"They propose 20 sacrifice our homes, hyes
and children on the altar Of fnamrOn 10 de-
stroy The multitude in order 70 secure corruption
funds IRON the mIlli0naires.
THIRD-PARTY PURPOSES.
Assembled on the anniversary OF the BIRTH
day Of the nation and filed with the spirit OF the
grand chief who established our Independence,
We seek to restore the government Of the he-
pubic 10 the hands OF the plain people, win
whi,a class 10 originated. We assert our pur-
poses TO be identical with the purposes OF
the national Constitution to form moro
perf0ct union ana establish JUSTICE insure
domestic tranquility, prOriic Tor the common
defence promote the = neral welfare and secure
tho blessings OF liberty FOR ourselves ana OH pos
tcfity. We declare that this republic can only
endure as a freo government while built upon
the love OF the waOle people Tor each other anu
for the nation; that 1t crnnot be pinned 10
gefher by bsyOnets: that the clyil war Is over,
aud the passion and resentment Whlch grew out
Of It must die with it, and that We must be IN
fact, as we are in name, one united brotherhood.
CONDITIONS UEPEECEDENTED.
"Our country finds itself confronted by condi-
tons fOf which there Is no precedent ia the MS
tory OF the world. our annual AGRICULTURAL piV-
ducfious amount 70 billions OF dollars III vHlue,
which must within a few weeks or months De
exchanged for billions Of dollars Of c0mlnodl-
ties consumed I'm their production. Inc exist
ing currency supply ~ Whoiiy iIhuelusl9v O. 70
mako this exchange. The results are falling
ORR .es the formation Of combines ana rings, tue
impoveriahment Of the producing class. We
pledge ourselves that If gwen power We will
labor 10 correct these evils by wise and reason
able legislation IN accordance with the terms of
our platform.
GOVERNMENTAL POWERS SHOULD BE EXPANDED.
"Wc believe that the powers Of government
IN Ot0er words, Of the peoplo-shOuld DO e1-
u1uded fas In me case u tho postal 8ervlce) a.
rapidly ana lar a. tl-e good roree Of ar intel
ngent people aud tho teachings of Providence
shall Justify, TO the end that oppression. MUS
tice, and poverty shall eventually cease IN the
land. While our sympathes as party OF re-
form are naturally upon the side Of every PROPOSE
tlon which will tend 20 make mon intel
Hgent, virtuOu-. and temperate, We nevertheless
regard these questions lortant as they arc
a. secondary to the great issuos now pressing for
solution, and upon which not only our indiuiunl
prosper ~, but the yer! existence 81 roe nsutu-
tiOns depend AMI we ask All men 10 nrst help us
10 lie; ermine whether We are 10 have a republic
TO administer before We differ AZ 10 the conditions
on which il is 10 De administered
THE PLATFORM PROPER
"Beleving that the forces Of reform this day
Orgpnilcd Will never cease to move forward until
every wrong il righted, aud equal rights and
eIual privileges are securely established for al
the men aud women OF this country, we declare,
therefore
"First. That the union Of the labor forces Of
tho Inited states this day contaminated shall be
permanent and perpetual. May rs spirit enter
into all hearts for the salvation Of The republic
and aid In the uplifting OF mankind.
"Second. Wealth belongs 20 him who creates u,
and every dollar taken from industry without al
,yuivalonf is a robbery. II any will not work
neither snail he eat Theinterests Of rural and
civic labor are the samo; their enemies are
iiontcal
"'ihifd. We believe that the time has come
VIII en- The railroad corporations Will either own
the people or the people must own tho railroads,
and should the government enter on the worb
OF owning and m .naglng all railroads we should
favor an amendment TO the Constitution Dy
which all persons engaged IN the government
service should be placed under cNh-serVice
regulations OF the most rigid character, so rs TO
prevent the increase Of the power oi The natlonni
administration by the use OF such additional
government employees.
TIE MONEY PLANK.
"Fourth We demand a national currency,
safe sound, and flexible, issued by the General
Government only, a full legal-tender Tor al
debts, prblic and private, ana that' without me
the use Of banking corporations. a JUST eeuiia-
lie, aud efficient means OF distribution direct 70
The people AZ n tax not % exceed Dor cent. per
annnm be provided, as set iOrth in tho sub
Treasury plan of the Farmers Alliance or a
better system also by payments IN the discharge
OF iti obligations for pubhc improvements
FREE SILVER.
"lA1 We demand the free aud unlimited COIN
age Of 81 ver and gold at the present legal ratio
OF 16 fol.
",BJ We demand that the amount Of tho cir
culating medium be speedily increased to not
less than 800 per capita.
"V) We demand a graduated income-iax.
"D.) We believe that the money Of tue COM
try should Oe kept as much as possible IN the
hands OF the people, and hence We demand taat
all state ana national revenues shall be- limited
20 The necessary expenses Of the government,
economically and honestly administered.
"(E) We demand that postal savings banks
be established 10y the government Tor the sale de-
posit OF the earnings Of the people ana TO facli-
tate exchange. Transportation being means
OF exchange and a public necessity, the govern
ment should own ana operate the railroads IN
the interest OF the people.
"(FD The Telegraph and Telephone Ike the
p0st-onice system, being necessity Tor the
transmission of news. should be owned and ope-
rated by tho government III the interest OF the
people.
"tG.) The land, including al tho natural
sources OF wealth, IL the heritage OF the people
and should not be monopolized Tor speculative
purDosss and alien ownership OF land should DO
prohibited. All lands now held by railroads and
other corporations IN excess OF their actual
needs, and lands now owned by aliens, should be
reclnimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only"