Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-04

PREAMsLE TO BE ADOPTED.
A Remarkable Series Of Alleged Evils
Set Forth.


OMAHA, July 3.-Following is the
preamble and declaration or principles
adopted tonight by the committee on
platform. anu which will be adopted
Dy the convention:
Assembled upon the ll6th anni-
versary or the declaration OF independ-
ence, the peoples party OF America IN
their first national convention, Iuvok-
lrg upon their action the blessing of
Almighty God, puts forth IN tho name
and on behalf OF the people of the
country the following preamble and
declaration of principles: The condi-
tions which surround Us Justify our CO.
operation; We meet IN the midst of
nation brought TO the verge of moral.
political ana material rum; corruption
dominates the ballot box and con-
gress and touches even the ermine
of the bench. The people are
demoralized; most OF the states have
been compelled to isolate the voters AT
the polling places in order to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery. The
newspapers are subsidized or muzzled,
public opinion siienced, business pros
tra.ed, our homes covered with mort
concentrating in the hands of the capi-
talists; the urban workmen are denied
the right of organization for self pro-
tectiou; imported pauperized labor
cuts down their wages; hireling
standing army unrecognlzed by our
laws is established to shoUt them down
and they are rapidly degenerating
INTO European conditions. The fruits of
A. .tN l,., t<.h h,xtl
no colossal fortunes for few,upprece-
dcntcd i'm the history OF mankind, and
the posscssors OF these in turn despise
the republic and endanger llber,y.
From the same proligc womb of & V
crnmental injustice We breed two great
classes, tramps and mIllionaires. The
national power to create money 10 ap-
prJpriated TO rich bond holders. A vast
public deb. payable IN legal tender cur-
rency ma. been funded into gold bear
ing bonds, thereby adding millions To
the burdens OF the people. Sllver,wnich
has been accepted AS coin since the
dawn of history. has been demonetized
to add 10 the purchasing power of gold
by decreasing the value of all forms OF
property IS we'll as human labor, and
the supply of currency Is purposely
abridged TO fatten usurpers, bankrupt
enterprise and ensiave industry. A
ss.t conspiracy against mankind has
been organized on two continents. and
il - RAPIDLY taxing possession of the
world. III not met anu overthrown at
once IL forebodes terrible local convul-
SONS. the destruction of civilization,
toe establishment of despotIsm. We
have witnessed tor more tnan quar-
ter of century the struggle OF two
great parties for power ana plunder
while grevious wrongs have been IN
inflicted upon suffering people.
We Charge that the control
Ing Influence dominating both
these parties have permitted the
EXISTING dreadful conditions to
develop without serious efforts to pre-
vent or restrain them; neither do they
promise us any substantial reform.
Tney propose to drown the cries of a
plundersd people with the roar of a
sham battle over the tariff, so that
capitalists, corporations. national
tanks, rings. trusts, watered
stock. the demonetIzstlon of
silver and that the expressions
of the usurist may be lost sight of.
They propose TO sacrifice our homes
and children on the altar of Mammon,
10 destruy the multitude IN order To se-
cure corruption funds form them from
the milliousIre. Assembled on the an-
nlversary of our natal birthday, and
filed with the spirit of the grand gen
ersl which established our independ.
ence, ve seek Independence. We
seek To restore the government OF
the republic to the hands OF
"the plain people," with which class II
originated. We assert our purposes to
be identical With the purposes of the
natlonsi constitution, to form q more
perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote me welfare
anu secure the blessings of liberty for
ourselves and our posterlty. We de-
clare that this republic can only endure
ss free governments while bdiit upon
the love OF the whole people for each
other and for the nation, that IL cannot
ne to joined together with hay
one,s. that the civil war - over and
that every psssson which grew out Of il
must die with q and that ~s must bs
n fact ss We are named one united
trotherhoid Of free men. Cus country
fnsis Itself confronted ~ eon6 itlo0.
for winch there - NJ precedsnf IA the
history OF the soFid. Our annual AZ
rieultursi production amount u
bsiltons OF dollars n value,