The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-04-05

| creasing the value of all forms of property, as
well as human latOr, and the supply of currency
is purpOsely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise, and enslaye industry. A vsst
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
on two continents. and Is taking possession or
it forbOdes terrible social commissions the de-
struction of civilization, or the establishment of
an absolute deSpOtiSm.
In this crisis of human affairs the intelligent
working people and producers of the United
States j ave come together in the name of peace,
order, and society to defend liberty, prosperity
We declare our union I'D independence We
assert our purpose to support the political or
ganiZatiOn wi iCl represents our principles.
We charge that the contro;ing influence DOM
mating the old political parties have above" the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. TT ey
have agreed together to ignore, in the coming
campaign, every issue but one. They propose
to drown the OutCries of a plundered people with
the uprOar of a sham battle over the tariff so
that corporations, national banks, rings, trusts,
"watered stock" the demonstration of silver,
and the oppression OF usurers, may all be lost
sight of. They propose to sacrifice our homes
and children upon the altar of mammOn; to de-
strOy the hopes OF the multitude in order to
secure corruption funds from the great lOrcs of
We assert Il at a political organization, repre-
| senting the political principles herein stated, is
necessary to redress the grievances of which we
complain.
assembled on the anniversary of the birth of
the illustriOns man Who led the first revolution
| on this continent against oppression, filled with
| the sentimen which actuated That grand gen
| Grafton, we seek to restore the government of
Il e hands Of the plain people," with whom it
originated. Our doors are open to all points of
the compass. We ask all honest men to join
/ with and help Us.
In order to restrain the extortfons of aggregate
capital. to drive tie money changers out of the
temple to form a perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide Tor the
land secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
| and our p~OSterity we d. Ordain and establish the
following platform of principles:
First-We declare the union of the labor forces
Of tue United states this day accomplished per-
manent and perpetual; May its spirit enterlnto
all hearts OF the republic and the uplifting of
mankind.
Second-wealth belongs to him who created
1t. Every dollar tai en- from industry without
an equivalent is robbery. If anyone will not
work, neither shall he eat. The interests of
rural and urban labor are the same, their enc
mics a c Identical.
PLATFORM.
FINANCE.
First We demand a national currency safe,
sound and flexible; issued by the General Gov
PG6rc and pFTvafe; WI mat F%ttf Ii the Use 81
efficient - cans Of dis ri sution direct to the peo-
pie at a tax not to EEK seed per cent be provided,
as set forth in the Sub-1reasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance. OF some better system; also,
by payments in disci arge of its obligations for
publiC improvements.
n. We demand free and unlimited coinage of
silver.
b. We demand that the amount of circulating
medium be speedily increased to not less than
$50 per capita.
c. We demand a graduated income 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 all national
and State revenue shall be limited to Il e nsces-
sary expenses of tie government economically
and honestly administered.
e.. We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe de-
post of the earnings of the people and to faCili-
tate exchange.
LAND.
SeCOnd-The land, including all the natural
resources of wealth, is the heritage of all the
people and should not be mOnopOliZed for specu-
lative purposes, and alien ownership of land
should be prohibited. All land now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs, and all lands now owned by
alien, should be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only.
T~RANSPORTATION
neutrality-suspicious. hejng a means of ex-
change and a public necessity, the government
should owl and operate the railroads in the in
terest of the people.
a. The telegraph and telephone, like the post
Office system, being a necessity for transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by the
government in the interest of the people.