Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-10-27

ADOPTED BY THE coNvESTIoE, AT OMAHA. EEB
JULY 4. 1892

tlOnal convention. invoking upon their actions the
blessing OF Almighty God, put forth, in the lame
and on behalf of the people of the country, the
following preamble and declaration OF principles
The conditions which surround best justify
our cooperation; meet in the midst of nation
brought to the verge of moral political and ma
terial ruin Corruption dominates the ballot-bnx,
the legislatures. the congress. and touches even
the ermine the bench. The people are demon
allied; OF the states have bsen compelled 10
isolate the at the polling places to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery The neWspa-
pers are largely subsidized or muzzled, pnbllc
opinion silenced, business Frustrated, cur homes
covered with mortgages, labor impoverished, and
the land concentrating in the hands of the CAPT
talfsts The urban Workmen are denied the right
of Reorganization for selfprOtecIion; imported pau
perized labor beats down their wages; a hirelng
army, unrecognized by our laws, is established TO
shoot them down. and they are rapidly degener
ating into European conditions The fruits Of
colossal fortunes for few, unprecedented IN the
history of mankind, and the possessors of these
in turn despise the republic and endanger liberty.
From the same prolific womb OF governmental In
Justice, we breed the two great classes-tranps
The national power to create money is sppro-
priatea 10 enrich bond-holders; q vast public
debt, payable in legGl-tender currency, has been
millions to the burdens OF the people
Silver which has been accepted as coin since
the dawn OF history, has been demonetlzeds 10
aid to the purchasing power of gold by decreas-
ing the value of all forms of property as well as
human labor, and the supply OF currency is pur-
1,9seIv abrfdaed 10 fatten nsurers bankrupt en-
terprise, and enslave industry. vast conspir-
acy against mankind has been organized on TWO
continents and it is rapidly taking possession OF
the world. If not met and overthrown at once,
il forebOdes terrible social commissions the de-
structiOn of civilization, the establishment of
more than quarter of century the struggles of
the two great political parties for power and
ficted upon the suffering people. We charge
that the controlling influences dominating both
these parties have permitted the existing dread
full conditions TO develop, without serious effort
10 prevent or restrain them
tiai reform They have agreed together to ig-
Hore, IN the coming campaign, every issue put
one. They propose 10 drown the outcries of
plundered people with the uproar OF a sham bat
lie over the tarlh, so that capitalists, corpora
lions, national banks, rings, trusts, watered
presslons of the usurers may all be lost sight Of
They propose TO sacrifice our homes, lives and
children on the altar Of mammOn; to destroy the
multitude in order TO secure corruption funds
from the millionaire. Assembled on the anniver-
sary OF the birthday OF the nation. and hled with
the spirit of the grand general chief who estao-
lished our independence, we seek to restore the
government of the req ubnc to the hands of 1.-The
plain people,, with which class il originated. We
assert our purposes 10 be identical with the pur-
pose Of the national constitution, TO form more
perfect union, and establish justice, insure do
nestle tranquility, provide for the common de-
Tense promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings Of liberty for ourselves and our pos
We declare that this republic can only endure
as u free government while built upon the love of
the whole people for each other and for the ma
tion; that it cannot be pinned together by bayo-
passion and resentment which grew out of II
must die with it; and that must be in fact, as
country finds itself confronted by conditions for
which there is no precedent in the history
OF the world Our annua. agricultural
productions amount to billions of dollars in value
which must within few weeks or months be ex-
changed for billions Of dollars of commodities
consumed in their production; the existing cur
Iency supply Is wholly inadequate to make this
exchange, The results are falling prices, the Tor
NATION OF combines ana rings, the lmpoVerlsh
ment OF the producing class. We pledge our
selves that, if given yower we will labor TO cor
rect these evils oy wise and reasonable leg station
in accordance with the terms of platform.
We believe that the powers of gOyernment-in
other words, OF the people-should be expanded
in the of the postal service, rapidly and
far as the good sense of an intelligent people
and the teachings OF experience shall Justify, &c
the end that oppression, injustice and poverty
shall eventually cease ia the land.
While sympathies party of reform are
naturally upon the side OF every proposition
which viii tend TO make men intelligent, YirtuOui
and temperate, we nevertheless regard these oues
tions-impOrtant as they areas secondary to tn,
great issues now pressing for solution, and upoI
Which mot only our Individual prosperitv but IN,
very existence of free institutions depend; and W,
ask ali men TO first help 10 determine whethe
are 10 have republic to administer, before W,
differ 10 the conditions upon which il is 10 b.
administered. Believing that the forcos of re
form this day organized will never cease TO NOV,
forward until every wrong is righted and equa
rights ana equal privileges established for all III,
men and women of this country, we declare
UNION OF THE PEOPLE
First. That thu union OF the labor forces o
the United States this day cOnsummated shall b.
permanent and perpetual; may its spirit ente
into all hearts. for the salvation of the republi
ana the uplliLlHG OF mankind.
Second. Wealth belongs 10 him who creates ii
and every dollar taken from industry without Al
work neither shall ne eat" The interests Q
rural and civil labor are the same, their enemie
are identical.
Third We believe that the time has com
when the railroad corporations Will either ow
the people or the people must own the railroads
ana, should the government enter upon the WOr
OF owning aud managing all railroads, we shout
favor an amendment 10 the constitution by whic
ali persons engaged in the government servic
snail De placed under CIVIL service regulation Q
the most rigid character, so rs TO prevent the il
crease OF the power of the national administratio
by the use OF snch additional government en-
plOyes.
QUESTION or FINANCE.
We demand national currency, safe, sounl
and flexible, issued Oy the general gOyernmeI
only full legal tender for ali debts pubIic an
private, and that without the use of banking co
pOrauons; just equitable and efficient means
distribution direct 10 the people, at a tax not
set forth IN the suO-Ireasury plan OF the Farmer
alliance, or better system; also by payments
ments
We demand free and unlimited coinage of 81
yer and gold at the present legal ratio of 10 10
We demand that the 1nnt of circulating me
dunn be speedily increased 10 not less than S
We demand a graduated income tax
We believe that the money of the cOuntI
should be kept, mnch possible, in the HAND
OF the people, and hence we demand that all stat
and national revenues shall be limited TO the De
essary expenses OF the government, economical
and honestly administered.
We demand that postal savings banks be estal
Hsnod BY the government for the safe deposit
me earnings OF the people. and 10 facilitate e
change
CONTROL OF TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being means OF exchange ar
public necessity, the government should ow
and operate the railroads in the interest of Il
people.
The telegraph and telephone, like the postofh
system, being necessity for the transmission
news, should be owned aud operated by the 90
eminent, in the interest of the people.
REcLAIAIING THE LAND.
The land. including all the natural sources
wealth, is the heritage of the people, and shOu
not be mOnOpolized for speculative purposes, al
alien ownership of land should be prohibited. A
land now held by railroads and other corporation
in excess OF their actual needs and all lands no
owned by aliens, should be reclaimed by the 20
eminent and held for actual settlers only.
The following resolutions were adopted at Il
evening session, as expressive OF the sentiment
the convention: