People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-23


the general welfare and secure tbs bless
ings of liberty for ourselves and our pos
terity. We declare that this republic can
only endure as free government while
built upon the owe of the whole people for
each other, and for the nation; that it cam
not be pinned together By bayonets; but
the civil war liz over anu that every passion
and resentment which grew out Of it must
die with it, and that we must be in fact, as
we are in name, one united brotherhood
Our country finds itself confronted by
conditions for which there are no prece-
dents in the history OF the world. Our
annual agricultural productions amount TO
within q few weeks or months, be exbhang-
ed for billions of dollars of the comnaodi-
ties consumed in their production.
The currency supply Is wholly made
quate to make the exchange, The results
are falling prices; formation Of combines
and rings; and the impoverishment OF the
producing class.
We pledge ourselves that If given power
we will labor TO correct these evils by wise
and reasonable legislation in accordance
with the terms of cur platform. We be-
Heve that the powers Of government--in
other words of the people-should be ex-
banded as in the case Of the postai service,
as rapidly and as far as the good sense OF
an intelligent people and the teachings OF
experience shall justify, to the end that OPP
preston, injustice and poverty shall event
ually cease In the land. While our SYM
pathies, as 8 party of reform, are naturally
upon the side of every proposition which
Will tend to make mon Intelligent, virtuous
and temperate, we nevertheless regard
these questions-important IS they are
as secondary to the great issues now press
ing for solution and upon which not only
our individual prosperity but the very exist
ence of free institutions depend, and we
ask all men TO first help US TO determine
whether We are to have & republic to ad-
minister, before we differ as to the cOndi-
tons upon which it is TO be administered,
believing that the forces Of reform this day
organized wiz never cease to move for
ward until every wrong is righted and
equal rights and equal privileges securely
established for all men and women Of this
country.
We declare. therefore:
1. That ths union OF the Labor forces OF
the Uniled States this day consammated
shall be permanent and perpetual. May
Its spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva.
ton of the republic and the uplifting OF
mankind.
3. wealth belongs 90 him who creates il,
and every dollar taken from industry with
out an equivalent is robbery. eff any will
not work, neither shall he eat" The in
6erests of rural ssnd civic labor are the
same; their enemies are Identical.
3. We believe tnat the time has come
when railroad corporations will eithor own
the people or the people must own the rail-
roads: and shouldA the government enter
upon the work of awning and managing oil
railroads, we sh0tt1d favor an amendment
to the constitution by which all persons
engaged in the government service shall be
placed under civil service regulation OF
the most rigid chafacber, 80 as TO prevent
an increase of theI power OF the national
d11oi n strs tion nv hha use of such addition
al government employees.
We demand national currency, SAFE
sound and flexible, \issued by tho general
government only, Vun legal tender Tor oil
debts. pub1ic and private, and that with
ont the use of banking corporations just,
enuitable and eficien1 means OF distribu-
ton direct to the people at a tax not TO ex-
ceed 2 per cent per an|num be provided as
aet forth in the sub-tEeasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance, or some better system !;
also by payment in discharge OF its OBJ
legations for public improvements.
we demand the free 4nd unlimited COIN
age of silver and gold git the present legal
ratio OF Is to /.
We demand that the 49, OF the clr-
culatiug medium be- pes Impressed TO
not less than fifty doilqs a.
We demand q GRADUATED AK.
We believe that the I0q d' coun-
try should be kept as much a re IN the
hands OF the people, and he emano,
that all state and nationa Ves shall
be limited to the necess enses OF
the government econom DC honestly
administered.
We demand that postal thanks be
established by the .gove' II the sale sale
deposit Of the earnings "tpple ana
to facilitate exchange.
change araa' and public nss wgovoFn-
ment should own and OF = f3llr0aQs
in tho interest Ct the aI{S oxes 10 tele-
system system be being n neoosed 81 the trans
mission of news, shoul2 De owned end op-.
Grated by the goverhmInt in the interest o.
the people.
sources of wealth. is the heritage OF all the
people and shoula not be monopollzed 1or
speculative purposes, and alien owneTsnlp
OF land should }be prohibited. All Ianos
now held by railroads and other corpora
tions in excess of their actual needs, and
all lands now owned by aliens should pc
reclaimed By the government and held ZOE
actual SETTLERS only.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, other questions have been present.
ed for our consideration, we hereby subnlt
the following. not as part OF the platform OF
the Peoples Parity, but as resolutions express
sive of the sentime Mt OF this convention.
First Resolved. That we demand free bal
tiot and fair count in all elections and pledge
ourselves to secure it to every legal voter
without federal intervention through Ine
adoption by the States of the unperverted
Australians or secret ballot system
Second Resolved, That the revenue derived
from graduated income tax should De applied
to the reduction of the burden OF taxation nov
resting upon the domestic industries OF th1s
Third Resolved, That we pledge our sup
port to fair and liberal pensions 10 ex-Umon
Fourfh IL That we condemn tue
fallacy Of protecting American labor unG9r
the present system, which opeus our ports 10
the paupef and criminal Glasses OF the world
and crowds out our wage earners; and we de-
nounce the present ineffective laws against
contract labor. and demand the further re-
striction of undesirable immigration.
Fifth-Resolyed, That we cordially syInpa-
taize with the efforts Of orga iized working
men TO shorten the hours OF labor, and demand
q rigid enforcement of the existing eight-hour
law on government work, and ask that pen
atty clause be added to the said law.
Sixth-Resolved, That we regard the main-
tenance of q large standing army OF mercena-
ries, known as the Pinkerton system, as MEN
ace to our liberties, and we demand its abo4l-
ton; and we condemn the recent invasion OF
the territory Of Wyoming by the hired asSas-
sins of plutocracy, assisted by federal officials
Seventh-Resolved, That we commend TO the
favorable cons. der alton of the people and the
reform press the legislative system known as
the initiative and referendum.
Eight--ResOlved, That we favor conStitn-
tional provision limiting the office of President
and vice. President to one term, and providing
for the election of Senator's of the United
States by direct vote of the people.
Einth-Resolved. That we oppose any SUBJ
sidy or national aid to an private corporation
for any purpose.
''The Peoples Party at the outset to secure
permanent control Of the party organization OF
the people unaffected by the interests of those
In public service does hereby in national con-
ventiOn assembled 81 Omaha on the 4th of
July, 1892 establish this ordinance as funda-
naental law Of party organization. viz No per-