The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-09-14
TWN OIrAHA PLATFORHR.


Anuamblad upon thu one hundred and slR.
te9nth anniversary OF the Declaration Of lnde-
pendence, the Peoples party Of America, In ItS
FIRST national convention, tnVoldng upon tner
action the blessing Of Almighty God, puts Gortn.
IA the nanO and on behalf of the people OF tnlS
country, the following preamble and declaration
Of principles; The conditions which surround
US bAgt Justify our cooperation; We meet IN tn9
midst OF a nation brought to the verge OF moral
political and material ruin; corruption dom1-
natea the ballot-box legislatures, congress- and
touches even the ermine OF the bench Inc
reoDla are demoralized; most OF the states have
been compelled to isolate voters % pOLIing
places to prevent universal lntmiosEu9l1n; ;5 o5
or mlIzzled; public opinion gilenced; business
rrOVtrated: our homes covered with mortgages;
labor impoverished and the land concentrating
Ia the hands OF the capitalists. Urban Workmen
are denied the right Of organization for SELF pro
teotiOn. iuDorted pauperiZed labor beats down
their wages; hireling, standing army unrecog'
nized by our laws ig established TO shoot them
down, and they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions; the fruits OF Lne t0n O5
millions are bodily stolen TO build up coll0ssn
fortunes for the few, unprecedented IN the hls-
tory OF mankind, and the posseSsor9 OF these In
turn daspiSe the republic and endanger liberty;
from the same prolific womb OF governmental
Injustice we breed two great cIaRSOS - trAmps
and millionaires; the national power 70 create
money 10 appropriated TO enrich bondholdersi
the vast public debt, payable In legal tender cur
rency, has been funded into gold bearing bonds,
thereby adding millions to the burdens OF tne
people; silver, which has been accepted 40 coin
since the dawn Of history, has been dSInonet1Eed
to add to the purchasing power OF gold by de-
Creasing the value OF all forms or properly ~
well az human labor, and the supply OK currency
ig purpOsely abridged to fatten usurer8, bank
Fupt enterprise and enslaVe industry; q vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
on The two continents and il rapidly taking pos
session OF the world; II not met ana oVerthrown
at OnO0 it forebodeS terrible social cOnVulglon,
the destruction Of capitalization or the establish
ment OF absolute despotism; we have witnessed
Tor more than quarter Of century the Strug-
Rles of the two great political parties for power
and plumber, while grieyouS wrongs have been
inflicted upon the people; We charge that the
parties have permitted the existing dreadful
conditions TO develop without serious effort TO
prevent or restrain them; neither do they now
promise us any substantial reform; they have
agreed together in the coming campaign TO ig-
pore every issue but one; they propose to drown
tho cries Of the plundered people with the mp
roar OF sham battle over tariff, so that capital,
corporations, national banks, trusts, wAterod
stocks demonstration OF silver and the oppres-
sion, of usurerg may be lost sight OF; they pro-
pose to sacrifice our homes, lives and children
on the altar of mammon; to destroy the multitude
In order to secure corruption funds from mil
liOnaires. Assembled on the anniversary OF the
birthday Of the nation, and hlled with the spirit
dependence, we So K to restore the goyernment
Eo tho hands Of tho plain people," with which
class &c originated; we assert our purposes 70
Be- identical with the purposes OF the national
tabliBh Justice, insure domestic tranquil
ity, provide for common defense, promote
general welfare and secure the blosBingB
Of liberty for ourselves and our poSterlty;
Ws declare that this government can only
endure as q free government while built
upon the love Of the whole people for each
other and for the nationi that II cannot %
pinned together by bayonOt; that the CIVIL war
"a over and that every pasSion and resentment
which grew out OF the war must die with H. ana
chat we must in fact a. we'll as in name become
a united brotherhood OF free men; our country
hnds itself confronted by conditions Tor which
there is no precedent in the world; our annua!
agricultural productions amount 70 DILLON OF
dollars in value. which must in q few Meeekg or
months be exchanged for billions OK dollars
worth Of commodities OF other productions; the
currency supply is wholly inadequate 70 make
this exchange, and the reBulte are fAlllng OF
prices, the formation OF combines ana rings
and the impoverishment OF the producing olsSSi
we pledge ourselves that, IL given the power, we
VIII labor to correct these evils by wise and
reasonable legislation, in accordance with the
terms Of our platform; We believe that the pow
ers of government, in other words, of the people,
Bhould be- expanded las in case OF the postal
BerVice) as rapidly and "a far as the good sense
OF an Intelligent people ard the teachings or ex-
perience shall justify, to the end that oppr9s-
cease In this land. While our sympathies, ls
the party Of reform, are naturally upon the side
OF every proposition which will tend to mako
men intelligent, virtuouS and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions, important
a. they are, as secondary to the great issues now
pressing for solution, and upon which not only
our individual prosperity, but the very existence
Of our free institutions depend; and We RSk all
men to help as nrst determine wosthor we are 70
have the republic TO administer before We differ
a. to the conditions upon which 1t Ia 70 b0 adj
minigtored; believing that the forces OF reform
this day organized viii mover cease TO move for.
ward until every wrong Is remedied and lawful
rights and equal privileges securely established
Cor all men and women la this country wO Dc.
clare therefore;
First-That the union OF the labor forces Of
Tho United States. this day contaminated, shRll
bS permanent and p0rpetual may its spirit come
into all hearts for the salvation OF mankind.
Second Wealth belongs TO him who creates Il,
n,.l, kahra ind I'D