Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-10-19
PEOPLES PLATFORM.


PRHAMBLA
Assembled upon the IlotA anniversary o.
the declaration Of independence, the peoples
party OF America In theif nrst naoonA1
convention invoking upon theiS action the
blessing OF Almighty Coo puts forth in tbs
name and on behalf Of the people Of this eoun-
try the following preamble and declaration OF
principles
The conditions which surround al best justify
our cooperation; we meet in the midst OF ma
tion brought 70 the verge Of moral, political ana
material ruin Corruption dominates tho oaL.
lot box, the legislatures, the congress-, ana
touches even the erminS OF tAe eeoen- Tne
people are denoralfZed; most OF ne states nAVe /
been compelled 70 isolate the voters as thu |
polling places TO prev0nt universal INV NIL
dalton or bribery Tho nOWSDope1S are largely |
subsidized or muZLled; public opinion ~ |
fenced; business Frustrated; our homes Gov |
cred with mortgages; labor impoverished, ana |
the land concentrated IN tho hands OF capital
lists The urban workmen ere denied the right
Of organization for self-proteotton; imported
pauperized labor beats down their wages;
hreling standing army, unrecogniLed by our
laws, is established 70 shoot them down and
they will rapidly degenerate into European
conditions The fruits Of the toll OF millions
are boldly stolen TO build up colossal fortunes
unprecedented in the history Of mankind and
the possessors OF these in turn despise the re-
public and endangeT liberty. From the
Same prolific womb Of governmental in
justice we breed the two great classes
tramps and milionaires The national power
TO create money II appropriated 70 enrich bond
holders q vast public debt payable in legal ten.
der currency has been funded into gold bearing
bonds, thereby adding millions 70 the burdens
OF the people.
Silver, which has been accepted rs Q
coin since the dawn Of history, has
been demonetized 70 add 70 the purchasing
power Of gold by decreasing the value OF oil
forms Of property as well as human labor, and
the supply Of currency Is purpossly abridged
and
slave industry. A vast conspiracy against man.
kind has been organized on two continents and Is
rapidly taking possession Of the world If not
met and overthrow at once IL forebodea terri
bic social convulSion, the destruction OF ctVlza-
ton, or the establishment Of an absolute des'
potism
We have witnessed for moro than a quarter
Of century the struggles Of the two great
political parties for power and plumber. while
Rrfevous wrongs have been inflicted upon SUI
ferirg people. We charge that the controlling
Influences domino ting both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions 70
develop without serious efforts 70 prevent or re-
strain them. Neither DO they now prom
ise us any substantial reform They have
agreed together 70 ignore, In the coming
campaign, every issue but one. They propose
todrown the outcrios Of plundered people with
the uproar Of a sham battle over the tarin, 30
that capitalists, corporations, national banks,
rings, trusts, watored stock, demonstration
OF silver and the expressions OF the usurers may
al be lost sight OF They proposed to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
mhmmon; 70 destroy the multitude in order TO
secure corruption funds from the millionaireS
Assembled on the anniversary OF the birth
day OF the nation and hllod with the spirit OF
Ihe grand generation who established our indie
pendence we seek our Independence We seek
20 restore the government OF tho republic TO
the hands Of the plain people" with whose
Olass II originated.
We assert our purposes 70 b Identical
with the purposes Of the national consti-
Sution: ITO form q more perfect union,
establish Justice insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare and secure the blessings Of
liberty for ourselves and our Dostertty."
We declare that this republic can only on
0ure~ as q free government while built upon
Ohe love Of the whole people for each other and
for the nation; that it cannot DO pinned To-
gether by bayonets; that the civil war u over
and that every passion and resentment when
grew out OF It must die with IL, and that We
must be in fact as We are In mama one united
brotherhood Of freemen
Our country finds itself confronted By ooaoi-
tions for which there u NO prooooens In
che history OF the world Our annual
agricultural productions amount 70 billions OF
dollars in value which must within few weeks
or months be exchanged for billions Of dollars
Of commodities consumed In their production.
The existing currency supply Il wholly
Inadequate to make this exchange TAe
results are I1uluB ptlCCos buO OhLhoNAoo -
combines and rings and thS imDevor!sh-
nent OF the producing 0asA We pleo6e
ourselves that II given power Ws WIN loeos
20 correct these evils by wise ana reasonAplG
legislation In accordance with the terms q o0'
niAtforuL We believe that the powers 81 govern
nent-in other words, Of the peoplo-0houId n
expanded (as In the ease OF the postal SeFvteol
As rapidly and IS far 90 this good sense OF an IN
telligent people and the teaching 81 experienced
shall Justify to the end that oppression, tntusco
- oil ovantullly n thu land
While our sympathies as party Of reform AZ
naturally upon the side q every proposition
which will tend to mako men intelligent Vrtu
Gus and temperate, We nevertheless regAr'
ehese questions, important aS they are. y
legendary 70 the great issues now presSin
for solution and upon which not only our IND
Vfdual prosperity, but tho very existence Q
free institutions depend, and We ask q
men TO nrst help US TO Determine Whetne
We are 70 have q republic 70 administer Be
fore We differ as TO the conditions upon vhic
A. "a 70 DO administered; 6elieving that ID
forces OF reform this day organised vi
never cease 70 move forward until every Wrcn
a remedied and equal rights and equal prvt
Ie9ea securely established for al the men an
women Of the country.
THE PLATFORM
We declare, therefore:
F1rst-ThAt the union Of the labor forces
che United States this DAY contaminated. sha
be permanent and perpetual May itS Spir
enter into al hearts for the salvation Of Il
republic and the uplifting Of mankind
Second-Wealth belongs 70 him who create
IL and every dollar taken from industry Wit
out an equivalent y robbery. IL any VI
on rural aud civic labor are the same; their Of
mics are Identical
Third-We believe that the time has cor
when the railroad corporations must eth
own the people or the peopae @pst Owe the Ls
roads-and should the government emf
upou the work Of owning ana managing
or ali railroads., We should favor an amer
mant 70 the constitution By which oil perse
ENGAGED In the government service snan
nlaeed under Q civil service regoiation OF
S.ost rt9id character 20 as TO prevent the
roose az enc power OF the national administ
ston nv the use of such additional governm'
employees. . =,
aound and flexible, issued by the general
crrrnent only a full legal tender Tor Al pet
subtle and private, and that without the U.S.
benISing corporations, just equitable
nfg,ient means of distribution direct 70
neonie at a tax not to exceed two per cent
pP no nroviped, as set forth In the
sHas1,rv ulan OF the Farmers Alliance OF SC
s1o,tor svsteut, also by payments In olscha
of lis obligations for public Improvements,
We demand free and unlimited CoinasS
silver and gold at the PTesept ies~a INV" -
tol. .or,.&
We demand that the amount Of Sisonla J,
medium be speedily Increased % not less z
ESQ per capita.
we demand a graduated income tax
We believe that the money OF the coun
ehould be kept as much as possible In
hands Of the people, and hence We demand
All state and national revenue shall be limi
20 the necessary expenses of the governm
Economically and honestly administered
We demand that postal savings banks
established by the government for the safe
Dosit OF the earnings Of the people and
facilitate exchange.
',rar sportation being . means o. excna
n ,7,Uiic necessity, ths governments S"'
own an qperate the railroads In the intere'
the people -..t f..+.
The telegraph and tslsrA0nA lfke the pos
- 6cs system, being necessity Tor xansuls
OF news should be OWED and operateo oS
government in the interest Of the people
The Land, including al the natural resou
OF wealth, "a the heritage OF al tho people
should not be monopoiized Tor speculative