The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-08-25
TIE CAUCASIAN.
LINTON, n. C.,--AUG. % 1897
THE PLATFORM
And PrcanIble Adopted at ohia
ha July 4 1897.
PREAMBLE.

anniversary Of the declaration
OF indie pendence, the Peopie >
party of America, in their frsI
national convention, invoking
uron their action the blessing
of Almighty God, puts forth III
the name and on behalf OF the
people Of this country the fol-
lowing preamble and deciara-
ton Of principles
The conditions which sur
round us best justify our co
operation we meet i'll the
midst of a nation brought to the
verge of moral. political and
material ruin. Corruption domi-
mates the ballot-boX, the legis-
Id ures, the congress, and touch
es even the ermiDe Of the bench.
The people are demorallzed ,
most of the States have been
compelled to isolate the voters
at the polling places to prevent
universal intimidation or bribe-
nv. The newspapers are largely
subsidized or muzzled public
opinion silenced business pros
trated; our homes covered with
mortgages labor impoverished
and the land concentrating i'll
the hands of the capitalists.
The urban workmen are denied
the right of organization for
self-protection imported pau
perized labor beats down their
wages hileling standing
army, recognized by our laws,
is established to shoot them
down and they are rapidly
degenerating into European
conditions. The fruits of the
toll Of millions are boldly stolen
to build up colossal fortunes for
a few. unprecedented in the
history of mankind; and the
possessors of these, in turn, des-
pise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same proli-
fic womb of governmental in
justice we breed the two great
classes -tramps and million
aires. The national power to
create money is appropriated
to enrich bondholders. A vast
public debt, payable in legal
tender currency, has been fund
ed into gold bearing bonds,
thereby adding millions to the
burdens of the people.
Silver, which has been &C.
cepted as coin since the dawn
of history, has beeh denonet
lied to add to the purchasing
power of gold by decreasing the
value of all forms of property
as we'll as human labor, and
the supply of currency is pur-
posely abridged to fatten usur-
ers, bankrupt enterprise, and
enslave industry. A vast con-
spi acy against mankind has
been organized on two CONT
nents, and it is rapidly taking
possession Of the world. Ifnot
met and overthroWn at once it
fore-bodes terrible social con
vulsions, the destruction of
civilization, or the establish,
ment OF An absolute despotism
We have witnessed for more
than quarter of a century the
struggles of the two great po-
liticaI parties for power and
plumber, while grievous wrongs
have been inflicted upon a suf.
fering people. We charge thai
the controlling influences domi.
mating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful
conditions to develop without
serious efforts to prevent or re,
strain them. Neither do they
now promise us any substantial
reform. They have agreed to-
gether to ignore, in the
coming campaign every issue
but one. They propose tc
drown the outcries of plum.
dered PEOPLE with the uproal
of a sham battle over the tariff
so that the capitalists, corpora
tions, national banks, rings
trusts, watored stock, the de
mOnetization of silver and the
expressions cf the usurers may
all be lost sight of. They pro.
pose TO sacrifice our homes, lives
aud children on the altar OF
mammon; to destroy the multi
tude in order to secure corrup
ton funds from the millionaires
Assembled on the anniversary
OF the birthday of the nation
and filled with the spirit of the
grand generation who estab
lished our independence, we
seek our independence, we seek
to restore the government of the
.epublic 70 the hands of "the
plain people," with which class
it originated.
Weassert our purposes to he
Identical with the purpos IS oil
the national constitution, "Te
form a more perfect union, e.
tabJish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the
common defense promote the
general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty for our
selves and our posterlty."
We declare that this republic
can only endure as free gov
eminent while built upon the