The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-09-15
THE PLATFORM
And Preamble Adopted at Oma.
ha July 4, 1892.
PREA MBLE.

| Assembled upon the ll6t
anniversary of the declaratio
| OF independence, the People
party of America, in their frs
national convention, invokin
upon their action the blessin
of Almighty God, puts forth j.
| the name and on behalf Of tn
people of this country the fol
lowing preamble and declare
ton Of principles
The conditions which sur
round US best justify our co
operation; we meet in tn
midst of a nation brought to tn
verge OF moral. political ant
material ruin. Corruption domi
mates the ballot-boX, the legis
la ures, the congress, and touch
es even the ermine 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 bride
ry. The newspapers are largely
subsid lied or muZzled public
opinion silenced business pros
trated; our bones 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 a hireling standing
army, recognized by our laws,
is established to shoot them
down and they are rapidly
degenerating into European
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
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
lender currency, has been fund
I'd into gold bearing bonds,
thereby adding millions to the
burdens Of the people,
Silver, which has been &C
'epted as coin since the dawn
" history, has beeh demonet-
zed to add to the purchasing
power of gold by decreasing the
yalue of all forms of property
IS well as human labor, and
he supply of currency is pur-
'osely abridged to fatten usur-
rs, bankrupt enterprise, and
nslave industry. A vast con-
piracy against mankind has
'een organized on two con i
tents, aud it is rapidly taking
possession Of the world. If not
net and overthrown at once it
orebodes terrible social con
ulsions, the destruction of
utilization, or the establish
lent Of an absolute despot;sm.
We have witnessed for more
han a quarter of a century the
truggles of the two great po-
ticaI parties for power and |
under, while grievous wrongs
ave been inflicted upon a suf-
,ring people. We charge that
lie controlling influences domi-
ating both these parties have
armitted the existing dreadful
to develop without
rious efforts to prevent or re-
rain them. Neither do they
ow promise us any substantial
form. They have agreed to-
'ther to ignore, in the
campaign every issue
1t one. They propose to
own the outcries of plum
cred PEOPLE with the uproar
a sham battle over the tariff,
that the capitalists, corpora
Ons, national banks, rings,
u5ts, watored stock, the de-
onetization of silver and the
'pressions Of the usurers may
be lost sight of. They pro-
use 10 sacrifice our homes, lives
I'd children on the altar of
ammon; to destroy the multi
de in order to secure corrup-
Oh funds from the millionaires. 1
on the anniversary {
the birthday OF the nation
I'd filled with the spirit of the
and generation who estab-
shea our independence, we
elk our independence, we seek 1
restore the government of the /
public TO the hands of "lhe
ain people," with which class |
originated. G
We assert our purposes to he t
entical with the purposes of n
g national constitution, "To b
rim a more perfect union, es- a
bl'sh justice, insure domestic
lnquil1ty, provide for the a
.mon defense promote the L
neral welfare, and secure the S
essings of liberty for our r
ives and our posterlty." p
We declare that this rapnblic
n only endure as a free gov n
nment while built upon the t,
We OF the whole people for n
L.. L