Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-10-06
Peoples Party Platfoam.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION. At OMAHA, NEB.,
Tfrry 4 1852

blessing OF Almighty God put FORTH IN the name
and on behalf of the people of the country, the
following preamble and declaration of principles:
The conditions which surround Us best JUSTIFY
our cooperation; we meet in the midst Of nation
brought TO the verge of a moral, political and ma
terial ruin. Corruption dominates the b2IlOL-bnX
the legislatures the congress- and touches even
the ernine on the bench. The people are demon
allied; most OF the states have D5en compelled 10
isolate the voters the polling places to prevent
universal intimidation bribery. The neWspa-
pers largely subsidized or muzzled pnDhc
opinion silenced, business PROSTATE oar homes /
covered with mortgages, labor Impoverished, ana
the land concentrating in the hands OF the eapl
talists. The urban workmen are denied the rignt
of organic alton for selfprOtectOn; imported pau
perized labor beats down their wages; a hlreling
army, unrecognized by our laws Is established 70
shoot them down. and they are rapidly degeuer |
ating into European conditions. The irllLs OF
the toll of millions bodily stolen 10 Duild mp
colossal fortunes for a few, unprecedented IN lhe
history OF ankind, and the possessOrs OF these
in turn desPise the republic and endanger liberty
From the same prolific womb of governmental N
justice, we breed the two great classes-lrah-ps
The national power to create money is sppro-
priatel 10 enrich bondholders' a vast paollc
debt, payable in egaI-tender currency, has been |
funded into gold bearing bonds, thereby adding /
millions to the burdens OF the people
Silver which has been accepted as coin since /
the dawn OF history, has been demonetized' 10 /
add 10 the purchaslns power OF gola, by uecESas-
ing the value OF all forms OF property as well as
human labor, and the supply of currency Is Pur-
posely abridged 10 tatten usurers, bankrupt en-
Jerprise, and euslave industry. a vast cOnspir-
acy against mankind has been organized on TWO
continents, ana II IL tapldly taking possession Of
the world II not met and oyerthrown at once,
iC fOrebOdes terrible social commissions, the de-
strucIon OF civilization, o. the establishment of
an absolute depotisIn We have Witnessed for
more than a quarter OF q century the struggles OF
the two great political parties for power and
aAd plumber, while grieYous wrongs have been in
hicted upon the suffering people. We charge
these parties have permitted the existing dread
full conditions to develop, without serious effort
TO prevent or restrain them.
Neither do they now promise us any suostan-
ual reform. They have agreed together TO -
l4ore, IN the coming campaign, every issue but
plundered people with the uproar oil a sham bat
tie over the tariff, so that capitalists, corpora
lions, national banks, rings, trusts, watered
stock- the OenoheIlZaIiOn Oh SILVER ana the OPP
presslOus OF the Insurers may all be lost sight OF.
They propose to sacrifice our homes, lives and
chloren on the altar OF mammOn; TO destroy the
multitude IN order 10 secure corruption funds
from the millionaire. Assembled on the anniver-
sary OF Inc birthday OF the nation, ana nIed Win
the spirit of the grand general chief who esta0-
lished our independence, we seek to restore the
government Of the REF ubIc 10 the hands OF me
plaiR people" win which class IL originated. We
assert our purposes 10 be identical with the pur-
pose of the national constitution, 10 form more
perfect union, and establish justice, insure do
nestle tranquility, provide tor the common de-
Tense. promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings Of liberty for ourselves and our pos
terity.
as free government while built upon tho love OF
the whole people for each other and for the ma
ton: thar IL cannot be pinned together by bayo-
nets; that the civil is over, and that every
passion and resentment which grew out OF IL
must die with in: ana that we must be in fact as
we in name, one united brotherhood. Oar
country hnds itself confronted by conditions for
which there Is no precedent IN the history
OF the world. Oar annual agricultural
productions amount 10 billions OF dollars In value
which must within a few weeks or months be eX-
changed fer billions Of dollars Of commodities
consumed in their production; the existing cur
rency supply Is wholly inadequate 10 make this
exchange The results are falling prices, the Tor
nation of combines and rings, the impoyerish-
ment of the producing class. " c pledge our
selves that, if given yower, we will LABOR 10 cor
rect these evils oy wise ana reasonable Ie.sI1lOA
in accordance with the terms OF OAR platform.
We believe that the powers of goyernment--in
other words, or the peopie-shouId De eAp9nucu
in the case of the postal service, rs rapidly and
Tar as the good sense of intelligent people
ana the teachings OF experience shaII Justify 10
the end that oppression, injustice and poverty
shall eventually cease ia the land
While sympaIhies party of reform are
naturally upon the side OF every proposition
which VIII tend to make men Intelligent, yirtuous
ana temperate, we ne 'erlAeless REGARD tleso cues
tons-imporIaut as they areas secondary 10 the
great issues now pressing Tor solution, and upon
when not only our lAlNllu-l prosperity out me
very existence of free institutions depend; and We
ask all men TO first help Us 10 determine whether
are 10 have u republic 10 administer, before we
differ rs 10 the conditions upon which il Is 10 be
administered. Believing that the forcOs OF re-
form this uay organized viii never cease TO move
forward until every wrong Is rlghted and equal
rights ana equal privileges established for all the
men and women OF this country, We declare
therefore:
UNION OF THe People
First. That tnL Union OF the labor forces O
the United States this day cOnsumnated shall be
permanent and perpetual; may its spirit entel
into all hearts. for the salvation OF the rcpubli,
and the uplifting or mankind.
Second. Wealth belongs 10 him who creates il
and every dollar taken from Industry without al
equivalent is robbery. If any man will NO
work neither shall he eat" Tho interests o
rural and civil labor are the same, their enemie
Identical
Third. We believe that the time has com
when the railroad corporations viii either owl
the people or The people must own the railroads
ana, should the government enter upon tAe WoT
OF owning and managing all railroads, shoul
favor an amen&menJ 10 the constitution by whlc
all persons engaged IN the government serVlc
shalt be placed under a civil service regulation o
the most rigid Character, so as 10 prevent the in
crease OF the power o. the national administrative
by the use OF snch additional! government en-
ployes.
THE QUESTION OF FINANCE
We demand national currency, safe, sount
and flexible, issued ny the general governmeI
only. a full legal tender for ali debts, pu6lic an
private, and that without the 1f banking co
porauons; a just, equitable and efficient means
distribution direct 10 the people at Il tax not
exceed per cent per anuum, TO be provided
set forth IN the suO-treaSury plan of the Farmer
alliance, or a better svstsIn; also low payments
discharge OF its obligations for public improve
We demand free and unlimited coinage OF s.
and gold, st the present legal ratio Of l6 10
We demand that the am 3unt of circulating IN,
dunn be speedily increased 10 not less than =
we demand a graduated income tax.
We believe that the money of the COUNT
should be kept Is much rs possibie, In the hant
OF the people, and hence we demand that all stat
ana national revenues shall be limited 10 the re
essary expenses Of the government, economical
and honestly administered
demand that postal savings banks be esta
HSneu Dy the government the sale De post
the earnings Of the people. ana 10 facilitate {
change.
CONTROL oE TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being Il means or exchange Al
public necessity, the government should oy
and operate the railroads in the interest of O.
people.
The telegraph and telephone, like the postOh
system, beng q necessity for the transmission
news, should be owned and operated by the 20
eminent, in the interest Of the people.
IiECLAIMING THE LAND
The land including ali the natural sources
wealth, is the heritage or the people, and shou
not be mOnopOliZed for speculative purposes, q
alien ownership OF land should be prohibited :
land now held 10y railroads and other corpOraJio
in excess Of their actual needs, and all lands Il,
owned by aliens. should be reclaimed by the g
ernmenJ ami held Tor actual settlers only.
The following resolutions were adopted al
evening session, a. expressive OF the sentiment
the conventions
RESOLVED. That we demand a free ballot ans