The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-28
THE PLATFORM
And Preamble Adopted ut Oma.
Ina July 4, 1892.
AiBLE.

Anniversary or the declaratloIi
Of independence, the Peoples
party OF America, In their first
national convention, invoking
upon their action the blessing
of Almighty God, puts forth in
the name and On tehalf Of the
people OF this country the fol-
lowing preamble and declara-
ton OF principles:
The conditions which sur
round us best justify our co
operation; we meet in the
midst OF q nation brought TO the
verge OF moral. political and
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 demoralized
most OF the States have been
compelled to isolate the voters
at the polling places to prevent
universal intimidation or bribe-
~. The newspapers are largely
subsidized or mUZzled public
opinion silenced business pros
trated; our homes covered with
mortgages; labor impoverished
and the land concentrating in
the hands of the capitalists,
The urban workmen are denied
the right of organization fol
self-protection; imported pau
perized labor beats down their
wages; a hiIeling standing
army, recognized by our laws,
il established to shoot them
down; and they are rapidly
degenerating into European
conditions. The fruits OF the
toll Of millions are boldly stolen
10 build up colossal fortunes for
a few. unprecedented in the
history of mankind; and the
possessors Of these, in turn, des-
plse the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same proli-
tic 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
e1 into gold bearing bonds,
thereby adding millions to the
burdens of the people,
Silver, which has been &C
copied as coin since the dawn
OF history, has beeh demonet
led 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-
spilacy against mankind has
been organized on two cont
nents, and it is rapidly taking
possession Of the world. Ifnot
met and overthrown at once il
fOre-bodes terrible social con
WILSON'S, the destruction OF
civilization, or the establish.
ment of an absolute despotism
We have witnessed for more
than a quarter of a century the
struggles of the two great pc.
liticai parties for power and
plumber, while grievous wrongs
have been inflicted upon a suf.
fering people. We charge that
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
BOW promise us any substantial
reform. They haSR- agreed to.
gether to ignore, in the
coming campaign every issu~
but one. They propose to
drown the eutcries of a plum
dered people with the uproar
of sham battle over the tariff,
so that the CAPT alists, corpora.
tions, national banks, rings,
trusts, watered stock, the de-
lnonetiZation of silver and the
expressions Of the usurers may
all be lost sight of. They pro-
pose to sacrifice our homes, lives
and children on the altar OF
mammon; to destroy the multi
tude in order to secure corrup-
ton fnndsfrom 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
republic 20 the hands of "the
plain people," with which class
it originated.
We assert our purposes to he
Identical with the purpos IS of
the national constitution, ITO
form a more perfect union, es-
tablish 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
love of the whole people for
each other and for the nation ;
klaE ~ 10000