The Saline County journal., 1892-07-14
PEOPLES PARrYPLArFoRM.

! The following is the platform
unanimously adopted by the Peoples
party convention:
Assembled ubon the Il8th anniver-
sary Of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, the Peoples party of Ameri-
ca, In their first National convection,
invoking upon their action the bless
ing Of Almighty God, puts forth, In
the name and on behalf of the peo-
pie Of this country, the following
preamble and declaration OF princi-
pies.
The conditions which surround us
best justify our cooperation; we
meet in the midst of q Nation
brought to the verge of moral, polit-
ical and material ruin. Corruption
dominates the ballot-box, the Legis-
iatures, the Congress, and touches
even the ermine Of the bench. The
people are demoralized; most OF the
States have been compelled to iso-
late the voters at the polling places
to prevent universal intimidation or
bribery. The newspapers are large
ly subsidized or muzzied; public
opinion siienced; business prostrat-
ed our homes covered with mort
cages; labor impoverished, and the
land concentrating in the hands of
capitalists. The urban workmen are
denied the right of organization for
self protection; imported pauperized
labor beats down their wages a hire
ling standing army, unrecognized by
our laws, Is established to shoot
them down, and they are rapidly de-
generating into European conditions.
The fruits of the toll of millions are
boldly stolen to build up colossal for
tunes for few, unprecedented in the |
history Of mankind; and the posses
sors Of these, in turn. despise the |
Repulic and endanger liberty. From |
the same prolific womb of govern
mental injustice we breed the two
grear classes-tramps and million
aires.
The National power to make mon
ey is appropriated 20 enrich bond
holders; a vast public debt, payable
in legal tender currency, has been
funded into gold-bearing bonds,
thereby adding millions to the bur-
dens OF the people. Silver, which
has been accepted rs coin since the
dawn OF history, has been demone-
Iized to add to the purchasing power
of gold by decreasing the value OF
all forms Of property as well as hu-
nan labor, and the supply OF curren-
~ purposely abridged to fattsn the
lsurers, bankrupt enterprise, and
,ns1ave Industry. A vast conspira-
y against mankind has been organ
zed on two continents, aud is rap
dly taking possession Of the world. |
4 not met and over thrown at once
{ forbodes terrible social convul-
ions, the destruction Of civilization,
r the establishment OF an absolute
espotism.
We have witnessed for more than :
quarter OF q century the struggles :
4 tbe two great political parties for !
ower and plunder, while grevious :
Frongs have been inflicted upon the :
people. We charge that !
he controlling influences dominat-
1g both these parties have permit
the existing dreadful conditions
D develop without serious effort to
revent or restrain them. Neither
o they now promise us any SUBJ | A
lantisl reform. They have agreed y
,gether to ignore, In the coming =
every. issue but one. They q
ropose to drown the outcries of Q !.
lundered people with the uproar Of :,
sham battle over the tariff, so that :,
apitalists, corporations, National 3
anks, rings, trusts, wstered stock,
he demonstration OF silver, and
le oppression OF the usurer may all c
, lost sight Of. They propose to -
Icrifice our homes, lives and chill
-eu on the altar of Mammon; to
.stroy the multitudes In order to Sc p
Ire corruption funds from the mil o.
,naires. u
on the anniversary of
q Nation and filed with the spirit ~
the grand generation who estab- K
he'd our Independence, we seek to 81
store the Government OF the Re-
Iblic to the hands Of "the plain IN
ople" with whose class il originst. 30
!. We assert our purpose to be ~
enticle with the purposes OF the ''
ltional Constitution: ITO form q i,
rfect Union, establish justice, in. Pll
-e domestic tranquility, provide r.
: the common defense, promote
, general welfare and secure the =
.ssings Of liberty for ourselves and
{ prosperity"
Ne declare that this Republic can =
" endure asa free government, 7
lie built upon the love OF the II
ole people for each other and for =.
, Nation; that 1t cannot he pinned W
ether by bayonets; that the civil p;
Z is over and that every passion az
1 resentment which grew out Of n
must die with 10 and that we must :.
In fact a. we are In name OF one =
lied brotherhood Of freemen. ID
|ur country finds itself confronted In
for which there IL no ~
cedent In the history Of the world; n