Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1892-09-22
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Convention ut
Omaha, JuIy 4, 1899.

Declaration CT independence, the Peoples
party of America in their first national con-
vention, invoking upon their action the bless
ing of almighty God. puts forth in the name
and on behalf Of the people of this country the
following preamble and declaration of princi-
pies:
The conditions which surround us justify
our action; we meet in the midst of nation
brought to the verge of moral, political and
material ruin. Corruption dominates the bal
lot box, the legislatures. the congress, and
touches 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 in order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silenced, business Frustrated, our homes cov-
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
the land concentrating in the hands of the
capitalists. The urban workmen are denied
the right of organization for self protection;
imported pauperZed labor beats down their
wages; hireling standing army, unrecog-
nized 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 few, unprecedented in the his
tory of mankind, and the possessors of these,
in turn, despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov
ernmental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money is ap-
propriated to enrich bondholders; a vast pub
lie debt, payable in legal 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 to
add to the purchasing power of gold by de-
creasing the price of all forms of property as
well as human labor. The supply of currency
Is purposely abridged to fatten usurers bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and it is rapidly
taking possession of the world. If not met
and overthrown at once it forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction of civilza-
ton or the establishment of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that quarter
of q century the struggles of two great pOliti-
cal parties for power and plumber, while griev
Gus wrongs have been inflicted upon a suffer-
ing people. We charge that the controlling
influences dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions to
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
restrain them. Neither do they now promise
us any substantial relief. They have agreed
together to ignore in the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose to drown
lue OutCTlcS OI pluuuereu people WIN tlic
uproar of q sham battle over the tariff, so that
capitalists, corporations. national banks, rings.
trusts watered stock, the decentralization of
silver and the oppression Of the usurers may
all be lost sight Of. They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar of
Mammon; to destroy the multitude in order
to secure corruption funds from the million
aire.
Assembled on the anniversary of the birth
la,, of t1,., onI Had, ~ o
the grand generation who established our indie
pendence, we seek to restore the government
of the republic to the hands of 1.-THE plain peo-
ple," with which class it originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
the purposes of the national constitution-to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our posterity."
We declare that this republic can only en-
dure as free government while built upon the
love of the whole people for each other and
for the nation that ii cannot be pinned to-
gether by bayonets; that the civil war is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out OF it must die with it. and that we
must be in fact, as we are in name, united
brotherhood OF free men.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there is no precedent in the
history Of the world. Our annual agricultural
productions amount to billions of dollars in
value, which must within few weeks or
months be exchanged for billions of dollars of
commodities consumed in their production
The existing currency supply is wholly made
quate TO make this exchange. The results are
falling prices, the formation of combines and
rings and the iinpoverishment of the producing
classes. We pledge ourselves that If given
power we will labor to correct these evils by !
wise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
with the terms of our platform.
We believe that the powers of government
in other words, of the people-should be ex-
panded tas in the case of the postal service) as
rapidly and as far as the good sense of an in