Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-07-07

j. b. WEAVER several speeches
the convention adjourned for the day.
On Sunday session was held in mem
Org of the late Col. l.. L. Polk, of North
Carolina.
OMAHA. Neb., July 5-When the CON
vention met yesterday morning ii. o.
Loucks, of South Dakota, was elected
permanent chairman. The following
platform was unanimously adopted:
Assembled upon the one hundred and six
teenth anniversary Of the declaration of indie
pendence, 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 behalf Of the people
of this country, the following preamble and
declaration of principles:
The conditions which surrC una us best Justify
our cooperation. We meet in the midst OF a
nation brought 20 the verge OF moral, political
and material ruin. Corruption dominates the
ballot box the legislatures, the congress, and
touches even the ermine OF the bench The
people are demOralized; most Of the states
have been compelled 10 isolate the
voters at the polling places TO pre-
vent universal intimidation or br
berry. The newspapers are largely subs-
died or muzzled; public opinion silenced:
business Frustrated; our homes covered with
mortgages labor impoverished and the lands
concentrating in the hands Of the capitalists.
The urban worRmen are denied the right of or
gani2ation for self protection: imported pau
perized labor beats down their wages; a hire
ling standing army, unrecoguized by our laws
IS established TO shoot them down,
and they are rapidly deEeneratug
into European conditions. 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 posscssors OF
these, in turn, despise the republic and endanger
liberty, From the same prolific womb Of gov
ernmental injustice we breed the two great
ciesscs-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money is appro-
prated to enrich bondholders: a vast public
debt payable in legal tender currency has been
funded into gold bearing bonds. thereby adding
millions 10 the burdens OF the people
Silver, which has been accepted as coin since
the dawn OF history has been demonetized TO
adduo the purchasing power of gold by decreas-
ing the value Of all forms Of property as well as
human labor, and the supply Of currency is
purposely abridged 70 fatten usurefs, bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry. A
vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents and il Is rap
idly taking possession OF the world II nc:
met and overthrow at once il f0rebooes
terrible social commissions, the destruction OF
civilization or the establishment OF an absolute
despotism We have witnessed for more than
q quarter OF a century the struggles Of the two
great political parties for power and plum
der. while grtevcus wrongs have been IN
tic'cd upon the suffering people. We charge
that the controlling Influences dominating
both these parties have permitted
the existing dreadful conditions TO develop
without serious effort 70 prevent or restrain
them Neither do they now promise Us any
substantial reform. They have agre i together
% ignore in the coming campaign every issue
bat one They propose TO drown the outcrics
q a plundered people with the uproar
q sham battle ever sc tariff 50
mat capitalists, corporations national
hanks rings, trusts watered stock the demon.
etiza ton Of silver and the oppressi ms Of the
usarers may all be lost sight u They propose
t. sacrifice our homes, lives and children On
the altar Of mammon; 10 Destroy the multitude
IL order 10 secure corruption funds from the
milliouaires
Assembled on the anniversary Of the bir1l.
day 81 the nation and filled with the spirit Of
the grand generation who established our inde-
pendence we seek 10 restore the government Of
The republic 70 the hands Of the plain people"
with whose class It originated We assert our
purposes 70 be Identical with the purposes Of
the national consutution-"to form a more per
;eet union, establish justice, insure domestic