The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-06
LEADS The DECLARATION
Preamble to the Platform Of the
Peoples Party. Adopted at
Omaha
Tho BLESSING OF Almighty God In
voked Upon the Declaration
Of Principles.
Eeve 81 tlhs People for Each Other n
the Ceuntry the Hope OF the
Republic.

1--we 81 me People for Each Other and
tho Country h Hope OF the
Republic.
OMAHA, July k-The following is the pre-
amble to the platform adopted by the peo'
Piles party;
Assembled upon ths 116th anniversary Of
ths declaration of Independence the poo
PIES party, invoking the blessing OF Al
mighty God, puts forth in the name of the
people of the country the following prsam-
bio aud declaration of principles. We
moot, says the preamble, in the midst OF a
mutton brought to the verge Of moral, po-
litical and material ruin. Corruption dom
mates the ballot box, Legislatures, congress.
and even touches tho ermine on the bench.
The people are ~demoralizsd; most OF the
states have been compelled to isolate voters
~ the polling places to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery; newspapers are
subsidized or muszlsd; public opinion
silenced. business Frustrated; our homes
covered with mortgages; labor impoverished;
land concentrated in the hands OF capital
ists; wofkmen denied the right
of organization for self protec-
tion; imported. paurerized labor beats
their wages; a hireling% standing army.
u~nreooenized by law. ia established to
shoot them down, and they are rapidly de-
generating into q European condition; tho
fruit of the toll Of millions 10 boldly stolen
% build up colossal fortunes unprecedented
in the history Of mankind, and the possess
ora Of these in turn despise the republic
and endaueer liberty. From the same pro-
lifc womb of government injustice We
breed two great GLASSES, tranps and mill
ionaires. The national power to create
money is appropriated to enrich the bond
holders; the vast public debt, payable
in legal tender. has been fund
Cd into gold-bearing bonds, thereby
adding millions to the burdens
Of the people. Silver. which has been &C
cepted 40 q coin since the dawn of history,
has been demonetizsd to add to the pur-
chasing power of gold by decreasing the
value Of all forms of property As we'll as
human labor, and the supply OF currency IL
p~urposely abridged to fatten the Insurer,
bankrupt enterprise. and snslsve lndusiry.
This vast conspiracy against mankind has
been organized ON two continents and 1t IS
rapidly taking possession Of the world: IT
not met and overthrown at once, 1t fore
bodies a terrible social oonvulsion. the de-
struotion of civilization, or the establish.
ment of an absolute despotlsm.
We have witnessed for more than = quar-
tor Of q century the struggle of the v
great political parties for power and plum
der, while grevious wrongs have been in
ficted upon the suffering people. We
charge that the controlling influences dom
mating both these parts have permitted
the existing dreadful condition to develop
without serious efforts TO prevent or restrain
them. Neither do they now promise rs any
to ignore in the coming campaign every
issue but me-. They propose to drown out
the cries of plundered people with the up
roar Of . sham battle over the tariff, so that
captalistic corporations, national banks
rings. trusts, watered stocks, the demonet!.
usurers may be lost sight Of. They pro-
pose to sacrifice our homes, lives and chill
dreu on the, affairs of to destroy
the multitude in order to secure corruption
funds for millionaires.
Assembled OF the anniversary OF the
birth of the nation, and filled with the
spirit of the grand generation who estab-
lished our Independence, We seek to restore
the government to the hands of the plain
people," with whom it originated. We
assert our purpose to be identical with the
purpose of the national constitution, ITO
form a more perfect union. establish just
ice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
for tho common defence, promote the gen.
eral welfare and seoore the blessings OF
liberty for ourselves aud posterity."
We declare that this republic can only
endure as q free government upon the love
of the whole people for each other anu for
the nation; that it cannot be pinned to
either by the bayonet; that the OWL war Is
over, and every passion and the resentment
that we must be in fact, as We are in name,
one united brotherhood of free men. Our
country finds itself confronted by condi-
lions for which there 10 no precedent in the
history of the world.
Our annual agricultural productions
amount to billions of dollars. which must
in a few weeks or months be exchanged for
billions of the commodities consumed in
their production. The existing currency
supply is wholly inadequate to make this
exchange. The results ate falling prices.
the formation Of combines and rings, and
the impoyerishment of the producing GLASS.
We pledge ourselves, if given power, that
we will labor TO correct these evils by wise
and reasonable legislation.
We believe the powers of the government
shall be expanded Gas in the case of postal
~service) as rapidly and far AZ the good
sense of intelligent people and the teachings
of experience shall justify. to the end that
oppression, injustice II poverty shall
eventually cease in the land. While our
sympathies as a party Of reform are natu-
rally upon every side Of every proposition
which will tend to make men intelligent
and temperate. we nevertheless regard these
questions, as important as they are. subor-
dinate to the great issues now pressing fol
solution, and upon which not only individ.
ual prosperity but the very existence OF
free institutions depend, and We ask all
men first to help US determine whether We
are to have a republic to administer before
We differ AZ to the conditions upon which il
is to be administered
Believing that the forces of reform thii
day set in motion will never cease to move
forward until every wrong is remedied anC
equal privileges securely established for al
men and women, we declare, therefore
First, That the union of the labor force!
of the United States. this duty consum-
mated, shall be permanent and perpetual
may its spirit enter into all hearers for the
salvation of the republic and the uplifting
of mankind.
Second, Wealth belongs to him who
created it, and every dollar taken from in.
dustgy without an equivalent is robbery,
IF any man will not work. neither shall
he eat" The interests of rural and civic
labor are the same, their enemies are iden.
tioal.
Third. We believe the time has come
when railroad corporations will either owl
the people, or the people must own the rail-
roads. and should the government entel
upon the work of holding or managing any
or oil railroads. We should favor an amend
ment to the constitution by which all per-
sons engaged in the government service