The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-08-18
THE PLATFORM
Aud preamble Adopted at Onia-
Ina July 4, 1892.
PREAMBLE

OF the
of indie pendence, the People
marty of America, in their hrs'
national convention. INVOKING
npon their action the blessing
of Almighty God. puts forth ~
the name and on behalf OF the
ne,ple of this country the fol-
lowing preamble and deciara-
ton of principles:
The conditions which sur
round us best justify our co
operation; we meet IN .he
midst of a nation brought to the
verge of moral. political and
material ruin. Corruption domi-
mates the ballot-box, the legis-
Ia.ures, the congress, and touch
ga even the ermine of the bench.
The people are demorallzed
most of the States have been
compelled to isolate the voters
at the polling places to prevent
universal intimidation or BRIDE
nv. The newspapers are largely
ubsidized 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 for
self-protection; imported pau
perized labor beats down their
wages a hireling standing
army, recognized 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 fol-
la few, unprecedented in the
history of mankind; and the
possessors Of these, in turn, des-
pise the republic and endanee Ell
liberty. From the same proli'
fic womb of governmental In
Justice we breed the two grea'
classes-tramps and million
aires. The national power te
create money is appropriated
to enrich bondholders. A vas
public debt, payable in lega
tender currency, has been fund
ed into gold bearing bonds
thereby adding millions to the
burdens of the people.
Silver, which has been &C
cepted as coin since the dawr
OF history, has beeu demonet
lied to add to the purchasing
power of gold by decreasing the
value of all forms Of property
as we'll as human labor, anf
the supply of currency is pur
posely abridged to fatten usur
ers, bankrupt enterprise, ant
enslave industry. A vast con
spiracy against mankind ba'
been organized on two con i
nents, and it is rapidly taking
possession of the world. If no
met and overthrown at once i
fore-bodes terrible social con
vulsions, the destruction O.
civilization, or the establish
ment of An absolute despOt:sm
We have witnessed for more
than a quarter of century thu
struggles of the two great pc
liticaI parties for power ant
plumber, while grievons wrongs
have been inflicted upon a suf
fering people. We charge tina
the controlling infue noes domi
mating both these parties hav.
permitted the existing dreadful
conditions to develop withou
serious efforts to prevent or re
strain them. Neither~do they
( now promise us any substantial
reform. They have agreed IT,
gether to ignore, in the
coming campaign every issue
but one. They propose te
drown the outcries of a plum,
dered people with the uproal
of a sham battle over the tariff
so that the capitalists, corpora
tions, national banks, rings
trusts, watered stock, the de
monetization Of silver and the
expressions cf the usurers may
all be lost sight of. They pro
pose to sacrifice our homes, live;
and children on the altar O
mammon; to destroy the multi
tude in order to secure corrnp
ton funds from the millionaires
| Assembled on the anniversar,
OF the birthday of the nation
and filled with the spirit of tn
grand generation who estab
lished our independence, W
seek our independence, we seel
to restore the government of tn
republic 20 the hands of "th
plain people," with which elias
it originated.
We assert our purposes to r.
Identical with the purposes O
the national constitution, seT
form a more perfect union, e.
tab!ish justice, insure domes.i
tranquility, provide for til
common defense promote til
general welfare, and secure tn
blessings of liberty for oul
selves and our posterlty."
We declare that this rapubIi
can only endure as a free gov
eminent while built upon tn
love of the whole people 70
each other and for the nation