Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-07-26

iuehticai Win tne purpose of the national
constitution, to form a more perfect
union, and establish justice, insure domes-
tic 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 onlv
endure as free government while built
upon the love of the whole people for each
other and for the nation; that it cannot
be pinned together by bsyonets; 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, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by
conditions for which there is no precedent
in the history of the world. Our annual
agricultural productions amount to bill.
lions of dollars in value, which must
within a few weeks or months be ex-
changed for billions of dollars of COM
modities consumed in their production;
the existing currency supply is wholly
inadequate to make this exchange. The
results are falling prices, the formation
OF combines and rings, the impoverish
ment of the producing class. 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 govern
ment-in other words, of the people -
should be expanded, as in the case of the
postal service, as rapidly and as far as the
good sense of an intelligt mt people and
the teachings of experience shall justify,
to the end that oppression, injustice and
poverty shall eventually cease in the land.
While our sympathies as party of re-.
form are naturally upon the side of every
proposition which will tend to make men
intelligent, virtuous, and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions-im-
portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution,
and upon which not only our individual
prosperity, but the very existence of free
institutions depend; and we ask all men
to first help us to determine whether we
are to have republic to administer be-
fore we differ as to the conditions upon
which it is to be administered. Believing
that the forces of reform this day organ
lied will never cease to move forward
until every wrong is righted and equal
rights and equal privileges established for
all the men and women of this country,
we declare, therefore:
UNION OF THE PEOPLE.
First. That the union of the labor forces
of the United States this day cons minated
shall be permanent and perpetual; may
its spirit enter into all hearts, for the sal
walton of the republic and the uplifting
of mankind.
Second. Wealth belongs to him who ore
ates it; and every dollar taken from in
dustry without an equivalent is robbery.
"If any man will not work, neither shall
he eat" The interests of rural and civil
labor are the same; their enemies are
identical.
Third. We believe that the time has come
when the railroad corporations will either
own the people or the people must own
the railroads; and should the government
enter upon the work of owning and man
aging all railroads, we should favor an
amendment to the constitution by which
all persons engaged in the government
service shall be placed under a civil serv-
ice regulation of the most rigid character,
so as to prevent the increase of the power
of the national administration by the use
49,
THE QUESTION OF FINANCE.
We demand a national currency, safe
sound, and flexible, issued by the general
government only, full legal tender for
all debts, public and private, and that
without the use Of banking corporations
a Just, equitable and efficient means OF
distribution direct to the people, at tai
not to exceed 2 per cent. per annum, to
be provided as set forth in the sub-treas'
ury plan of the Farmers Alliance, or q
better system; also by payments In
discharge of its obligations for public i'm
provements.
We demand free and unlimited coinags
of silver and gold, at the present legal ra
ito of 16 to l.
We demand that the amount of circulat
ing medium be speedily increased to moi
less than $50 per capita.
We demand graduated income tax.
We believe that the money of the coun
try should be kept, as much as possible
in the hands of the people, and hence VI
demand that all state and national reve
nues shall be limited to the necessary eI
penses of the government, economically
and honestly administered.
We demand that postal savings bank!
be established by the government for thu
safe deposit of the earnings of the peo
pie, and to facilitate exchange.
coNrBoL OF TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being means of eI
change and a public necessity, the gov
eminent should own and operate thu
railroads in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone, like the
post-ofice system, being necessity fol
the transmission of news, should be owned
and operated by the government, in thu
interest of the people.
RroLAIMISG THE LAND.
The land, including all the natura
sources of wealth. is the heritage of thu
people, and should not be monopolizeC
for speculative purposes, and alien own
ership of land should be prohibited
All land now held by railroads and othel
CORPORATIONS in excess of their actus
needs, and all lands now owned by aliens
should be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only.
A leading foreign banker says, accord
ing to the Boston Bureau, that there Is
disposition to belittle the Importance Of
the international interest account. Hi
records, extending over a series of years
show that fully $l10,000,000 is sem
abroad each year on foreign holdings Of
American securities. To this should b
added from S50,000,O00 TO SEQ, 0O0,oot
expended by American travellers abroad
o. v ,ha merican colonists in European