The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-02-22
PURE DEMOCRACY.
PTopIE,s PARTY PLaTFoIsN.


Adopted al the oroatsa Conference al
IAborinE People. sal, 4, 1899.
Assembled upon the one hundred
and sixteenth anniversary of the
declaration Of Independence, the
Peoule's party Of America. IL their
first national convention. invoking
upon their action she blessing OF
Almighty God, puts forth IL the
name aud on behalf of the people
of this country. the following pre-
amble and declaration of principles.
The conditions which surround rs
best justify our cooperation. {
meet ~ the midst of q nation brought
70 the verge af moral, political aud
material ruin. s ufl uprnn dominates
the ballot puN. the legislatures. the
congress. and touches eveu tine Il
mine of the bench. The people are
demoriizei. Most of the state have
been compelled % isolate the voters
at the polling places 10 prevent unl-
vcrsai intimidation or bribery. The
newspapers are largely subsidized "r
muzzeled, public opinion slienced
business prastratcd.- our BONES
covered with mortgages, labor ln-
poyeushed. and the land concentrate
ing in the hands OF the capitalists.
The u~ban wurkmen are denied the
rig Il Of organization for >eif-protcc-
ton: imported pauporized labor
beats down their wages; a nlrrLng
standing army. unrecogGIzed 10y our
+ laws. - esta biIshed 10 shoot them
down. ana they are rapidly degener-
/ atIug into European conditions. The
/ fruits of the toll OF millions are
/ bodily stolen to build up colossal
/ fortunes for few, unprecedented
in the history of mankind, and the
( possessors OF these. III turn, de>pl~e
+ the republic and endanser liberty.
1 From the same prolific mode Of gov
/ ernmental injustice we breed the
/ two great classes-tramp aud mil
. IOnalTes.
The national power to create
money is appropriated to enrich
bondholders. A vast public debt
payable in legal tender currency has
been funded into collaborating
bonds, thereby adding millions t.
the burdens of the people.
THE OLD PARTIES ARRAIGNED.
Silver which has been accepted Il.
coin since the dawn of history, has
been Gemonetized to add to the
purchasing power of gold by de.
creasing the value of all forms OF
property, as well as human labor
and the supply of currency is pur-
posely abridged to fatten usurers
bankrupt enterprises and enslavt
industry. y vast conspiracy against
mankind has heen organized on two
continents and is rapidly taking pos
session of the world. If not met anC
over1horWn at once ii forebodes ter
rible social commissions, the Gestruc
ton of civilization, or the establish
ment OF an absolute despotism.
| We have witnessed for more than
a century the struggles OF the tw,
great political parties for power anc
plumber, while grievlous wrong
have been inflicted upon the suffer
ing people. We charge that the
controlling influences dominating
both these parties have permitted
the exising dreadful conditions t,
develop without serious effort t.
prevent or refrain them. Neither d,
they now promise us any substantial
reform. They have agreed togethe
to ignOr II the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propos
to drown the Outcries of plunderel
people with the uproar of shan
battle over the tariff, so that capI
talists, corporations, national banks
, ring, trust, watered stock, the de
monetIzation at silver and the OPP
, presslOns of the usurers may all b
lost sight of. They propose to sac
ritice our homes, wives and childrel
on the alter of Mammon; to destro
the multitude in order to secure cor
| ruption funds from the million
aries.
, Assembled on the anniversary 0
the birthday of the nation, and file
: with the spirit Of the grand genera
ton who esta blished our iadepend
ence, We seek to restore the govern
ment of the republic to the hands 0
1.-The plain people," with which elias
it originated.