The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-31
TWO PLATFORMS.

Old party papers and speakers are now
making wild and unreasonable attacks on
the peoples party platform, calling it wild,
crazy, incoherent and anarchistic. Under
these circumstances it Is fitting that atten-
ton be called to the republican platform of
1860, and the several points of resemblance
between it and the peoples party platform
Of 1894 pointed out.
The fourth plank in the republican plat
form Of that year was:
THAT the maintenance inviolate OF the
rights OF states, and especially the right of
each state to order and control it's own domes
tic institutions according to its Judgment ex-
clus1vely, Is essential to that balance OF power
depends; and we denOunce the lawless inva-
sion by armed force, on soil Of any state or
territory no matter under what pretext, as
among the graVeSt OF crimes"
Now look at the fourth plank in the Min
nesota peoples party platform:
"While we are ready to defend the general
government In all Its legitimate functions,
nevertheless we regard its powers as limited
by its terms OF the constitution, and we are
the several states"
The purport Of these two planks is identi-
cal, the same causes brought out their Ut
terance; yet In 1860 the first represented
patriotism and justice, and in 1894 the Sec
ond is said by republicans to represent an
archy and confusion. Has not the republic
can party grown away from its first princi-
pies of right and justice and the peoples
party taken them up?
Here is the sixth plank of the platform Of
1850:
'"That the people justly view with alarm the
reckless extravaganza. which pervades every
department OF the federal government; that q
indispensable to arrest the systematic plum
der OF the public treasury by favored partt-
Of frauds and corruptions at The federal me.
tropolis show that an entire change OF admin
istration is imperattvely demanded"
Compare with the sixth and eighth planks
of the populist state platform:
1--WE demand the most rigid economy in the
administration OF public affairs together with
such adjustment OF taxation that the weight
will be least on those who have least; that
mortgaged land shall not be subject to double
to pay its just share for the support of govern
ment; that the ownership Of real estate by
non-residents and aliens should be discour-
aged by proper legislation, and that the time
OF payment OF taxes shall be semi annually.
Legislation has been attended with such
venal1ty, in the interest OF corporations, that
we demand that the people shall have the
right to initiate needed measures of legisla-
tive reform, and that they shall have the eight.
by referendum, TO veto, AZ the ballot box, any
law inimical to their interests"
Compare the thirteenth plank of 1880:
"That we protest against any sale or aliena-
ton to others OF the public lands held by &C
tual settlers, and against any view of the
homestead policy which regards the settlers as
paupers or suppliants for public bounty; and
we demand the passage by Congress OF the
complete and satisfactory homestead measure
which has already passed the House,
with the following from the Omaha plat
form of 1892 which was re-affirmed by the
peoples party of Minnesota:
are the heritage OF the people and should not
be monopolized for speculative purposes, nor
owned by aliens, therefore we demand that all
land now held by railroads and other corpora
lions in excess OF their actual needs, and all
lands held by aliens be reclaimed by the gov
eminent and held for actual settlers only"
Does it take any further argument to
show that the republican party has de-
parted from the great principle on which it
was founded than to have 1t assailing saw
agely its own principles when promulgated
by a new party pledged to reform? II the
peoples party is wrong in advocating these
principles in 1894, the republican party was
wrong in 1860, and no one can be found
with the foolhardiness to state that such
was the case. There are certain principles
Of right that always have existed, but
political parties long In existence are prone,
nay, certain to get away from them In the
interest Of human greed, and new parties
must come into power advocating those
principles, together with solutions for new
questions based on right and equality
Farm, Stock and Home