Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-11-16
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Convention ~
Omaha, July 4, 1899.

Omaha, July 4, 1899.
Assembled upon the 10th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party Of America in thoir first national con-
vention, invoking upon \'eir action the bless
Ing of Almighty God, puts forth in the name
and on behalf of the people If this country the
following preamble and declaration of princi-
pies:
The conditions which surround us Justify
our action; we meet in the midst OF nation
brought to the verge Of moral, political and
material ruin. Corruption dominates the bal.
lot box, the legislatures. the congress, and
touches even the ermine of the bench. The
people are demoralized; most Of the states
have been compelled to isolate the voters at
the polling places In order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silenced, business Frustrated, our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished ana
the land concentrating in the hands of the
capitalists. The urban workmen are denied
the right of organization for self projections
imported pauperized labor beats down theiI
wages: q hireling standing army, unrecog'
nized by our laws, Is established to shoot them
down, ard they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions. The fruits Of the toll OF
millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for n few, unprecedented In the his
tory of mankind, and the possessors of these,
In turn, despse the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov
ornamental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money Is ap-
propriated to enrich bondholders; q vast pub
lie debt, payable in legal tender currency, has
been funded into gold bearing bonds, thereby
adding millions to the burdens Of the people.
Silver, which has been accepted as coin since
the dawn of history, has been demonetized to
add to the purchasing power of gold by de-
creasing the price of all forms OF property as
well as human labor. The supply of currency
is purposely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise and erslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and 1t is rapidly
taking possession of the world. II not met
and overthrown at once 1t forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction Of civilza-
ton or the establishment OF an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that quarter
of O century the struggles Of two great politi-
col parties for power and plumber, while griev-
GUS wrongs have been inflicted upon a suffer
ing people, We charge that the controlling
influences dominating both these parties nave
permitted the existing dreadful conditions 10
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
resf2am chefh. Neither do aey now ptcmia%
Ms any substantial relief. They have agreed
together TO ignore in the coming campaign
every issue but one They propose 70 drown
the outcries If plu=arrvu Foople with the
uproar of q sham battle over the tariff, so thas
capitalists, corporations, national banks, rings,
trusts, watered stock, the decentralization OF
silver and the oppression Of the usurers may
all BIO lost sight Of. They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
Mammon; to destroy the multitude in order
to secure corruption funds from the million
aire.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth
day of the nation, and filed with the spirit of
the grand generation who established our inde'
pendence, we seek to restore the government
Of the republic TO the hands Of "the plain peo-
ple. y with which class 1t originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
the purposes of the national constitutional
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic 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 only en-
drra n. a free government while built upon tho
euie a' - O. .aaI, a. ond
owe OF inc whoie peopie ~. ."I ~ ',,na, ,n
Tor the nation; thht IL cahuot Ue pinneu w.
gether by bayonets; that tho civil war Is over
and that every passion and resentment which
so,,st ha IN fact "a wa arc in name n united
LUZ i.,usS - - - sraa man
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditons for which there Is no precedent IN the
history Of the world. Our annual agricultural
nroduetions amount TO billions OF dollars in
,aI,o which ,nust within n few weeks or
NaIue, VIM ,'.-'., o. hiiiiars -, doIlars n,
months DC e2ehanBeu ior o'i.ioIs VI u1ii",s VI
commodities consumed IN their pr0uuctioh'
Tho existing currency supply Is wholly made
ouate 10 make this exchange. The results are
SaIIing nrices the formation of combines and
isliins - - ,,o,.ar isI,,or, 90 tho nrodrcin,
rings anu tne i VI ~ 40 s,.,a,
classes. We Peuse Ourselves rroct tbeso ev T' hv
wise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
with the terms of our platform.
VIZ Ma ha,,eva that the nowers Of government
, W. .,'o-ds 80 "a neon,e-sbonId ha ex.
In otner "orus' VI 'no p1 Spsn1 ,' ~ -
banded las IN the case OF INC pos'ai SCI Nice' a7
rapidly and as far as the good sense oil an In
telligent people and the teachings Of expert
ance shall Justify. to the end that oppression,
ts.io "A ,,oyortv .ball eventualiv cease In
nJusNOo "NN P''
the land
While our sympathlee as party OF reiorIa
are naturally upon the side Of every PROPOSE
ton which will tend to make men Intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these questiOns-important rs they are
"a secondary to the great issues now pressing
fnr cnlution and uuDn which not only