The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-11-06
PEOPLES PLATFORM
A DOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA. NEB., JULY i, 1892.


midst of nation brought to the verge. of
moral ruin. Corruption dominates the
n pan box, the legislatures, the Congress u.s.
most Of the he st aseslf have are been Compelled
to prevent universal intimidation or bri-
pery The newspapers largely sub
or public
and It. the land Concentrating in the hands
are denied the right of organization for
sen Sen-Protectlon; imported pauperizhea o,; "a
armv oea9S down their wases is esta
lisned 10 shoot them down: and tney are
d daRiay dTgenerating into az con
ions are bodily stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for a few unprecedented in the
history OF mankind, and the posse o,sss;essors
,endanger liberty. From the same pro
life womb of governmental injustice we
mlllonaires.
The national power to create money is
vast pubie deb to nnre 20 ega tender
bearing bonds, thereby adding millions
70 the burden of the people
Silver, which has been accepted as coin
sin; the dawn of history, has been de-
mcnetzed to add to the purchasing power
erty, as well as human labor, and the sup
Ply OF currency is purposely abridged to
against mankind has been organized on
Two continents and it is rapidly taxing
overthrown at once it forebodes terrible
social commissions the destruction of civ
ili77atio1, or the establishment of an ab-
solute despotism. We have witnessed for
more than a quarter of century the
f fer ggNr of h the two p ws ssross
wrongs have been inflicted upon the suf-
ffering people We charge that the con-
n dow, ttr,r hot
parties have permitted the existing dread
ful conditions to develope, without seri-
oqS n1er' AZ TO prevent or restra mem
gether to ignore, in the coming Campaign.
drown the outcries of pundered people
with the uproar of sham battle over the
So ba 1ns rpa trs ffp9E
tization of silver and the expressions OF
the Insurers may all be lost sight Of
lives and children on the alter of Mammon:
to destroy the multitude in order to secure
Of the nation, and filed with the spirit
OF the grand generation of men. who estab-
store the government of the republic to
the hands Of the plain pee people with
purposes to be identical with the purpose
of the national constitutions, to form
perdeft union establsh jnst ice in
common defense promote the general wei
fare. and secure the blessing of liberty
for ourselves and our posterity.
We declare that this republic only
endure as a free government While built
other and for the nation; that it cannot be
pinned together by bayonets, that the civil
war is over ana that every passion pa and re- re-
with it; and that we must be in fact as
we are in name, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by con
ditions for which there is no precedent in
the history of the world. Our annual ag-
dollars in value, which must within a few
weeks or months be exchanged for billions
of dollars of commodities consumed in
supply is wholly inadequate to make this
exchange. The results. are falling prices.
the impoverishment Of the producing
class. We pledge ourselves that if given
power we will labor to correct these evils
by wise and reasonable legisla ton, in
accordance with our platform.
We peiieve mat tile powers or govern
ment-in other words, Of the peopleSshould
good sense Of an Intelligent people and the
the end that oppression, injustice and pow
erty shall eventually cease in the land
proposition which will tend to make men
vrtu"HS t and tempsfate we
portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution;
prosperity but the very existence Of free
institutions depends: and ask all men
to first help US Determine whether we are
we differ to the conditions upon which
it is to he administered: believing that the
never cease to move Forward until every
wrong is righted and equal privileges estab-
lished for all the men and women of this
country.
We declare. therefore.
UNION OF THE PEOPLE.
FirSt-That the union of the labor forces
shall be permanent and perpetual: may its
spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
Second-Wealth belongs to him who ere
ates it; and every dollar taken from in
dustry. without All equivalent, is robbery
eff any man will not work neither shall
labor are the same; their enemies are
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 govern
mnt enter upon fhe s6 Swnng
an amendment to tie constitution by
which all persons engaged in the govern,
service regula tons of the most rigid char
acter so as to prevent the increase Of the
power of the national administration by
the use of such additional government en-
ployes
FINANCE.
We demand a national currency, safe,
sound and flexible; issued by the gen.
eral government .cnly; a full legal tender
for all debts public and private; and that
without the use of banking corporations, a
Just equitable and efficient means of distri-
button direct to the people, at tax not to
exceed per. cent per annum. to be pro-
vided as set forth in the sub-treasury plan
of the Farmers Alliance, or some better
system; also by payments in discharge of
its obligations for public improvements.
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
of 16 to l.
We demand that the amount Of circulat-
ing medium be speedily increased to not
less than $50 per capita.
We demand a graduated income tax.
We believe that the money of the coun-
the hands of the people; and hence we
demand that all state and national reve-
nues shall be limited to the necessary
and honestly administered.
We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit OF the earnings of the people,
and the faclitat ton of exchange
TRANSFORMATION.
Transportation being d means of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone. like the
postofie SYSTEM being s necessity S for the
and operated by the government in the
interets of the people.
LANDS.
The land including all natural sources
of wealth, IS the heritage of the people.
and should not be monopiized for specu-
lative purposes; and alien ownership of
land should be prohibited. All land
ations in excess of their actual needs.
and all lands now owned by aliens.
should be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only.