People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-10-31
THE OMAHA PLATFORM.

Assembled upon the one hundred and six
teenth anniversary Of the Declaration OF In
dependence, the Peoples Party OF America
IN their 1rst national convention, invoking
unOn their actions the blessing OF Almighty
GOd, puts forth in the name and on behalf OF
the people OF the country the following pre-
amoie and declarations OF principles
Inc conditions which surround US best
justify our cooperation; We meet in the
MIDST OF n nation brought 10 the verge OF
moral, political and material ruin. Corrup-
ton dominates the ballot box, the legisla-
lures, the Congress and touches even the
ermine on the bench. The people are de-
mOrallIed; most OF the States have been
compelled to Isolate the voters at the polling
places 10 prevent universal intimidation OF
bribery. The newspapers are largely sub
sidiled or muZzled, public oplgion silenced,
business Frustrated, our homes covered with
mortgages, labor impoverished and the land
concentrating In the hands OF the cap tai
lists. The urban workraen are denied tn,
right OF organization for self-protection i'm
ported pauperiEed labor beats down their
wages; q hireling army, unrecognized by cur
laws, Is established Z shoot them down. and
they are rapidly degenerating into European
conditions. The fruits OF thU toll Of millions
are bodily stol n 10 build up colossal for.
tunes for a few, Unprecedented In the history
VI "ehNlnu, anu tno Hs>cs OIs VI 1hese IN
lurn desplse the Republic am enoanger I'D
cry. from tne same pfoilLG WOMB OF gov.
classes-t amps and millionaires.
The national power TO create money Is ap-
preriated 20 Zurich bondholders; vast pub
lie debt, payable In legal tender currency.
has been funded into gold hearing bonds,
thereby adding millions TO the brudens Of
nc [eopie.
silver Whlcn mas oeen accepted as coin
ever since the uaWn OF history mas Oeen ue.
monetlIeu 10 tdo 70 the purchasing power OF
gold, Dy decreasing the value OF all forms OF
properly rs Wei as human iaOor' ana tne
supply OF currency Is purposely abridged 70
latt Insurers bankrupt enterprise ana en-
Save in9sstry; A VAST conspiracy against
mankind mas been organized on two con.
tinents, ana y Is rapidly taxing possession OF
tne Worid, II not met ana oVerthroWn ~
once IL lorDodes terrlnie social convulslons'
Me destruction OF clvllllatlOn, or the estao-
hshmento OF an absolute despotlsm. We have
witnessed for more than quarter OF q cen,
tury the struggles OF the two great pontical
parties ior power ana plunaer, Whlle
Erievous wrongs have been inflicted upon
the suffering people. We charge that the
controlling influences dominating both OF
these parties have permitted the existing
dreadful Conditions 70 CeVelop without
serious enort 10 prevent or restrain them.
Neltner 90 sy now promise US any SUP
stantisl reform, They have agreed together
70 ignore, In the coming campaign, every
Issue but one. They propose 70 drown the
outcries OF plundered people with the up
roar OF sham battle over the tarih, SO that
capitalists, corporations, national banks.
trusts, watered stock, the demonstration OF
silver, and the expressions OF the usurers
may all be lost sight OF. They propose 70
sacrifice our homes, lives and children on the
altar OF mammon; to destroy the multitude
In order to secure corruption funds for the
milli0naires. Assembled on the anniversary
OF the birthday oil the nation and hlied with
the spirit OF the Erand general chief, VINO es-
tablished our independence, we seek TO re-
store the government OF the Republic 70 the
hands OF the plain people" with whose class
It originated. We assert our purposes 10 be
Identical With the purposes OF the national
constitution, TO form more perfect union
and establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare. and secure the
blessings OF liberty for ourselves and oul
posterlty.
We declare that this Republic can only en-
dure as free government while built up0T
the love OF the whole people for each othel
and for he nation; that 10 cannot be pinned
together by bayonets; that the civil war II
, over and that every passion and resentment
which grew out OF 1t must die with 1t, anC
that we must be In fact, as We are In name
one united brotherhood. Our country ind
Itself confronted oy conditions for which
there Is no precedent In the history OF thu
world. Our aanual AGRICULTURAL productloni
amount 70 billions OF dolla's In value which
must In few weeks or months be exchanged
for billions OF dollars OF commodities con
! sumed In their proc uction; the existing cur
rency supplys wholly inadequate to max
THIS eIehange. Inc results are iailln