The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-29
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA, NEB., JULY 4, 1892.

OF independence, the Peoples Party Of
America in Their first national convention,
of Almighty God, puts forth in the name,
and on behalf of the people of the country,
the following preamble and declaration Of
The conditions which surround US best
justify our cooperation: We meet in the
moral ruin. Corruption dominates the he
ballot box, the legislatures. the Congress.
and touches even the ermine on the
most Of the states have been compelled
to isolate the voters at the polling places
to h,~n prevent T universal intimidation Or bIi-
business prostrated;. our homes covered
and the land Concentrating in the hands
are denied the right Of organisation for
Dor beats down their wages; a hireling
army. unrecognized by our laws. is estab-
lished to shoot them down; and they are
ditions. The fruits of the tolls Of mill
ions are bodily stolen to build up colossal
history Of mankind and the possessors
of these In turn despise the republic and
e,adanger liberty: From the same pro-
breed the two great classes-tramps and
The national power to create money is
currency, has been funded into gold
to the burden of the people.
Silver; which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn. of history, has been de-
Of gold, by decreasing ali forms Of prop prop
erty, as well as human labor. and the sup
ply s of , currency is purposely abridged to
against mankind has osen ors saniedre on
of he World is pot ans
overthrown at once it forebodes terrible
social commissions. the destruction of CIV
solute despotism.- We have witnessed for
Struggles of the two great political parties
| wrongs have been inflicted upon the suf-
fering people. We charge that the con-
parties have permitted the exsting dr eade
full conditions to deveiope, without seri-
Gus effort to prevent or restrain them.
stantiai reform Tney have agreed TO-
every issue but one They propose to
with the uproar Of sham battle over o the
tariff; SO that capitalists, corporations,
d 5an ,r rings sa fSs the
the usurers may all be lost sight Of.
They propose to sacrifice our homes,
to destroy the multitude in order to secure
corruption funds for the millionaires. As
sembled on the anniversary Of the birthday
of the grand generation of men, who estab-
lished our independence, we seek to re-
store st the goyer n1n Of the republic, to
whose class it originated. We assert our
purposes to be identical with the purpose
more perfect union, establish Justice. in
| sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
| common defense promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessing of liberty
for ourselves and our pOSterity."
We declare that, this republic can only
endure as free government while built
upon the love of the whole people for each
other and for the nation; that It cannot be
| pinned together by bayonets. that the civil
sentiment which grew out Of It must t die
| with it; and that we must be in fact as
we are in name. one united brotherhood.
| ditions for which there is no precedent in
| the history of the world. Our annual ag..
dollars IN value. Which must " within os few W
aoars e 81 1s1 Ss0n n
IS %sag ss9 ee sne tsy
| exchange. The reSGf!s are falling prices.
the formation of combines and rings, and
class We pledge Ourselves n that # given
| power we will labor to correct these evils
by wise and reasonable legislation in
| accordance with our platform.
We believe that the powers of govern
ment-in other words. of the people-should
service9 as rapidly and as far as the
good sense Of an intelligent people, and the
teachings of experience shall justify; to
| the end that oppression. injustice and pow
While our sympathies as a party. Of re-
Which viii RD tenn md to s, make eS
intelligent. virtuous and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions-im-
great issues now pressing for solution;
and upon which not only our Individual
prosperity, but the very existence Of free
| institutions depends; and we ask all men
| to first help us determine whether we are
| to have a republic to administer, before
it is to be administered: believing that the
| forces of reform this day organized will
never cease to move forward until every
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
of the United States this day consummated
shall be permanent and perpetual; may it's
| spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
ton of the republic and the uplifting Of
second-wealth belongs to him who Gre
ates it: and every dollar taken from In
| dustry, without an equivalent. is robbery.
IF any man will not work, neither shall
he eat" The interests Or OF rural and civic
| identical.
| Third-we believe that the time has
either own the people or the people must
| own the railroads; and should the govern
ment enter upon the work of owning and
managing the railroads, we should favor
an amendment to the constitution by
which all persons engaged in the govern,
ment service shall be protected by civil
| service regulations 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.
We demand a national currency, safe.
| sound, and flexible; issued by the gem
| eral government only; 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 a tax not to
| exceed per cent per annurn to be pro-
vided as set forth In the sub-treasury plan
| of the Farmers Alliance. or some better
| its obligations for public improvements.
We demand free and unlimited coinage
| of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
We demand that the amount OF circulate
| ing medium be speedily increased to not
| less than $50 per capita
We demand graduateo income tax.
| try should be kept as much as possible, in
| the hands of the people; and hence we
| demand that all state and national reve-
expenses of the government. economically
| and honestly administered.
| We demand that postal savings banks
safe deposit Of the earnings of the people,
| and the facilitation OF exchange.
| TRANSPORTATION.
| TRANSFORMATION being a means Of ex-
change and a public necessity, the govern
IN NTH the interest OF the people. $3.50
| The telegraph and telephone, like the
postofI,e system. being a necessity for the