Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-02-15
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Cenvcntis. ~
Omaha, July 4. 1892.

Omaha, July 4, 1899.
Assembled upon the 10th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party Of America in their 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 al
the polling places in order toprevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muzzled public opinion
silcnced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
the land concentrating In the hands OF the
capitalists. Tho urban workmen are denied
the right Of organization for self protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down their
wages: a hireling standing army, unrecog.
nized by our laws, is established to shoot them
down, AID they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions. The fruits of tho toll OF
millions are boldly saolen to build up colossal
fortunes for q few, unprecedented in the his.
tory Of mankind, and the possessors Of these,
in turn. despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov.
ernmentRl injustice We breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
Tho national mower to create money is an.
propriated to enrich bondholders; 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 p-.os Of nj forms of property as
well as human labor. Tho supply of currency
Ia purposely abridged to fatten Insurers. bank
rupt enterprise and enslnye industry,
4 vast conspiracy against mankind Ia, been
organized on two continents, and IL Is rapidly
taking possession Of the world. II not met
and oyerthrown at once 1t forebodes terrible
social commissions, tho destruction Of civilza-
ton or the establishment of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that quarter
of = century the struggles Of two great poiti-
cal parties for power and plumber, while grev-
GUS wrongs have been inflicted upon suffer
ing people. We charge that tho controlling
influences dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions to
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
restYain dum Neither do ley nov ptsmla
M any substantial relief Ihey have agreed
together to ignore In the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose % drown
the outcries If q plu-=acr.u kcople with the
utroar of q sham battle over the tariff. SO tina,
capitalists corporations, national banks, rings.
trusts. watered stock, the characterization Of
silver and the oppression of tho usurers may
all be 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
afro.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth
day of the nation, and filled with the spirit OF
the grand generation who established our indie.
pendencc, we seek to restore the government
Of tho republic to the hands OF 1.-THE plain poo
ple." with which class it originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
the purposes of the national constltu;ion-tc
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 oen only en-
xrrs aa n free government while built upon the
Owe OF the whole people for each other and
Tor the hation' ina. II e,.nno. Do pin , "
gether by bayopets; that tine civil war Is over
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out of It must die with it. and that we
must be In fact, rs we are In name. n united
u ness ~ - To- ma,
orothei ioo' . VI -. IT,, ,.,o,h,.o,
Our country mus Nseu cuniron.eo " Gu
ditions for which there Is no precedent IN Tue
history OF tho world. Our annual agricultural
nroduations pnnunt TO billions of dollars in
raIuc ,vhicl, must within few weeks or
,.n,h. ho o,chanued FOR billjons az dollars Of
months DO eAehanEeu io' oN.tonn -. %
commodities coA'ulheo III 'hsi' pfouuouVn'
The existing currency supply Is wholly made
ouatc 10 mako this exchange. The results are
SsIiing prices, the formation OF combines ana
- "a tha imnovnrisb,nent Of tho nrodurinr
I,neo ""N ~ ,'IsJ,,o orrsaiy.. tbot ~ ,,Ivan
classes w pieus0 es ' -. - - - o..
power wo Will labor 70 correct THESE evils oy
wise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
with the terms OF our platform.
ws believe TINT the powers OF government
l.. - ,,,ords ~ Tho noonle-shouId he AZ.
IN JULIE 80 80 es,Jsots :.
panueu sas IN tno caee VI sne poo'ai DO, 'ioo' 90
rapidly and as Tar as the goou sense OF an III
td3igent people ana the teachings OF expert
snce shall Justify, to the end that oppression,
tr;ratice and poyorty shall eypntunlly cease In
.I"nS
ZIG aanu'
While our sympntnies as party OF relorm
are naturally upon the side OF every PROPOSE
ton which Will tend TO make men Intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
Is secondary to the great issues now pressing
FOR solution, and upon which not only our In.
dfvidunl prosperity, but the very existence OF
hea Institutions deQelds. and No -k4kAU men
20 heIp US to determine whether we are 10
have republic TO administer before we differ
as TO the conditions upon which IL If to be adj
ninistered, believing that the forces OF reform
this day organized Will never cease to move
forward until every wrong is remedied and
equal rights and equal privileges securely es-
tabli:Led for all the men and women of this
Z A.