Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-11-28

functions impaired to them to oGlciN
agencies, which, combined, form @hat
we call government. We believe that
the constitution of the United States,
when properly interpreted, Is suffl-
cient, except possibly in one or two
particulars, for all governmental pur-
poses. Devoted to the objects for
which the constitution was framed and
adopted, we would form a more perfect
union by restoring to the people their
ancient prerogatives, and by making
the government faithfully represent
and execute the popular will; we would
establish justice by treating men as
equals, entitled equally to enjoy all
benefits flowing from an honest admin
istration Of public affairs; we would in
sure domestic tranquility by securing
to every man and woman that toll the
full measure Of what they earn; we
would provide for the common defense
by interesting every citizen in the
ownership of his home; we would pro-
mote the general welfare by abolishing
class privileges, and protecting the re-
served rights Of the people; and we
would secure the blessings Of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity by limiting
the three great agencies Of government
the congress, the resident and the
judges, to their legitimate and consti-
tutional functions. And specially do we
protest against the transfer Of legisla-
tive power from congress where 1t be-
longs to the president Of the United
States, to the judges of courts and to
private corporations.
Our party is an organized protest
against the present policy of the ma
tiOnal government with respect to land,
to labor, to transportation, to banking,
to our general financial policy, and to
that system of class legislation, class
interpretations OF the laws and tradi-
lions Of the people, and that partial
and one-sided administration Of JUS
tice which takes from the poor and
gives to the rich.
Two objections are urged against the
Populist platform-one relative to the
"sub-treasury plan," the other to gov
{. eminent ownership Of railroads. There
ought not to be any trouble on this ac-
count. Populists themselves are not
agreed on either point, but they are
agreed on the principle involved in both.
The sub-treasury plan was evolved
among cotton planters of the Southern
states, whose only object was to get rid
Of exorbitant charges of bankers, mer-
chants and warehouse men. II interest
rates for the use Of money are reduced
to a proper level, as Populists demand,
the sub-treasury plan will be super
seeded by something better"
The railroad proposition has not re-
ceived the unanimous approval of Pop
ulists, but they are agreed that the
means Of public transportation ought at
all times to be held subject to public
control and conducted in the interest of
the people for whose convenience and
benefit they were authorized and con-
structed. Populists do not believe in
granting exclusive privileges to any
private agency. 1t would be impracti-
cable and lead to interminable compli-
cations for the government to condemn
all the railroads now existing in the
country and take possession Of them
and conduct their business; but it is
quite practicable and proper-aye, in
deed, 1t is necessary, that the people eX-
ercise such supervision over these
great corporations as will secure the
carriage Of persons and property at rea-
sonable rates of compensation.
All things considered, there is really
nothing insurmountable in the Silver
knights objections. On all the essen
tials of monetary reform 1t is in full
accord with us. It's proper place is in
our ranks. Every "silver man" ought
to be fighting with us; for even if we
had free silver coinage and nothing else,
we should be no better off than we are
now. The money power must be de-
throned and class legislation must be
stopped. The people must be placed in
power. The work ahead of us is enor-
nous, and the Populist party is here to
do the work. We need the help Of every
friend Of liberty, for the peoples rights
are at stake. Popular government is in
ISSUE The perpetuity of the republic is
in peril. Come over and help u.s."
Respectfully, W. A. PETER.