The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-12-18
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA. NEB., JULY 4, 1892.

of Independence. the Peoples Party Of
invoking upon their action the blessings
of Almighty God, puts forth in the name.
and on behalf of the people Of the country:
principles:
The conditions which surround US best
Justify our cooperation: we meet IN the
moral ruin. Corruption dominates the
ballot box. the legislatures, the Congress,
encb touches he's the ermns on
most of the states have been compelled
70 isolate the voters at the polling places
to prevent universal intimidation or brl-
berry: The newspapers are largely sub.
sidized or muzzled public opinion si ensxsG
and the land eoncentrating in the hands
Of the capitalists. The Urban workmen
self proteetio one i i@port Sl psauperzed
Dor beats down their wages; hireling
a;r rhy 9nrecognized by our laws; Is estan ..
ditions The fruits of fni the toils Of mill;
fortunes for few. Undergraduates in the
history Of mankind, and the possessors
OF these in turn despise the republic and
breed 7s. the two great classes-tramps and
appropriated to enrich bondholders; a
eaS public debt payable il legal tender sn1s
bearing bonds. thereby adding millions
to the burden of the people.
since the dawn Of history y.'f has been de-
monetzed to add to the purchasing power
or so by all forms Of 36e
fatten us9rers, bankrupt enterprise and en-
against %anRnd has b xaSt oresniaed on
Of the en1 is ap o ana
OVGrtnrOWn at If forohn6nS terrible
socia! commissions. the destruction of civ
iiiz7atio1. or the establishment of an ab-
more than a quarter Of century tho
struggles of the two great political parties
eS Seen pq n apon he
fering people. We charge that the CON
trolling influences dominating both these
full conditions to develope, without seri-
Gus effort to prevent or restrain them.
baye US
every issue bat one. they propose to
With the uproar Of sham 6attie over ro the
tariff: so that CAPITALISTS, corporations
g fSs fae
the usurers may all be lost sight Of.
The; They propose to sacrif1ce our r. homes.
corruption funds for the miliionaires. AS
Of the nation, and diied With vi the spirit
of the grand generation Of men, who estab-
t.
Whose shs class sf Rsn %s9? ssert with aaa
of the al Stn
more perfect union, establish justice. in
tranquility provide for the
for ourselves and our posterity::''
We declare that this republic can only
endure n free ROVernmQnf while hni1t
upon the love Of the whole people for each
other and for the nation: that it cannot be
war is over and that every passion and re-
sentiment which grew out of it must die
W Wh are in 0e
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there is 10 precedent in
dollars in value, which must within few
of dollars of commodities consumed in
their production; the existing currency
supply is wHSS a rdnats t make this
the formation of combines and rings, and
the impoverishment Of the producing
by wise and reasonable. legislation. in
accordance with our platform.
We believe that the powers or govern
ment-in other words of the people-should
be expanded Gas in the case Of the postal
Of an people the the
teachings Of experience shall justify; to
the end that oppression, injustice and pow
While our sympa thies a party of re-
form are naturally upon the side Of every
w' and 51 make
nevertheless regard these questions-im.
portant as they areas secondary to the
and upon which not only our individual
prosperity. but the very existence Of free
to first help us determine Whether we n aTe
to have republic to administer, before
We differ as to the co. conditi9ns upon which
forces of reform this day organized will
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
ton Of the republic and the uplifting Of
second-wealth belongs to him who Gre
ates 1t; and every dollar taken from in
IF any man will not work, neither shall
he eat The interests of rural and civic
labor are the same: their enemies are
ThirdIwe believe that the time has
come when the railroad corporations will
own the railroads; and should the govern
ment enter upon the work of owning and
ana to e S
which all persons engaged in the govern
ment service shall be protected BY civil
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 gen.
eral government Cnly; full legal tender
for all debts public and private and that
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
We demand free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
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 tho people; and hence we
nues shall be limited to the necessary
expenses Of the government. economically
and honestly administered.
We demand that. postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safs h Fl the e "a of the people,
TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being a means of ex-
change and a public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people;
postoffie system. being a necessity for the
transmission of news, should be owned
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 monopilized for specu-
lative purposes; and alien ownership of