Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-03-15
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.


Declaration of independence, the Peoples
party of America In their hrst national con-
vention, invoking upon \'eir action the bless
Ing Of Almighty God. putA forth In the name
and on behalf Of the people If this country tho
following preamble and declaration of princi-
pies:
Tho conditions which surround rs Justify
our action: we meet In the midst of q 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 tho bench. The
people are demoralized; most Of the states
have been compelled to isolate the voters at
the polling places In order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silenced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes COW
cred with mortgages. labor impoverished ana
the land concentrating In the hands Of the
capitalists. The urban workmen are denied
the right Of organization for self projections
Imported pauperized labor beats down their
wages: . hireling standing army, unrecog.
nized by our laws, Is established to shoot them
down, and they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions. The fruits Of the toll Of
millions are boldly Stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for few, unprecedented In the his
tory of mankind. and the possessbrs of these,
in turn, despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb OF gov.
ernmental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money is ap-
propriated to enrich bondholders; vast pub
Lilo 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 prioe Of AL forms Of property as
we'll as human labor. Tho supply Of currency
Il purposely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and 1t Is rapidly
taking possession Of the world. II not met
and overthrown at once 1t forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction Of civilza-
ton or tho Establishment Of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that . quarter
of century the struggles Of two great politi-
cal parties for power and plunder, while griev-
Gus wrongs have becn inflicted upon suffer
ing people. We charge that the controlling
influences dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions TO
develop without. serious efforts to prevent OF
REAGAN Msln. Neither DO dey now prsruia>
u any substantial relief. They have agreed
together to ignore In the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose 70 drown
tho outcries IF . plu=acrv. Yooplo with the
capitalists. corporations, national banks, rings.
trusts, wstercd stock, the demonstration Of
silver and tho oppression Of the usurers may
all DO lost aight Of. They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on tho altar OF
Mamfnon: to destroy the multitude In order
TO secure corruption funds from the million
aire.
Assembled on the anniversary of the birth
day Of the nation, and filled with the spirit Of
the grand generation who established our indie
psndence, we seek to restore the government
Of the republic to the hands Of "the plain peo-
ple," with which class It originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
the purposes Of tho national constitution-to
form o moro perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our posterfty."
We declare that this republic can only en-
durs a. Q FREQ government while built upon the
iove Of tho whole people for each other and
for the nation; that II cannot be pinned tn
gether by bayonets; that the civil war Is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out Of It must die with II, and that We
must DO In fact, as we are in nams, q united
brotherhood Of free men.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there IL no precedent In the
history Of tho world. Our annual agricultural
productions amount to billions Of dollars In
value which must within few weeks or
months be exchanged for billions Of dollars Of
commodities consumed In their production.
Tho existing currency supply Il wholly made
duate 10 make this exchange. The results arc
falling prices, the formation of combines and
rtngs and the impoverishmont Of tho prod ucing
classes. We pledge ourselves that II givcn
Bower We will labor to correct these evils by
wise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
with the terms Of our platform.
We believe that the powers Of government
m other words, Of the people-should DO ex-
panded las In the case Of tho postal servicc) a.
rapidly and a. far as the good sense Of an In
teiiiRent people and the teachings Of expert
sncs shall Justify, to the end that oppression,
injustice and poverty shall eventually cease In
the land.
while our sympathies as party of rsform
are naturally upon the side OF every PROPOSE
ton which will tend to make men Intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, We nevertheless re-
gard these auest ion rs they srS-
for solution, and upon which not only our In
dividunl prosperity, but the very existence Of
Gee instifutinns depcndL and Xe AK Al meS
70 help US TO determine wnetner We IRE u
have a republic to administer before we diffei
as TO the conditions upon which Il 10 70 be ad-
ministered, believing that the forces Of reform
forward until every wrong Is remedisd and
equal rights and equal privileges securely o.
tablishcd for all the men and women OF thh
We declare, therefors-
That the union Of the labor forces Of ths
United States this day consummsted shall be
permanent and perpetual-InAy IL spirit enter
Into all hearts for the salvation Of the republic
and the uplifting Of mankind.
Wealth belongs TO him who creates II, and
every dollar takep from Industry without an
sSa Re III. any w n q
and civic labor are the ssmSi their sasmiss
are identical
we believe that the time has come when the
railroad corporations must either own the peo-
pie or the people must own the railroads, and
should the government enter upon the work OF
should favor an amendment 70 the constitution
by which all persons engaged In the government
service shall be placed under . civil service
regulation Of the most rigid character, so rs
10 prevent the increase Of the power Of the
national administration by the use Of such
additional government employees
We demand o national currency, safe, sound
only I fSii legal tender {cr ali debts, public
and private, and that without the use OF bank
Ing corporations; Just, equitable and efficient
means Of distribution, direct 10 the people, at
O tar not TO exceed per cent per annum, 10
BE- provided as set forth in the subtreasury
SYSTEM also by payments In discharge Of it
obligau ,as for public improvements
We demand the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver and gold at the present legal ratio OF
We demand that the amount Of the circulate
ing medium be speedily increased TO not less
than fifty dollars per capita
We demand graduated income tax.
We believe that the moneys Of the country
should be kept as much "a possible In the