The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-31
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA, NEB., JULY 4, 1892.

Assembled upon the one hundred and
sixteenth anniversary Of the Declaration
l. America in Their first national convention.
Invoking upon their action. the blessings
and d b puts d9rth int the
the following preamble and declaration OF
The conditions which surround US best
midst of nation brought to the verge OF
moral moral ruin. Corruption dominates the
bench The people are demoral1edd
isolate the voters at the poing
to prevent universal intimidation or bri-
berry. The newspapers are largely sub
business prostrated;. our homes covered
with mortgages; labor Impoverished;
are denied the right Of organization for
self-protection; imported pauperized Ia
army, unrecognized by our laws, Is estab-
lished to shoot them down: and they are
dions into tnI az m
ions are bodily stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for few. unprecedented In the
Of these in turn desps saq the eAr republic and
endanger liberty. From the same pro-
life womb of governmental injustice we
mllliOnaires.
The national power to create money is
prb deS to enreh
currency. has been funded into gold
bearing bonds. thereby adding millions
Silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn Of history. has been de-
monetzed to add to. the purchasing. power
| erty, as well as human labor, and the sup
| Ply OF currency is purposely abridged to
Save
against mankind has been organized on
Two continents: and It is rapidly taking
social commissions, the destruction Of civ
the M Isl Of
struggles Of the two great political parties
wrongs have been inflicted upon the the SUI
ferinrg people. We charge that the con
trolling influences dominating both these
ful conditions to develope, without ser1-
Gus effort to prevent or restrain them
stantial reform They y have agreed TO-
every issue but one They, propose to
| with the uproar Of a sham battle over the
tariff; SO that capitalists, CORPORATIONS,
ntiatiG;nal banks. rings trusts, the demon e.
the usurers may all be lost sight Of.
They propose to sacrifice our homes,
lives and children on the alter of Mammon;
corruption funds for the millionaires. AS
sembled on the anniversary of the birthday
Of the grand generation of men, who estab-
lishe s gu. our independence. we seek to re- re-
the hands Of the plain people, with
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 the blessing of liberty
for ourselves and our posterity:"
We declare that this republic can only
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
with it; and that we must be in, fact as
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
| ditions for which there is no precedent in
the history of the world. Our annual ag.
dollars in value, which must within a few
weeks or months be exchanged for billions
their production; the existing currency
supply is wholly inadequate to make this
The - results are fang prices
class. we pledge ourselves that if 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
be expanded (as in the case of the postal
service) as rapidly. and as far as the
Of sh as
the end that oppression, injustice and pow
erty shall eventually cease in the land.
| While our SympathieS as party of re-
form are naturally upon the side Of every
proposition which will tend to make men
intelligent virtu nn + and temperate we
portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution
| prosperity but the very existence of free
| institutions depends: and we ask all mer
to first help us determine whether we are
| we differ as to the conditions upon which
it is to be administered: believing that the
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
of the United States this day consummated
spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
ton of the republic and the uplifting OF
mankind.
second-wealth belongs to him who ere.
| ates it: and every dollar taken from in.
dustry, without an equivalent. is robbery
Of any man will not work, neither shall
labor are the same; their enemies are
| identical.
| Third-Wp believe that the time has
! come when the railroad corporations viii
| either own the people or the people must
own the railroads.; and should the govern
m mana the railroads. we should favor Vol
| an amendment to tie constitution by
which all persons engaged in the govern.
| service regulations of the most rigid char.
| acter, so as to prevent the increase of the
| Dower of the national administration by
| the use of such additional government EN-.
| ployeS. ,.,
We demand national currency, safe
| sound and flexible; issued by the gen.
| eral government cnly; a full legal tender
for all debts public and private; and thai
and means Of dstr
| button direct to the people, at tax not to
exceed 2 per cent per annum, to be pro-
vided as set forth in the sub-treasury plar
| of the Farmers Alliance, some better
system also by payments in discharge Of
its free and
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
of 16 to 1.
We demand that the amount of circulat
ing medium be speedily increased to not
We demand a graduated income tax.
shosd be Kept much 81 5nG
the hands of the people; and hence we
demand that all state and national reve.
| expenses of the government, economically
and honestly administered
be established by the government for the
| safe deposit of the earnings of the people
and the facilitation OF exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being means of ex.
change and public necessity. the govern
in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone, like thu
postofTie system: being a necessity for the
Transmission OF ~ news th should be owned
interets Of the people,
| LANDS.
The land, including all natural sources
| ~ waaIth is the heritage of the naonla