Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-03-01
THE PropLn's plATsoad.
AAspssA In National osAvsntasa -
Omaha, July Z, 1899.

Adopted In National 0savsntasa -
Omaha, July (, 1899.
Assembled upon the 11eth anniversary Of the
Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party Of America in their flrst national con-
vention, invoking upon &Nefr action the bless
ing Of Almighty God. putA forth In the name
and on behalf Of the people II this country tho
following preamble and declaration Of princi-
pies:
Tho conditions which surround Us Justify
our action; we meet in tho midst Of . nation
brought to the verge Of moral, political and
material ruin. Corruption dominates the bal
lot box, the legislstures. tho oongress, and
touches even the ermine Of the bench. The
people arc demoralizod; most Of the states
have been compelled to Isolate the voters at
tho polling places in order to prevent universal
Intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muxHled, public opinion
silenced, business Frustrated, our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
tho land concentrating in the hands Of the
capitalists. The urban workman arc denied
tho right Of organization Tor self protection
imported pauperized labor beats down thef
wages, . hireling standing army, unreoog
niscd BY our laws, Il established to shoot them
down, and they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions. The fruits Of the toll Of
millions arc boldly ssolsn to build mp colossal
fortunes for . few, unprecedented In the his
tory Of mankind, and tho possessors of these,
in turn. despiss tho republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb Of gov
ornamental injustice We breed the two great
classes-tramps and miliionairss.
The national power TO create money 70 ap-
propriated to enrich bondholdsrs; vast pub
lie debt, payable in legal tender currency, has
boon funded into gold bearing bonds, thereby
adding nillions to the burdens Of the people.
-hieh has hAap aaoApfAd n e0fn atnra
the dawn Of history, has been dsmonetixed to
add to tho purchasing power Of gold BY de-
creasing the price If AL forms Of property a.
we'll a. human labor. The supply Of currency
Is pusposoly abridged to fatten usurrs, bank
rupt enterprise and snslAvs Industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has bcen
organised on two continents and 10 b rapidly
taking possession Of the wsrld. II not met
and ovsrthfown at once It forebodes terrible
socisl eoAvulsioAs, tho destruction Of eivilxa-
tien or he sstaslishmsnt Of N absolute dos
yutism-
W. have Witnessed fer nefs that quarter
Of century the struggles Of tine great politi-
cal parties fer power and 3iundsr. while griev-
Ing people. We charge that the controlling
influences Dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions to
develop without. lsrious e6orts to prevent "
fssUVm eKsm. NgYtnsr DO q FEY now prSmrH
~ any substantial relief They have agreed
together to ignore In the coming campaign
every Issue but one They propose 70 drown
the outcrisa If . plu=aers. Ssople with the
uproar Of . sham battle over the tariff, SO that
capitalists, corporations, national banks, rings,
trusts, wstsfed stock, the demonstration Of
oliver aAd the oppression Of the usurers may
all DO lost Jght Of They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
Nampon; TO destroy the multitude In order
10 secure corruption funds from the million
airs.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth.
day Of the nation, and oiled with the spirit Of
fhe erend generation who established our indie.
peudencs, We seek to restore tho government
II The republic to the hands Of "the plain peo-
pie? with which class It originated.
We sassft our purposes 20 DO identical with
the purposes Of the national constitution-to
form q more perfeo: Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
xnd our posterity."
We declare that this republic can only en-
durs - . free government while built upon the
bvs Of the whole people for each other and
ioe the nation; that II cannot DO pinned To
fethsr by bayonets, that the civil wer Is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out Of II must dio with II, and that we
must be In fact, rs we are In name, united
brotherhood OF free men.
Our country finds Itself confronted BY con-
ditions for which there Is no precedent In the
history Of the world. Our annual agricultural
productions Amount to billions OF dollars In
volue, which must within . few weeks or
months be exchanged for billions Of dollars Of
commodities consumed In their production.
rhs existing currency supply Ia wholly made
(uate 10 mike this exchange. Tho results are
faliint prizes, the formation Of combines and
ftncs and the inpoverishment OF the producing
classes. We plsdse ourselves that given
eise ana reasonable legislation, In accordance
viii tho terms Of our platform.
We bslisve that the powers Of government
m other words, Of the peopie-ehould be sx-
landed (as IN TIE cnss Of the postal service) as
kpidiy and a. Tar ~ ths good sense Of an In
isont people and ne tsschiugs Of expert
enos mall Justify, taths end that oppression,
m5ustios and poverty shan stsntuslly cease in
uA land.
While our sympachiss 20 party Of rsform
srs naturally upon the side Of every PROPOSE
don which will tend to make men Intelligent
vlrtuous aud temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these qusstions-important As they are
= secondary to the great issues now presslns
Tor solution. and upon which not only our in.
9ividual prosperity, but the !efy existence OF
@ help ns 10 deterfs1ne wnerner we are "A
have q republic to administ9r before wo dine'
~ TO the conditions upon which IL 70 70 % I'D.
ministered, believing That the forces Of reform
Forward until every wrong Is remedied and
equal rights and equal privileges securely es-
teblished for all the men and women OF this
country.
That the UNION Of tho labor fore?s Of fto
United States this day conspfnrpAtsd ehau DO
prmepent nnd ps,peiutl-i1ay its epitit enter
Into all hearts for the salvation Of the repuhlD
aud the uplifting OF mankind.
M, aS. S sssss .o him r -Hs s SsoS. s %
s sSsl; Raj Ss Ths R ..sss H 81 rura
and oivlc iabor are the sams their enemies
We believe that the time AsS come when the
railroad corporations must either own the PEG.
DE or the people must own the railroads, and
should tho government enter upon the work OF
swning and managing any or ~ RAILROADS we
should favor an amendment 70 tee constitution
service shall be placed under . civil service
regulation Of the most rigid character, so as
10 prevent the increase OF the power OF the
national administration By the use OF such
additional soyernmsnt empioysen - n,.
only; q full legal tender FOR all debts, public
and private, and that without the use Of bank
ing corporations; q Just, equitable and efficient
Be provided as set forth in the subtreasury
plan OF the Farmers Alliance. or some better
system; i.o by payments In discharge OF Its
obllgah for public Improvements.
Of silver and gold at the present legal ratio OF
We demand that the amount Of the circulst-
ing medium be speedily increased TO not less
than nfty dollars PEI c.pitn