The representative., 1895-09-25
PEOPLES PLATFoRM,
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA. NEB., July 4, 1892.

Assembled upon the one hundred and
sixteenth anniversary of the Declaration
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.
the following preamble and declaration or
The conditions which surround us best
midst of nation brought to the verge Of
ballot box. the legislatures. the Congress.
and anu touches hes even the ermine on a,;tas tas
most of the states have been compelled
TO isolate the voters at the polling places
berry. The newspapers are largely SUB
sidized or muzzled; public opinion silenced !;
business prostrated; our homes c9yered
and the land Concentrating in the hands
Of the capitalists. The urban workmen
self-protection; imported pauperized la
Dor beats down their wages; a hireiing
army, unrecognized by our laws IS estap-
rapidly degenerating into European con-
ditions. The. fruits of the tolls OF mill,
IONS are bodily BOD stolen to build up n fSe
history of mankind, and the possessorS
OF these in turn despise the republic and
life womb of governmental injustice we
breed the two great classes-tramps ana
milliOnaireS.
appropriated to enrich bondholders; a
vast public debt payable in legal tender 1e
currency, has been funded into gold.
to the burden of the people
Silver, which has been accepted as com
monetzed to add to the s'I Purchasing power
OF gold, by decreasing all forms OF prop
erty, as well as human labor, and the sup
fatten usurers bankrupt enterprise and en-
against mankind has been ssa' organized On
possession of the world. If not met ana
overthrown at once, it forebodes terrible
social i,eat convulsons the destruction OF ely
solute despotism. We have witnessed for
more than quarter of century the
for power and plunder, while grievous
wrongs have been inflicted upon the suf-
fering fer1ig people We charge that the con con
parties have permitted the existing dread
ful conditions to develope. without seri-
oq o to or restran anw dne
stantial reform. They have agreed to-
gether to ignore, in the coming Campaign.
drown, the outcries of plundered people
with the uproar of sham battle over the
tariff; SO that capitalists, corporations.
tisation of silver and the expressions Of
the usurers may all be lost sight Of,
Hes to sacrifice o. our
to destroy the multitude in order to secure
corruption funds for the millionaires AS
Of the nation, and filled with the spirit
of the grand generation OF men, who estab-
,ans lshed .S our independence, we seek to re- e
the hands Of the plain people" with
purposes tp to be Identical with the purpose
more perfect union, establish justice in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
fare, and secure 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 1t cannot be
is and and
sentiment which grew out of it must die
with it; and that we must be in fact as
Our gu CO Country at finds itself % Confronted by Con con-
ditions for which there is no precedent in
the history Of the world Our annual ag
weeks or months be exchanged for billions
of dollars of commodities consumed in
their productions; the existing currency
supply is wholly inadequate to make this
exchange. The results. are falling prices,
class. we pledge ourselves that if given
RU"ey wise and reasonabie ieeisIaton' % eVils n
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
good sense of an intelligent people, and the
teachings of experience shall justify; to
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, virtuous and temperate we
nevertheless regard these questions-im-
portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution;
and upon which not only our Individual
prosperity, but the very existence Of free
institutions depends; and we ask all men
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 State this day consummated
shall be permanent and perpetual; may it's
spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
tion Of the republic and the uplifting Of
mankinu.
Second-Wealth belongs to him who Gre
ates it: and every dollar taken from in
dustry, without equivalent, is robbery
he eat" The interests of rural and civic