Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-06-28
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted In National Convention. {
Omaha, July d,.1802. e.

Assembled upon the 10th anniversary of the
| Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party Of America In thoirf first national con-
vention, invoking upon teir action tho hless-
Ing of Almighty God, putA' forth in the name
and on behalf Of the people II this country the
following preamble and declaration Of princi-
pies: .ega,fas III
Tho conditions which surround us Justify
our action; we meet in tho 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 the bench. The
| people arc 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 nuzzled, public opinion
silenced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes COW
| cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
| the land concentrating In the hands OF the
capitalists. The urban workmen are denied
the right Of organization for self protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down their
wages: a 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 sSolen to build up colossal
| fortunes for a few, unprecedented In the his
| tory of mankind, and the possessors Of these,
| In turn, despiso the republic and endanger
| liberty. From the same prolific womb Of gov
| eiasses-tramps and millionaires.
Tbe national mower To create monev IA an
| rrorriated to enrich bondboIders. N vast nub.
iic debt novabIo 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
tho dawn of history, has been demonetized to
Add 10 the purchasing power of gold by de-
crensinp the u-ioe Of ali forms of property ae
we'll as human labor. The supply of currency
IA purposoly, abridged 10 fatten usurers. bank
rupt enterprise and enslaye industry. =.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and It is rapidly
taking possession of the world. II not met
and oyerthrown at once It forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction, of ciyilza-
tion or the establishment of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that quarter
of O century the struggles of two great politi-
cal parties for power and plumber, while gricv-
Gus wrongs have boon inflicted upon a suffer
ing people. We charge that the controlling
Influences dominating both these parties have
pernitted the existing dreadful conditions to
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
rgsEyTm man. NuIfKeF DO Td6yIYow prs,nrsA
us any substantial relief. Thoy have agreed
together 10 ignore In the coming campaign
every issue but ono. They propose 70 drown
ghe outcries If q plu=acrvu ssople with the
uoroar of a sham battle over the tariff, 80 that
capitalists. corporations. national banks rings,
+ TrIsts. watered stock. the demonstration of
diver and the oppression of the usurers may
ali be lost sight OF. They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar of
Namrnon; to destroy the multitude In order
3 secure corruption funds from the million
sire.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the BIRTH
fav Of the milton. and filed with the spirit of
he grand generation who established our indie.
uendence, we seek to restore the government
81 the republic to the hands Of "the plain peo-
pie. 4 with which class IL originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic tranquility provide for tho
oommon defense, promote the general welfare
sAd secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
md our posterity."
We declare that this republic can only en-.
aura "a a free government while buiit unon the
pe OF inc whoie peopie ior eaSn o,her ana
for the nation; that ~ cannot DC pinned To-
gether by bayonets;-that the civil war is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
srsw ont Of l. must die with II. and TINT wa
-. 10 a. foct 40 ,,o arc IN noma n ,n;toS
tnuss W ~ ia.., 40 We "ie IN n''nAe unileu
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there Is no precedent In the
history of the world Our annual AGRICULTURAL
SroSrc,ior. ar,onnt IN b,Il,ons ~ doliors In
pivou0l.o o, ,a. ',.,.St. Va ~ IA
yauS - H.tss 80 ti,,S.. 49, ~
commodities consumed In their production.
The existing currency supply is wholly made
G,ato N make this exchange The resuIts ara
xI,,r, ,,rt.as tha orrootion q, co,rbinas "a
iainhs ps,ves, sno ,ursom " vVuioines anu
classes. We pledge ourselves that II given
pIwer We VIII ,aT y eTss tn'so e evi,s ~
r -,sS ,ha tsrrrs ~ onr nlatSorm
VIZ t ~, 70. :. =. ~. ~ s.s"
n other words, OF the people-should DO OK
banded las In the case of tho postal service) as
ranidlv and as far as the good sense of an In
tar;rart noonIa ard tha taocbirr. ~ eyneri-
.eiiisonV fe s.s.,,,s az 20 .hIs .AlSnr
ence snan Justify, W ING emu Via. oppression,
injustice and poverty shall eventually cease In
tie land. -
While our sympathies as 4 party of raform
ara noturaliv nnof, tho lido ~ everv pronosi-
d., r,hisb Vii Tend IN mate men inteiil1ent
ssrtrons and temperate wa neverthelces re.
ee.rS thesa NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as thev Are
f LIZ 10 az sr.a ts.ras NV nrassin.
- sec Ell, tr' VA n,on rhicb no, on,y onr IN
N,J AZ nrcsnor,ty bnt the very eIjstsnoe Of
ns ~ y, tinns dsnanS. md Va oeh III men
~ se1 u 80 da,srm,n. wnsIner we ne ~
r neIp Us ~ =, ~ I,in,..ar hasore Nc d,fys,
Gave 81 rreenattiops mon which IN IL IN M adj
mi I, vii revar ease 70 NOVA
ihB gay gsi as,a, VII ,,ron a,n.di,d anS
r,a rtebts and couai priyieaes securely Go.
cQunl fiSh.e ~ 49, - p, 49, AZ.