The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-08-07
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA, NEB., JULY 4, 1892,


Of Independence. the Peoples Party of
America in Their first national convention,
hayQa Cod 1u ss a1 the tha
and on behalf of the people Of the country,
the following preamble and declaration Of
The conditions which surround us best
Justify our co.operation: we meet in the
moral RUM 1rpan' % 1an the
ballot box, the legislatures, the Congress,
and touches even the ermine on the
most of the states es'G have been ICON Compelled
to isolate the voters at the polling places
to to, prevent universal intimidation or I bIi-
sidized or muzzled; public opinion silenced;
business prostrated; our homes covered
and the land Concentrating in the hands
OF the capitalists. The urban workmen
are are. denied the right Of organization for
Dor beats down their wages; hireling
army, unrecognized by. our laws; Is estab-
rapidly degene e a1l into Earopean con-
ditions. The fruits of the tolls Of mill,
IONS tonsu are bodily stolen to build up colossal
history or mankind, and the possessors
OF these in turn despise the republic and
life womb of governmental injustice we
pr .9es the two great classes-tramps ana
appropriated to enrich bondholders; a
cSren pu6iic debt payable IN legal tender Ne
CUiiC1Cy, has Deen FUNDED INTO 8Olu-
bearing bonds. thereby adding millions
to the burden of the people.
silver which has been accepted as coin
monetzed to add to the purchasing power
OF gold, by decreasing all forms Of prop
n ey o as well as abor and the sup
I Ia usurers bankrupt enterprise and en-
ssainst INDUSTRY vast conspiracy n;IdG
two continents, and it is rapidly taking
possession of the world. If not met and
o overt at once, it forebodes terrible
lllZatlon, or the establishment of an alb
solute despotism. We have witnessed for
Of the aWo great po teaiu parties
Tor power and plumber, while grievous
erngg p eas been inflicted the the sa
trolling influences dominating both these
parties have permitted the existing dread
d ats CONDITIONS efn to deyelope. without seri-
GUS eHOft to prevent or restrain them.
Nelther 40 they now promise us any sub
stantial reform. They have agreed to-
every issue but one They propose to
drown the outcries of plundered people
with the uproar of sham battle over the
national banks, rings, trusts, the demone-
tizat1on of silver, and the expressions of
They propose to sacrifice our homes,
lives and children on the alter of Mammon;
to destroy the multitude in order to secure
corruption funds for the millionaires. AS
sembled on the anniversary of the birthday
of the nation, and filed with the spirit
of the grand generation of men, who estab
store, the government of the republic to
the hands Of the plain people with
purposes to be identical with the purpose
of the national constitution:-"to form a
more perfect union Establish JUSTICE in
common defense, promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessing of liberty
Tor ourselves and our posterity:"
We declare that this republic can only
endure as free government while built
upon the love eve Of the whole people for each
pinned together by bayOnets, that the civil
war is over and that every passion and re-
with it; and that we must be in fact as
we are In name, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
the history of the world Our annual ag-
ricultural products amount to billions. of
weeks or months be exchanged for billions
Of dollars, Of commoditiess consumed in
their production; the existing currency
exchange. The results. are falling prices.
the formation of combines and rings, and
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 M sas IN the case Of the
good sense of an Intelligent people, and the
teachings of experience shall justify; to
erty shall eventually cease in the land
While our sympathies a: a party Of
Wch VIII tenn to make *
intelligent virtuous and temperate. we
nevertheless. regard these questions-im-
portant 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
f,1fin O G 1nyD
to first help us determine whether we are
to have republic to administer, before
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
shall be permanent and perpetual; may it's
spirit enter into al hearts for the saliva
ton of the republc ana the uplifting OF
mankind
Second-Wealth belongs to him who Gre
ates it; and every dollar taken from in
dustry, without an equivalent, is robbery
"If any man will not work, neither shall
he eat' The interests of rural and civic
labor are the same: their enemies are
Third~We believe that the time has
come when the railroad corporations will
en the raroads and should the eoyepn sl
ment enter upon the work of owning and
managing the railroads, we should favor
an amendment to tie constitution by
which all persons engaged in the govern
ment service shall be protected by civil
service al orsven The most rigid char
power of the national administration by
the use Of such additional government en-
ployes.
We demand a national CURRENCY. safe.
sound, and flexible; issued by the gen
eral government ooly; a full legal tender
for ali debts public and private; and that
without the use of banking corporations, a
Just, equitable and efficient means of dstri-
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 plan
system; also by payments in discharge Of
its obligations for public improvements
We demand free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
We demand that the amount Of circulat-
ing medium be speedily increased to not
We demand a graduated income tax.
We believe that the money Of the coun-
try should be kept. as much as possible, in
demand that all state and national reve-
nues shall. be limited to the necessary
and honestly administered.
We demand that. postal savings banks
be established, by By the go, government for the
and the facilitation Of exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation, being means of ex-
change and a public necessity the Govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone, like the
transmission of news, should be owned
and operated by the government In the
interets of the people.
LANDS.
The land, including all natural sources
of wealth, is the heritage of the peonle
and should not be monopilized for snecn
n o1in