Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-01-25
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Cenventisn ~
Omaha. July 4. 1SD2.

hoopted In National CQRvontisn ~
Omaha. July Z, 1909.
Assembled upon tho 10th anniversary Of tho
Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party Of America In thoir first national con-
vention, invoking upon tNefr action the bless
ing of Almighty God, puts forth in tho name
and on behalf OF the people If this country tho
following preamble and declaration Of princi-
ples
Tho conditions which surround US Justify
our action; we meet in the 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 tho bench. The
people are 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 muzzled, public opinion
silenced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes cov-
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 few, unprecedented In the his.
In turn, despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb Of gov
eYnmental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money Is ap-
propriated to enrich bondholdcrs; q vast pub
lie debt, payable 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
the dawn Of history, has been demonetized to
add to the purchasing power of gold by de-
creasing tho price Of all forms Of property as
well as human labor. The supply Of currency
is purposely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and 1t Is rapidly
taking possession Of the world. II not met
and overthrow at once it forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction Of civilza-
ton or the establishment of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that a quarter
of century tho struggles Of two great politi
cal parties for power and plumber, while griev-
GUS wrongs have beon inflicted. upon suffer
Ing people. We charge that the controlling
influences dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions to
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
resC2am Ciefh. Neither do Z iey now pcsuIsA
us any substantial relief. They have agreed
together to ignore in the coming campaign
every issue but one They propose 70 drown
tho outcries If G plu-leivu Fcople with the
uproar OF sham battle over the tariff. SO that
capitalists. corporations, rational banks, rings
trusta, watered stock, the characterization OF
silver and the oppression Of the usurers mny
all be lost sight Of. They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
Mammon: to destroy the multitude in order
TO secure corruption funds from the million
aire.
Assembled on the anniversary of the BIRTH |
day Of the nation, and filled with the spirit Of
the grand generation who established our indie. !
pendence, we seek to restore tho government
Of the republic to the hands Of "the plain peo-
ple," with which class 1t originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
the purposes of the national constitution-to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice
insure domestic tranquility, provide for tho
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings OF liberty for ourselves
and our posterity."
We declare that this republic can only en-
durs as free government while built upon the
,ove of the whole people for each other and
Tor the nation; that 1t cannot be pinned tn
eether by bayonots that the civil war is over.
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out of 1t must die with 1t, and that We
must DO In fact, as 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 tho world. Our annual agricultural
productions amount to billions Of dollars in |
value, which must within few weeks or
months be exchanged for billions Of dollars Of
commodities consumed in their production. |
The existing currency supply is wholly made
ouate 10 make this exchange. The results are
falling prices, the formation OF combines and
rings and the impoverishment Of the producing
classes. We pledge ourselves that IL given
power we will labor TO correct these evils by
wise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
with the terms Of our platform.
we believe that the powers Of government !
in other words, of the people-should be ex-
banded las in the case OF the postal service) rs
rapidly and as far as the good sense of an In
telligent people and the teachings Of expert
ence shall Justify, to the end that oppression, |
Injustice and poverty shall eventually cease In
the land.
While our sympathies as . party Of reform
are naturally upon the side Of every PROPOSE
ton which will tend to make men intelligent, |
yirtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these questions-importanta as they are
Is secondary to the great issues now pressing
for solution, and upon which not only our IN
dividual prosperity, but the very existence Of
tree institutions denenda and No Rsk-aQ UeD
70 help US to determine wnetner wo are u
have q republic to administer before we differ
a. 10 the conditions upon which 1t is 10 be ad-
ninstered, believing that the forces OF reform
this day organized will never cease TO move
forward until every wrong Is remcdied and
equal rights and equal privileges securely es-
tablished for all the men and women OF this
country.
We declare, therefore
That the union Of the labor forces OF the
United States this day contaminated shall be
permanent and perpetual-may its spirit enter
into all hearts for the salvation OF the republic
and the uplifting of mankind.
Wealth belongs to him who creates II, and
every dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent is robbery, IF any will not work
neither shall he eat" Tho interests Of rural
and civic labor are the same; their enemies
are identical.
We believe that the time has come when the
railroad corporations must either own the peo:
nile or the people must own the railroads. and 4
Should the government enter upon the work OF |
owning and managing any or all railroads we I
should favor an amendment to the constitution /
by which all persons engaged in the government /
seryice shall be placed under n civil service I
regulation Of the most rigid character, so as /
10 prevent the increase of the power OF the I
national administration by the use OF such /
additional government employees.
We demand a national currency, safe, sound .
and flexible issued by the general government
only; a full legal tender for all debts, public ,
and private, and that without the use OF bank
ing corporations; just equitable and efficient T
-. ctr fhtttion direct n the uQOnle. Al