The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-10-02
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA. NEB., JULY a, 1892.

sixteenth anniversary Of the Deelaratio IN
America in Their first national convention.
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 OF
principles
The conditions which surround us best
justify our co-operat ion we meet IN the
midst of a nation brought to the verge OF
m hs31a ruin Corruption dominates aonsre ene
bench. The people are demoraliiz7eda
most of the states have. been compelled ea
to prevent universal intimidation or prl-
berry. The newspapers are. largely sup.
sidized or muzzled public opinion si nenereG
With +,d labor pthe hands
are denied the right of organization TOR
self-protection; imported pauperlzed "a
army, unrecognized by our laws; is estab-
llshed to shoot them down; and they are
dons frt Il into 10 tns Of mill
ions are bodily stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for a few, unprecedented 1 IN tne
of these in turn despise the republic and
endanger liberty. From the same pro-
life womb of governmental injustice we
The national power. to create money Is
Vast Pubic debt p payidd ln legal tender
currency. has been funded into gold
be bearing .r bonds. thereby adding millions
to the burden of the people.
Silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history, has. been de-
m ed IT. to add to the e. nroe
erty, as well as human labor, and the sup
ply OF currency is purposely abridged 10
against mankind has been organized on
two continents, and it is rapidly taxing ing
overthrown at once it forebodes terrlDle
social commissions, the destruction of civ
solute despotism We have witnessed for
struggles of the two great Political parties
wrongs have been inflicted upon the suf-
fering people We charge that the con-
have he exsstng dread
full conditions to develope, without seri-
Gus effort to prevent or restrain them nj,
stantial reform. They have agreed TO-
gether to ignore. in the coming campaign.
every issue but one. They propose eo,, to
with the uproar of sham battle over the
tariff; SO that CAPITALISTS corporations a,,,on
tization of silver and the expressions Of
the usurers may all be lost sight OF.
Tney propGSe to sacrifice o. our homes:
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-
star our we seek epnh 10 re- e.
whose class It It origina ed We assert our
purposes to be identical with the purpose
of the national constitution:-"to form
more perfect union, establish justice. in
aense RReogas we
fare, and secure the blessing of liberty
for ourselves and our posterity;."
endure as free government while built
upon the love of the whole people for each
other and for the nation: that It cannot ,l be
war is over and that every passion and re-
sentiment which grew out of it must die
we are in name one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
the history ~ OF the World Our annual
ricultural products amount to billions Of
dollars in value, which must within q few
| of dollars of commodities consumed in
their production; the existing currency
exchange. The results are falling prices.
the formation of combines and rings. and
the impoverishment Of the producing
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 expanded las in the case Of the postal
service) as rapidly and far as 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 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;
which Individual
prosperity but the very existence of free
! Institutions depends: and we ask all men
| to first help us determine whether we are
to have a republic to administer. before
| 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 States this day consummated
J shall be permanent and perpetual; may its