The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-12
PEOPLES
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION.
AT OMAHA, NEB., JULY 4, 1892.

America in Their nrst national convention,
iavokln upon their action the blessings
and on behalf Of the people Of the country,
the following preamble and declaration Of
The conditions which surround us best
Justify our cooperation: we meet In the
midst OF q nation brought to the verge OF
m baIIot n euini n. Corruption dominates acnsrs the
bench. The people are demoralized
to isolate the voters at the polling places
to prevent universal intimidation or bril-
berry. The newspapers are largely sub
business prostrated;- our homes covered
with mortgages; labor impoverished
and tt the ! sn3f,e oncen ira in the noI hands Ids
self-protection; imported pauperised la
ARMY eon De SnTee aoMn tne br o was Is vs. 2 - hi sstaps
lshed to shoot them down; and they are
ddaaR;ldly d Tga into European con con
ions are bodily stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for a few. Unprecedented in the
history Of mankind. and the possessorss
endanger liberty. From the same pro-
life womb OF governmental injustice we
breed the two great -lasses-tramps and
appropriated to enrich bondholders: .
earreh ps14'i has as0i 5ee naSs a1nae d 'f igso ' ''gold-
bearing bonds, thereby adding millions
to the burden Of the people.
since the dawn Of history. has been de-
m m aetz to add to the purchasing power
or erty g0s as w Sy d as bnmng i all forms ana q qhe p sop-
fatten usurers. bankrupt enterprise and en-
s against in %anFiyn;d has S xsst ors sanisssne sn
possession Of the world. If not met and
social commissions, the destruction Of civ
litigation, or the establishment of an alb
solute despotism. We have witnessed for
struggles of the two great political parties
Tor power and plumber, while grievous
wrongs have been en-. inflicted upon the I sui
trolling influences dominating both these
parties have permitted the existing dread
ful conditions to develope, without seri-
GUS EFFORT to prevent or restrain them.
stantial reform. They nave agreed to-
s ssersf i is 'sn4 S"s IN one the iSm,ns ps ra%eels To-
drown the outcries Of plundered people
with the uproar of a sham battle over the
national banks, rings trusts, the demone-
tization of silver, and the expressions Of
ne us nreresa nay y al be lost sight han, Of.
lives and children IN the alter Of Mammon;
to destroy the multitude in order to secure
sembled on the anniversary Of the birthday
Of the nation, and filled with the spirit
Of the grand generation of men, who estab-
store. the overnmen Of the republic to
the and Of the plain people" with
Whose > CAST IS it G3Gdi agdt;ae .,t we .b assert rrn our
of the national. constitution:-"to form a
more perfect union, establish justice, in
s somm s9m d + e sta pfomofs t RReog gener fGr w tae
fare. and secure the blessing. Of liberty
for IT, ourselves and our Posterity"
endure as a free government while built
upon the love Of the whole people for each
other and for the nation; that It cannot be
war is over and that every passion and re-
sentiment which grew out of 1t must die
Wfth ar IT. ia an aa mat ONE we nnifsd be er IN fact aI
Our ountr finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there is no precedent in
ricultural products amount to billions Of
dollars in value, which must within a few
weeks or months be exchanged for billions
of dollars of commodities consumed in
their production; the existing currency
supply is WHO'LL inadequate to make this
the formation of Combines and 'i rings, and
the impoverishment of the producing
class. We pledge ourselves that if given
by wise and reasonable legislation, in
accordance with our platform.
We believe that the powers Of govern
be expanded (as in the case of the postal
| s~ervice) 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.
form are Naturally upon the side Of every
proposition which will tend to make men
intelligent. virtuous and temperate, we
| portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution;
and upon which not only our individual
nrOSnaritv hNt the very. oYfafArco 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 viii
never cease, to move forward until every
| wrong is righted and equal privileges estab-
lished for all the men and women Of this
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 its
ton of the republic and the uplifting of
issee,cond-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 faho eat, are I ne 'n same: Their Gr ror ene nnd CIVIC VIC
Identical.
Third-we believe that the time has
| come Wn0n lQc Idlli CORPORATIONS VIII
| either own the people or the people must
own the railroads: and should the govern
| merit enter upon the work of owning and
MANAGING the railroads., we should favor
an amendment to the constitution by
which all persons engaged in the govern;
acter, so as to prevent the increase of the
| 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.
for all debts public and private: and that
without the use Of banking corporations. a
| just, equitable and efficient means Of distri-
button direct to the people, at a tax not to
| exceed 2 per cent per .annum, to be pro-
vtded as set forth In the sub-treasury plan
of the Farmers Alliance or some better
its obligations for public improvements.
We demand free and unlimited coinag
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
of 16 to /.
We demand that the amount Of c~irculat-
| ing medium be speedily increased to not
| less than $50 per capita.
we demand a graduated income tax.
We believe that the money OF the coun-
try should be kept, rs much as possible, in
the hands Of the people,. and hence we
demand that all state and national reve-
nues shall be limited to the necessary
expenses of the government, economically
and honestly administered. ,
We demand hat postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit of the earnings of the people,
and the fac I'll Of exchange.
TRANSFORMATION being a means of en-
change and a public necessity, the govern
ment should W and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone. like the
p~ostof1e system. being a necessity for the
transmission Of news, should be owned
| fptorofc IF the nPOn1Q