Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-12-02
popuL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.


OF Just government. as enunciated in the plat
FORM OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the connivance OF the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty OF the hour. We realize that while VIC
have political Independence our financial
and industrial independence is yet to be at
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary 10 peoples government. which
functions have been besely surrendered by
lies. The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
LEGISLATION than the voice of the American
people executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people, and pIutoc-
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the well
rare OF this and future generations, we demand
cial system. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control, by the adoption of the following dec
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
FIRST We demand a national money, safe
ana SOUND, issued by the general government
only, without the Intervention of banks of is
cue to be full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and efficient
Means OF distrioution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second.We demand the free and unre-
eCrISCeu coinage OF SILVER and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Tnlrd-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufhc1ent to meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
the Increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of law. and
more bonds a NV,
cine act OF congress.
Fifth-We demand such legislation az will
prevent the RECOMMENDATION of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government, in
payment OF its obligations shall use its ontiou
rs to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrende r.
Obligations.
Seyenth-We demand a graduated income
tax TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and we
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
VaslOn of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the people
aud TO facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
First-Transportation being a means of ex-
VT
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and on non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment In transportation and that the
tyranny ana political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations w ich result
In the Impairment, If not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen. may be destroyed. Such owner
snip Is 10 De accomplished gradually in man
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-The interest of the United States in
highways wit
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
TO the Pa3ific railroads, should never be alien
a a mso o or sold, but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare. as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
On these roads should at once follow default i'm
payment thereof by the debtor com panies and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same il il be-
comes necessary to protect it's interests there
in, or If they can be purchased AT a reasonable
price, and the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benefit of
the whole people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for prOtection
of life and property, giving to all TRANSPORTS
uon interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
Third-We denOunce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts and de-
mand That the laws now applicable thereto be
true intent and spirit,
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
the government in the interests of the people
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
tlonal and state Legislation shall be such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
QustrlouS citizen to secure Il home, and there
tore the land should not be moRopoliZed for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for sc-
tual settlers only, and pr ate land monopoIy
as wen as alien ownership, should be prohib-
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
pave, through the connivanee of the interior
department., robbed maltitudes of actual bona
noe settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-We demand that all bona fide settlers
on al puplc lands be granted free homes as
provided IN the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case az In.
dian reservations when opened for settlement
ana tnat all lands now patented come under
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor q
system Oh dlrect legislation through the initial
I'VE arc referendum under proper constitu-
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
f1rst-We demand the election of president
Sice president and United States senators by a
uirect vote OF the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic peol lie of
Cuoa our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we Del1eve the time has come when the United
states, the great republic of the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought 10
be, a free and independent state
Third-We favor home rule in the territories
ana the District of Columbia and the carly adj
mission OF the territories as states.
fourtn-All public salaries should be made
TO correspond to the price of labor and its pro.
ducts. PN
Fifth-ln these times of industrial depres.
sion IDLE labor should be employed on pubua
works as far as practicable.
Slxth-The arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming to lmprison citizens for in direct con-
tempt and ruling them by injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation
Seventn-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and unt.ammeled bal OF are essential to gov
eminent OF, for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dfs-
reimbursement adopted in some of the state.
as un-repnDican and un-democratit. aud we
declare IL 10 DC the duty of the several states
legISlatures 10 take such action as will secure
d Iuil.!ree ana fair ballet and an honest colInf
MINI" h1le the foregoing propositions con
eutute the platform upon which our marty
sIands ana Tor the vindication of which its or
ganization will be maintained we recognize
that the great ana pressing issue Of the mend.
ing campaign upon which the Present presi
Dental election will turn is the financial oues-
lon, ana upon this great and specific issue he
tween the parties we cordially invite the ala
and cooperation of all organ cations ana citt.
agreeing ms