The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-26

Free Silver, Government Ovnership Oh
Railroads ana Teiegrp phs.

| tional convention. roaflirms its allegiance
to the principles declared by the founders
Of the republic and also to the lunia-
mental principles OF just government as
enunciatcd in the platform Of the part,
IN 1892 We recognize that through the
connivance Of the present and preceding
administrations. the country has reached
a crisis in its national life. as predicted In
sur declaration four years ago. and that
! prompt and patriotic action Is the supreme
/ duty f the hour We realize that. while
we have political independence. our nnan-
! cial and industrial independence IS yet
20 be attained by restoring 10 our country
! the constitutional control and exercise OF
! the functions necessary 10 a people gov
| eminent which functions have been base
| ~ surrendered by cur public servants 10
| corporate monopolics. The influence OF
! European money changers has pcen more
potent in shaping legislation than the
voice % the American people. Executive
| pswcr and patronage have been used 10
/ corrupt our legislatures and defeat the
| will Of tho people. and plutocracy has
been cnthroned upon the ruins Of Dcmoc-
racy. To restore the government intend
| cd by the fathers. and for the welfare and
| prosperity q this and future genera
! lions we demand the establishment Of
| an economic and financial system which
]
and independent - European contrsl by
the adoption Of the following declaration
| Of principles.
T. We demand a national money. safe
and sound issued 10y the general govern
| mcnt. only without the intervention Of
| banks II issue. 20 10 full legal tender for
! an debts public and private. SO as 20 ar
ford a Just. equitable and efficient means
| Of distribution direct 10 the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the
/ government.
O. We demand tho free and unrestricted
coinage 81 silver and gold al tho present
| legal ratio OF rs to T. without waiting for
the consent Of foreign nations.
g. We demand the volume Of circulating
medium he speedily increased 10 an
amount sufficient TO meet the demands Of
the business population Of this country.
and 10 restore tho Just level of prices Of
labor and production.
THE SALE OF BONDS
4. We donounce the sale q bonds and
the Increase Of the public Understanding
bond debt made by the present admins
tration as unnecessary and without au-
thOrity of law and that - more bonds
be issued except by specific act OF Con-
gress
3. We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the decentralization OF the
lawful money Of the United States by
private contract.
o. We demand that the Government
IN payment Of us obligations. shall use
its option as to the kind of lawful
money I'm which they are 10 be- paid,
and we denounce the present and pre-
ceding Administrations for surrerier.ng
this option TO the holders Of Government
obligations.
e. We demand graduated income
tax. 10 the end that aggregated wcr.th
shall bear its just proportion of taXation,
and we dcnOunce the supreme Court
relative 10 the income-tax ltw as mis-
Interpretations Of the GO ljdiaf on era an
invasion of the riehtful power of Con
gress over the subject o. taxa On.
s. We demand chat postal say 'ngs
banks be established hy the Gcyern-
mcnt for the safe iop,sit of the ~ iugs
Of the people. and 10 facilitate excl Jnge.
TRANSPORTATION.
T. Transportation being means of cx-
| change and a public necessity. the Gov
crnmcnt should own and operate the
railroads in the interest of The people
and on a non-partisan basis. 10 the end
that all may be accorded the same treat
ment IN transportation, and tnat tie
tyranny and political power now exer-
cised by the great railroad corporations,
which result in the impairment If not
the destruction. OF tho political 'ghts and
personal liberties of the citizen. may bee
destroyed. such ownership is 10 bc acc
complshcd gradually. In a manner con-
sistent with o. sound public policy
2. The interest or the United States in
the public highways built with public
moneys. and the proceeds OF extensive
grants of land TO the Pacific railroads,
should never De- alienated. nortgagod. or
sold, but guarded and protected for The
/ general welfare. ass provilod for rs the
laws organizing such railroads. THE
| foreclosure OF existing liens IF the United
| States on these roads should M 90. e.
| follow default I'm the payment thereof OF
! the debt of companies. and at The fCre-
/ closure sales OF said roads. the $50, 'rn-
/ mont shall purchase the same j. hc-
comes necessary 10 protect IFS interests
/ therein. or 30 they can De- purchased az
reasonable price. and tl,e Govern l,It
shall operate said railroads 0s publ lgn-
/ ways. for the benefit IF -hc w.,,e nd
not in the interest of the few. ufricr suit
able provisions for protection Of life
/ and property. giving 10 AN transpOrta-
ton interests and privileges and equal
rates for fares and freight.
g. We denounce the prese o, Infamous
schemes for refundins these debts. ana
demand that the laws nov applica' o.
/ thereto DE executed ANA administered ac-
.cording 20 their true intent ana spirit
e. The telegraph, like the uost-ofice
| system, beng necessity for the trans
| mission of news. should Doe owned and
| operated hy the Government in the in-
terost o the people.
PUBLIC LANDS
l. The true policy demands that the
| national and State legislation shall be
such ass viii ultimately enable every
| prudent and Industrious citizen 10 secure
home and. therefore. the land should
not be monoYolized for speculative pun
poses.
All lands now held by railroads and
other corpora ions IN excess of their
actual needs should hy lawful means Doe
reclaimed by the Government and held
for actual settlers only. and private land
! monopoly. as well as alien ownership,
should be- prohibited.
.. We condemn tho frauds 10y which
! the land grant TO the Pacific railroad
companies have through the connnance
OF the Interior Department. robbed multi
| tudes of equal bona ide settlers OF their
/ homes and miners OF their claims and
wc demand legislation by Congress which
will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants after, as well as
/ before. patent.
I d, g.t f0r 10