Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-11-25
popuI1sr NATIONAL rIArroRm.


The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention, reaffirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
pubic, and also to the fundamental principles
form or 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 il yet to be at
tained by restoring to our country the consti-
tuttonal control and exercise of the functions
necessary to peoples government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
i;as pupnc servants to corporate monopo-
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 plutoc-
racy mas thereby been enthroned upon the
ment intended by the fathers, and for the wei
fare OF this and future generations we demand
tne establishment of an economic and finan-
our own affairs and independent of European
control. oy the adoption of the following dec
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
first-We demand a national money safe
and sound, issued by the general government
sue to be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie ana pr1vate-a just, equitable and efficient
means Oh distributor direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-We demand the free and unre.
strcted coinage OF silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio OF sixteen to one, without watt
ing for the consent of foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
amount sufficient 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
oeot made py the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of laws
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cific act of congress.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonstration 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 option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
ana preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
Obligations.
Sevepth-We demand a graduated income
TAX 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation OF the constitution and an in
vas1on of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks De established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION
MISREPRESENTATION being a means of ex-
Change and necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
the END That all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. W hich result
n the Impairment, If not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citlzen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest of 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 be alien
ated, mortgaged 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 in
payment thereof by the debtor companies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same il il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in or IL 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
rev, under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all transporta-
ton 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
executed and administered according to their
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
| system, being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by
tue government In the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
| tonal and state Legislation shall be such as
| viii ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustriOus citizen to secure home, and there.
| fore the land should not be moaopOized 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 ac-
| tual settlers only, and pri jate land monopoly
| tied