Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-08-13

w. j. BRYAN, OF NEBRASKA.
The peoples party, assembled in ma
ional convention, reaffirms its allegi-
lnce to the principles declared by the
ounders of the republic and also
20 the fundamental principles of
just government, as enunciated in
the platform of the party in
1892, but recognizes that through the
action of the present and preceding ad-
ministrations the country has reached
a crisis in its national life, as predicted
in our platform four years ago, and at
present prompt and patriotic action Is
the supreme duty Of the hour. To re-
alize that while we have political indie
pendence our financial and Industrial
independence is yet to be attained by
restoring to the peoples government
the constitutional control and exercise
Of the functions necessary to that end'
which functions have been basely sur
rendered by our public servants to cor
porafe monopolies. The influence or
European money-changerS has been
more potent in shaping legislation than
the voice of the American people. Tx
ecutive power and patronage have been
used to corrupt our legislatures and de-
feat the will of the people, and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon
the ruins of democracy. To restore the
government Of the fathers and for the
welfare and prosperity Of this and fu-
ture generations, we demand the estab-
lishment of our economic and financial
systems, which shall make us masters
Of our own affairs and independent OF
| oAnntfnn nf
the following declaration of principles:
/. We demand q national currency
safe and sound, and issued by the gen.
eral government only, full legal ten
der for all debts, public and private
and without the use of banking corpor-
atoms; an honest, equitable and ethcl-
emit means of distribution direct to the
people, and through the lawful dis
| bursements of the government.
2. We demand the free and unrestrict-
ed coinage Of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio of 16 to l by the
| United States without waiting for the
consent Of foreign nations.
9. We demand that the volume Of cir
culating medium be speedily increased
to an amount sufficient to meet the de-
mands Of the business and population
| of this country, and to restore the just
level Of prices of labor and production,
and thereby establish prosperity and
happiness for the people.
4. We denounce the sale Of bonds and
the increase of the public interest bear
ing debt made by the present admins
tration as unnecessary and without au-
thorlty Of law, andwe demand law abb
solutely prohibiting the sale Of bonds
and increase of the public debt, except
in accordance with an act or acts OF
congress authorizing the same.
5. We demand such Legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the law
full money of the United States by pri-
vate contract.
6. We demand that the government
in payment of its obligations shall use
it's option as to the kind of lawful
money in which they are to be paid, and
we denounce the present and preceding
administrations for surTenderlng this
option to the holders Of government OBJ
legations.
Z. We demand a graduated income tax
to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear it's just proportion of taxation,
the supreme court in regard to the in.
come-tax as misinterpretation of
the constitution and an invasion of the
rightful powers of congress over the
subject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of the savings
of the people and to facilitate exchange.
A true policy demands that the ma
tional and state legislation shall be such
as will ultimately enable every prudent
and industrious man to own a home,
and therefore the land should not be
monopolized for speculative purposes
All agricultural and grazing lands now
held by railroad corporations in excess
of their actual need should by lawful
means be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only, and
private land monopoly should be pre-
vented by appropriate state and nation
al legislation.
The Pacific railroad companies have,
through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of ac-
tual and bona fde settlers of their
homes and miners Of their claims, and
we demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exception of min
eral land from such grants after, as
we'll as before, patent.
We hold that all governments derive
their just powers from the consent OF
the governed, and in order that the con-
sent Of the governed may be clearly as
certained we favor direct legislation
under proper constitutional safeguards
so that a given percentage of the citi-
zens shall have a right of initiating,
framing and preparing laws and of
compelling the submission thereof, and
of all important laws, whether proposed
by national, state or local legislatures
to a direct vote Of the people for their
approval or rejection.
Transportation being n means Of eN-
change and public necessity, the gov
eminent should own and operate the
railroads in the interest Of the people:
to the end that all men may be accord
ed the same treatment in transporta.
ton, and that the tyranny and political
power now exercised by the great cor
porations, which result in the impair
ment, II not the destruction, Of the po-
litical right and personal liberty of the
citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually, in
a manner consistent with sound public
policy.
The interest OF the United States in
the public highways built with public
moneys ana the proceeds Of extensive