The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-07-30
.POPULIST PLATFORM.
PEOPLES PARTY MEN DEFINE
THEIR VIEWS.
Independent Free Coinage of Silver,
Government Ownership of Railroads
and Direct Vote On President and
Senators Demanded.
Peoples Party PRINCIPLES,


Following is the Populist platform as
adopted by the st. Louis conventions:
The Peoples party, assembled In national
convention, reailrms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the
republic and also to the fundamental prin-
clples of just government as enunciated In
the platform of the party In 1892. We rec
cgnize that through the connivance of the
present and preceding administrations the
country has reached a crisis in its national
life, as predicted In our declaration four
years ago, and that prompt and patriotic ac-
ton Is the supreme duty of the hour. We
realize that while we have political lnde-
pendence our financial and Industrial indie
pendence Is yet to be attained by restoring
to our country the constitutional control and
exercise OF the functions necessary to peo-
pies government, which functions have been
basely surrendered by our public servants to
corporate nonoplies.
The influence of European money changers
has been more potent in shaping legislation
than the voice of the American people. Ey-
ecutive power and patronage have been used
to corrupt our legislatures and defeat the
Will of the people, and plutocracy has there
by been enthroned upon the ruins of democ-
racy.
To restore the government intended by the
fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
of this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and tinan-
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.
1. We demand n national money, safe and
sound, Issued by the General Government
only, without the intervention of banks of
issue, to be full legal tender for all debts.
public and private; just, equitable and ef-
ficient means of distribution direct to the
people and through the lawful disbursements
of the Government.
We 1anonI tha frpa uprpStrict al
coinage Of silver and gold at the present
legal ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for
the consent of foreign nations.
3. We demand the volume Of circulating
medium be speedily increased TO an amount
sufficient to meet the demands Of the busi-
ness and population Of this country and to
restcre the just level of prices of labor and
production.
increase of the public interest-beariD8 debt
made by the present administration as un-
necessary and without authority OF law, ana
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
ciic act of Congress.
j. We demand such legislation as Will pre-
vent the demonstration of the lawful money
of the United States by private contract.
q. We demand that the Government, In
payment of its obligations. shall use Its op-
tlon as to the kind Of lawful money In which
they are to be paid, and we denounce the
present and preceding administrations for
surrendering this option to the holders OF
Government obligations.
Z. We demand a graduated income tax, to
the end that aggregated wealth shall bear
its just proportion Of taxation, and we re-
gard the recent decision Of the Supreme
Court relative to the income tax law as q
misinterpretation of the Constitution and
an invasion of the rightful powers of Con-
gress over the subject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the Government for the
safe deposit Of the savings Of the people and
to facilitate exchange.