The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-23

"We declare that no corporation shall
be allowed to own land, except what is
necessary for the legitimate purposes for
which such corporations were created.
Believing that the home is the basic
source of the grandest civilization, we de-
mand that some just system shall be
established by which all land monopoly
shall be speedily abolished and the lands
sacredly preserved for homes for our peo-
pie and their posterity.
I'VE view with alarm the fact that
only about one-third of our families own
homes, and yet the foreign and domestic
corporations and monopolies hold by
paper title and registered mortgage
land under our flag to make more than
twnety-two average states in this union;
and we call upon all lovers of home and
liberty to join with us in remedying the
evil.
1--WE claim the right to construct, own
and regulate highways is Il sovereign
right a right of government and should
never be delegated to aliens or corpora
tions for private gain or speculation.
Under the power of the constitution de-
claring that congress shall have power to
establish postoffices and post-roads, it
was intended that congress should build
postroads as well as postotfices wherever
necessary, and under this clause of the
constitution we declare that congress has
the same right to build railroads to be
used as postroads as to build stone or
marble building to be used as Il postottice.
THE same constitution says: Con
gress shall have power to regulate COM
merce among the several states, and
that no preference shall be given by any
regulation of commerce to any ports of
one state over those of another.
Under these plain provisions of our
constitution we declare it to be the duty of
the government to own and operate rail
road, telegraph and telephone lines.
Recognizing the money question as
the great question, we declare that con-
gress alone has the power to coin and is
sue moneys, and this power can not be
delegated to corporations and individuals.
1--WE demand that congress shall coin
gold. silver and paper into money and shall
regulate its value so as to make every dol
lar full legal tender for all debts, both
public and private. and to give to each
the same legal tender standard and func-
ton as money.
I'VE demand that ali paper money shall
be issued directly by the treasury depart
ment and be made receivable for all debts,
public and private. We demand the free
and unlimited coinage of both silver and
gold at the present ratio of f6 to l with
out waiting for the consent of or aid of
any nation.
Congress alone has the power to issue
money, and President jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to
corporations or individuals.
Thomas Jefferson tells us that when
the constitution was being formed a prop
osition to give congress authority to char
ter banks was twice voted down; we
therefore declare that congress has no
right to charter bank
THE constitution says: No state
shall coin money, bills of credit make
anything but gold or silver coin tender
in the payment of debts
I'VE therefore declare that no state
having power to issue bills of credit can
no more charter state banks with power to
coin money.
I'VE repeat the words of Jefferson,
wherein he said, 'interdict forever to both
state and nation the power to establish a
paper bank The effort now being made
by the gold power to convert all the vast
debts that has been legslated upon us
into a gold debt and fatten this system
by charter contract to banks and with
bonds running fifty years, and to bind us
by treaty compact with other nations un-
der the guise of an international confer
ence which permanently demonetizes sill
yer, makes gold the only money to pay
debts. and bank bills the only money of
circulation, must be prevented, and we
call upon all patriotic citizens to JOIN with
us to prevent this impending crisis.
1--WE arraign the Republican party for
having established the gold standard in
this county, and we arraign the Demo-
cratic party for maintaining it. We de-
clare that the act of 1873, demonetizing
silver has resulted in the appreciation
of gold and corresponding falling OH
i'm the prices of commodities produced by
the people of this nation; it has resulted
in increasing the burden of taxation and
of all debts, public or private; it has also
resulted in the enrichment of the money
lending class at home and abroad. 1T
has resulted in the prostration of indus
try and the impoyerishment of the peo-
pie.
1--WE arraign the Democratic and Re
publican parties for surrenderlng to me
holders of obligations of the United
States the option reserved by law to the
government to redeem such Obligations
in either silver coin or gold coin.
"We arraign the Democratic and Re-
publican parties for issuing interest
bearing bonds in the time of peace and
condemn the Democratic party for traf-
fcking with banking syndicates, which,
in change for bonds and at an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the federal
treasury with gold to maintain the Re-
publican policy of gold monometalism.'
The platform contains a states rights
plank. denuncatiOn of federal inter-
ference with local affairs and govern.
ment by injunction: a demand for fair
elections and government by direct legis-
lation.