The Caucasian., 1896-12-03

through The lawful disbursement Of the gov
eminent. i
2. We demand The free aud unrestricted |
coinsre of silver and gold n the present ls-
gal ratio of is to ! without waiting Tor the
consent Of foreign nations.
g. We demand the yosume OF circulating |
medium be speedily increased 10 an amount
sufficient 20 meet the demands OF The bush |
ness PEOPLE of this country and 10 restore |
the Just level Of prices OF labor and pro
ducfion.
4. We denounce the sale OF bonds and the
increase of the public inierest-bearing bond
debt made by the present administration "a
unnecessary and without authority OF law
and that no more bonds be issued except
by specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the demonetization of the law
full money CT the United States by private
contract.
6. We demand that the government in
payment Of its obligations shall use its OPP
tions as to the kind of lawful money III
which they are TO be paid and We denounce
| the present and preceding administration
fer surrendering this option 10 the holders
| of government obligations.
Z. We demand p graduated income tax 10
| the end thai aggregated wealth shall bear
| its just proportion of taxation and We de
nounce the Supreme court, relative 10 the
| income tax law, as misinterpretatlon OF
the constitution and an invasion of the
|
| ject of taxation.
s. We demand that postal sayings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit of the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
| RAILROADS.
| l. Transportation being q means of eI-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people on a non-par-
tisan basis; to the END that all may be &C
corded the same treatment in transporta-
ton, and that the tyranny and political
power now: exercised by the great railroad
corporations. which results in the impair
ment if not the des sruction of the political
rights and personal liberties of the citizens,
NAV be destroyed. Such ownership is to be
accomplished gradually in a manner con-
s:stent with sound policy.
,. The interest Of the United States in the
public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeie of extensive grants of land
to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and
protected for the general welfare, as provid-
ed by the laws of organizing such railroads.
The foreclosure of existing lines of the Uni
ted States on these roads should at once fol-
: low default in the payment thereof of the
debt of companies and at the foreclosure
: sales Of said roads the government shall
purchase the same if il becomes necessary
to protect its interest therein or il they can
be purchased Mt a reasonable price; and the
government shall operate said railroads as
public highways toE The benefit of the
J. whole people ard nc IL the interest of the
p few, under suitable PROVISIONS for protec-
ton of life and property; giving to all trans
portation interests and privileges and equal
rates for fares and freight.
3. We denounce the present infamous
, schemes for refunding these debts and, de-
. mand that the laws now applicable thereto
4 be executed and administered according to
s 4. The telegraph, ike the postoftice sys
{ TEN, being a necessity for the transmission
n OF news should be owned and operated by
p the government in the interest OF people.
q LAND.
= /. The true policy demands that the na
tional and State legislation shall be such a.
g. Will ultimately enable every prudent aDC
= industrious citizen to secure a home, ant
: therefore the land should not be monopo
{ lized for speculative purposes.
e 'AH lands now held by RAILROADS ant
{ other corporations in excess of their actua
d needs should by lawful means be reclaim
e ed by the government and held for actua
: settlers only, and private land monopoly a
well as aiien ownership should be prohib
:, tied.
q 2. We condemn the frauds by which tn,
10 land grants to the Pacific Railroad compan
q les have, through conniyance of the Interio
Y department, robbed multitudes of actua
n bOnafide settlers of their homes and miner.
q Of their claims, that we demand Legislation
= by Congress which Will enforce the exemp
:, ton of mineral land from such grants after
Ii as well as before patent.
3 3. We demand that bonafde settlers OF
s. all public lands be provided free homes ant
be provided for in the national HomesteSa
Law, and that 10 exception be made in tn
case of Indian reservations when opene.
O for settlement, and that all lands not nov
y patented come under this demand.
- DIRECT IFGrsr,TroN
:. 4. We favor system Of direct legislation
J. through the initiative and referendum uu
der proper constitutional safeguards.
GENERAL PROJECTIONS
:. l. We deHand the election of Presiden
:. and Vice-Presfdent and United States Sens
tors by direct vote OF tie people.
- 2; We tender to the patriotic people Q
y struggle for political freedom and indeper
% dence, and we believe the time has com
n when the United States, the great RepubEi
N of the world, should recognize that Cuba
=. and Of right ought to be free and inds
-e 3: We favor home rule in the Territorie
= and the District of Columbia, and the earl
oi admission of Territories as States.
10 4. All public salaries should be made {
correspond to the price of labor and It's prc
i, ducts.
nf 5. In times Of great industrial depression
- =, idle labor should be employed on publ
.re ~ works as far as practicable.
OI 6. The arbitrary course of the courts
3 assuming to<imprison citizens for indire,
contempt and ruling by injunction. shoul
be prevented by proper legislation.
Il: We favor tust pensions for our disable
Is Union soldiers.
tb 8: Believing that the election franchi,
"a and untrammeled ballot are essential to
~ government of, for, and by the people, IL
e, Peoples Party condemns the wholesale sy
u tenn of disfranchisement adopted in son
sc States as un-Republican and un- Democrat
sy and We declare it to be the duty of the Sc
Ut eral State legislatures to take such action
vii! secure full, free and fair ballot ar
an honest count.
Q. While the foregoing propositions col
stitute the platform upon which our par,
stands and for the vindicafion Of which
as organization will maintain, we recoynj
that the great and pressing issue of Il
Ia pending campaign upon which the prcsel
ICE Presidential election will turn is the fina
srs cial question, and upon this great and 81
at- cifc issue between the parties, we cordial
ci- invite the aid and cooperation of all orga
92 1zatioEs and citizens agreeing with us up<
ce this vital question