Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-12-16
roruIIsr NATIONAL rIArroan.

The Peoples party, assembled In national
convention, reafiirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders OF the re-
OF Just government, as enuncisted IN the plat
form OF the party In 1892. We recognize that
through the conniyance OF the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reacne9 crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago. and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
nave political Independence. our financial
and industrial Independence is yet to be at.
tutionai control and exercise of the Functions
necessary to q peoples government which
lunctlons have been basely surrendered by
our pubnc servants to corporate mOnOpO-
lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and PATRONAGE
nave been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people. and plutoc-
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment Intended by the fathers, and for the well
Iare OF this and future generations we demand
cial system. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control, oy the adoption of the following dec-
iaration OF principles:
FINANCE.
first-W demand a national money, safe
ana sound, issued by the general government
only, without the Intervention OF banks of is
sue 10 be a full legal tender for all debts pub
nc ano private just, equitable and efficient
means or distribution direct to the people and
ernment.
Second-We demand the free and unre.
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiatlng medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet the demands of the
business ana population of this country and
10 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
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of law and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization 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 Optjon
as 70 tne KIND or lawful money in which they
are 10 De PAID, and we denOunce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders Of government
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear It's 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
Vasion OF the rightful powers of congress over
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the sa1e deposit or the savings of the people
ana to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
Flret-TransportatiOn being means of ex-
change and necessity, the government should
own ana 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. which result
n the Impairment, If not the destruction of
t th p0 t rights and personal liberties of
the CITIZEN, may be destroyed. Such owner
snip 10 10 De accomplished gradually in a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-Ihe 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 ;and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same If il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in, or II they can be purchased at q 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
few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF OH me aDa property giving to all transporta
for fares and freights.
Thlrd-We denOunce the present Infamous
scnem st TOT refunding these debts. and de-
mana lhat the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph. like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
OF news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
tlonal and state legislation shall be such as
Will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustriOus citizen to secure home and there
tore the land should not be moRopoized 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.
the land grants to Pacific railroad COMPANIES
nave, through the connivapce of the interior
department., robbed multitudes of actual bona
nde settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-we demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes as
provided in the national homestead law, and
that no exception be made i'm the case NJ In
dian reservations when opened for settIement
this demand.
system of direct legislation through the initia
i've and referendum under proper oonstitu-
tfonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
F1rst-We demand the election of president.
vice president and United States senator's by a
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic peoIle of
Cuoa our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we Delleve the time has come when the United
states, the great republic OF the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought TO
be, free and independent state
Th1rd-We favor home rule I'm the territories
ana the District of Columbia and the early ad-
mission OF the territories states
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
10 correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
ducts. " Pio
Flfth-ln these times of industrial depres-
sion idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Sixtn-The arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming to imprisOn citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by injunction should
DE prevented by proper legislation.
SeVenth-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
ana untrammeled bal OF are essential to gov
eminent of, for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and un-democratic aud we
declare 1t to be the duty of the several states
ieglsiatureS to take such action as will secure
full, free and fair ballot and an honest count
Nlnth-Wh bile the foregoing propositions con
stItute the platform upon which our Darty
md for IA