The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-25
THE POPULIST PLATFORM.
For Free Silver, n Graduated Incom,
Tax and Postal Savings Banks.

| For Free Silver, n Graduated Income
! Tax and Postal Savings Banks.
The platform of principles adopted by
the Peoples party convention is in sub
| stance as follows:
| The Peoples party, assembled in national
| convention, rcal1lrms its allegiance to the prin-
ciples declared by the founders of the republic,
! and also to the fundamental principles of Just
| government as enumerated in the platform Of
| the party in 1892. We recognize that through
| the connvancc OF the money power our liber-
| ties have been basely surrendered by our pub
| lie servants to corporate monOpoliei The in
| tucncc of European money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice of the American people. Executive power
and patronage have been used to corrupt our
legislatures and defeat the will of the people,
and putocracy has been enthroncd upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
mcnt intended by the fathers, and for the well
fare and prosperity Of this and future genera
tons, we demand the establishment of an
economic financial system which shall make us
masters of our own affairs and independent of
European control by the adoption Of the fol-
lowing declaration:
We demand national money safe and sound,
issued by the general government only, with
out the intervention Of banks Of issue to be a
full legal tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate, so that just, equitable and efficient
means Of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful dsbursing officers of the
government may be provided.
We demand the free and unrestricted coin
age of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
of 10 to ! without waiting for the consent of
foreign nations.
Transportation being means OF exchange
and public necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
Of the people nd on bipartisan basis, to the
end that al Hay be accorded the same trent
ment in transportation, and that the tyranny
and political power now exercised by the great
railroad corporations which result in the i'm
pairment If not the destruction, of the political
rights and personal liberties of the citizen may
be destroyed, Such ownership is to be accom-
pshed gradually in manner consistent with
sound public policy.
The interest of the United States in the pub.
lie highways, built with public moneys and the
proceeds Of extensive grants of land to the
Pacific railroads, should never be alienated,
mortgaged, or sold but guarded and protected
for the general welfare, as provided by the laws
organizing such railroads. The foreclosure of
existing liens of the United States on these
roads should at once follow default in the pay.
ment thereof.
All lands now held by railroads and other
corporations in excess Of their actual needs,
should, by lawful means, be reclaimed by tho
government and held for actual settlers only,
and private land monopoly, as well as alien
ownership, should be prohibited.
We demand that bona fldc settlers on all pub
lie lands be granted free homes, as provided in
the national homestead law, and that no ex-
ception he made in the case Of Indian reserva-
tions when opened for settlement, and that all
lands not now patented come under this do
mand.
We favor a system of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum, under
proper constitutional safeguards.
We demand the election of president, vice
president and United States senator's by q di
rect vote Of the people.
We dcnounce the sale Of bonds and the in
crease Of the public interest bearing bond debt
made by the present administration as unneces-
sary and without authority Of law, and that no
more bonds be issued except by specific act Of
congress-
We demand such legal legislation as will pre-
vent the decentralization OF the lawful money
OF the United States by private contract.
We demand graduated income tax to the
end that aggregated wealth shall bear its just
proportion Of taxation and we denounce the
supreme court, relative to the income tax law,
as misntcrpretation Of the constitution and
an invasion Of the rightful powers Of congress
over the subject Of taxation.
We demand that postal savings banks be cs-
tablishcd by the government for the safe de-
post Of the savings of the people and to facli.
tate exchange.
We tender to the patriotic people of Cuba
our deepest sympathy in their heroic struggle
for political freedom and independence, and
we believe 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.
All public salaries should be made to CORE