The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-10-22
The Peoples Party National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform as

Following is the Populist platform as
1.-The Peoples Party assembled in Ma
honal convention, reaf6rms its allegiance
to the principles declared by the founders
of the Republic and also to the fundament-
al principles of just government as enunci,
ated in the platform of the party in 1892.
We recognize that through the connivance
of the present and preceding administra-
tons, the country has reached crisis in its
National life as predicted in our declaration
four years ago, and that prompt and patri-
We realize that while we have political indie
pendenee 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
peoples government, which functions have
| been basely surrendered by our public ser
| wants to corporate monopolies. The intiu-
ence 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 cor
rupt our legislatures to defeat the will of
the people and plutocracy has been en-
throned upon the ruins of Democracy. 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 fl
| nancial system which shall make us mas
tiers of our own affairs, and Independent of
European control by the adoption Of the
following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
l. We demand National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
ment only without the Intervention of
banks of issue, to be full legal tender for
all debts, public and private, so that a just,
equitable and efficient means of distribution
may be made direct to the people and
thrOu oh the lawful dishursemepf Of tho GOV.
eminent.
2. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver and gold at the present le-
gal ratio of Is to l without waiting for the
consent Of foreign nations.
8. We demand the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the demands of the bust.
ness people of this country and to restore
the just level of prices of labor and pro
duction.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds and the
J increase of the public Understanding bond
debt made by the present administration as
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 a.
; will prevent the demonstration of the law
full money of the United States by priYats
contract.
6. We demand that the government in
9 payment of its obligations shall use its op
: tons az to the kind of lawful money IL
O which they are to be paid and we denounc,
r surrendering this option to the holder.
of government obligations.
5 Z. We demand graduated income tax t.
: the end that aggregated wealth shall bea
e its just proportion of taxation and we de
! nounce the Supreme court, relative to tn,
income tax law, as q misinterpretation O.
the constitution and an invasion of tn,
rlghtful powers OF Congress over the sub
o ject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal sayings bank
safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
A and to facilitate exchange.
n RAILROADS.
1. Transportation being a means 0f ex
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroad
in the interest of the people on q non-par
i tisan basis; to the end that all may be &C
8 corded the same treatment in transporta
= ton, and that the tyranny and politlca
; power now exercised BY the great raiIroa,
- corporations, which results in the impair
ment if not the destruction of the politica
rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
a may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
d accomplished gradually in . manner con
IL sistent with sound policy.
2. The interest of the United States in th
public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian,
h to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
= ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an,
u protected for the general welfare, as provid
ed by the laws of organizing such railroads
q The foreclosure of existing lines of the Uni
II ted States on these roads should at once fol
y low default in the payment thereof of tn
debt OF companies, and at the foreclosur
10 sales of said roads the government sha]
- purchase the same if it becomes necessar
, to protect its interest therein or if they cal
be purchased at q reasonable price; and tn
e government shall operate said railroads q
d public highways for the benefit of tn
z whole people and not in the interest of tn
81 few, under suitable provisions for protet
r ton OF life and property; giving to ali tran.
pOrtation interests and privileges and eous
rates for fares and freight.
$. we denounce the present infamou
y schemes for refunding these debts and ID
& mand that the laws now applicable theret
y be executed and administered according I
= their true intent and spirit.
ts 4. The telegraph, like the postoffice sy.
n tern, beng necessity for the TRANSMISSION
= Of news should be-owned and operated b
y the government in the interest of people.
1. The true policy demands that the nj
n0nal and State legislation shall be such 9
viii ultimately enable every prudent an
y industrious citizen to secure home, al