The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-20

tion. the country has reached crisis IN ~
National liLS a. prc,iilted IN orr DECLARATION
four year. ago ard that prompt an" patri-
otto action u tho supreme duty o! the hour.
Ne realize that while NC have political inde-
pcndsnes our financial snd industrial lbd"-
trp iencs IN yet IA lee attained by restoring |
10 our country the CONSTITUTIONAL coE'ro' 1
and exercise Of the functions nec'-ary To /
uropl-s government. which ftsIctou. haNs /
is.cn bz.~ly surrendered ~ our public ser |
,ant. 10 coryorats monopoles. The inhu- |
enoe Of European money changer hhs D'en |
more potent In shaping Legislation than the |
voice of the American people. Executive
power aud patronage have been used "a cor
rspt our legislatures To defeat The Wall oil
the people sud plHtOcrncy has been en-
throncd upon the ruins Of Democracy. 10
restore the government iHiGul@d by the
fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
Of this aud future generations. ve demand
the establishment Of an economic and 81
uancial system which shall make u. mas
ters Of our own affairs. and independent 81
European control by the adoption of III"
following
DECLARATION % rEISCfrL,..
4. We demand National money, safe
and sound is.ued by the general govern
usHt only without the Intervention or
banks Of issue, to be full legal tender for
nil debts public and private, 10 that "a Just.
EQUITABLE and efficient means OF distribution
through the lawful disbursement Of the gov
eminent
= Ne demand the free and unrestricted
co.aaye OF silver and gold at the present ie-
"a! ratio OF ~ To- without waiting Tor the
consent OF foreign nations.
3. We demand She volume OF CIrculatIDs
medium he speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the dpmands OF the busi-
ness people of this country and 10 restore
the Just level Of prices oil labor and pro
ductIOA.
4. We denounce the sale Of bonds and the
increase of the public interest bearing bond
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and Without authority or law
and that no more bonds be issued except
by specific act OF Congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the decentralization OF the law
full money Of the United states by priYat.
contract.
g. We demand that the government in
payment of It's obligations shall use It's op-
lions as to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid and we denounce
the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option to the holders
OF government obligations.
7. We demand "a graduated income tax 10
the end that aggregated wealth shall beai
its lust proportion Of taxation and we de
nounCe the Supreme court, relative to Tho
income tax law, as Il msinterpretation o
the constitution and an invasion of tn,
rightful powers OF Congress over the sub
lect OF taxation.
s. We demand that postal savings bank
he established by the government for thu
safe deposit of the savings of the peop
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
1. Transportation being IA means of ex
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroad
in the interest OF the people on nOn-paI
tisan basis; To the end that all may ba &c
corded the snme treatment in transports
ton, and that the tyranny and politiCa
power now exercised 10y the great railrOa
corporations which results in the impair
ment if not the DIES ruCtiOn OF the poIiticg
rights and personal liberties of the citizen.
may be destroyed Such ownership is TO b
accomplished gradually in "A manner cor
sistent with sound policy.
.. The interest of the United States in tn
public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
to the Pacific railroad should never he alier
ated, mOrtgaged or sold, but guaLded an
protected for the general welfare, as provi,
ed by the laws OF organizing suCh railroad
The foreclosure of existing lines of the Tn
ted States on these roads should at once 70
low default in the payment thereof of I'll
debt OF companies, and at the fOreClosul
sales @f sad roads the government sha
purchase the same If 1t becomes ueCessaI
to- protect its interest therein or il they ca
be purchased at "A reasonable price; and IL
government shall operate said railroads
public highways for the benefit of Il
whole people and not in the interest of Il
few, under suitable provisions for prote
ton OF life md property; giving to all tran
portation interests aud privileges and eQut
rates for fares and freight.
g. We denounce the present infamOI
schemes for refuudiug these debts and q
mand that the laws now applicable there
be executed and administered according
their true intent and spirit.
4. The telegraph, like the postoIlice sy
TEN, beng necessity for the tranSmisslC
of news should he owned and operated |
the government in the interest of people
LAND.
|. The true policy demands that the n
tonal and State legislation shall be such
will ultimately enable every prudent al
industrious citizen to secure q home al
therefore the land should not be monor
lied for speculative purposes.
IAN lands now held by railroads al
other corporations in excess of their actu
needs, should by lawful means be reclail
ed by the government and held for actu
settlers only, and private land monopoly
well as alien ownership should be prob
tied.
2. We condemn the frauds by which {
land grants to the Pacific Railroad Compa
les have, through Connivance of the Inter
department, robbed multtudes of aCtI
bonatde settlers of their homes and min
OF their claims, that We demand legislati
by Congress which will enforce the exen
ton of mineral land from such grants aft
rs well as before patent
j. We demand that bonafide settlers
all public lands be provided free homes a
be provided for in the national Homeste
law, and that no exception be made in
case OF Indian reservations when oper
Nrr a.NttI a,,t
patented come under this demand.
DIRECT LEGISLATION
4. We favor a system of direct lepislat
through the initiative and referendum
der proper constitutional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
/. We demand the election of Presid
and Nice-President and United States Sc
tors by direct vote of the people.
2. We tender to the patriotic people
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their hel
struggle for political freedom and indep
dence, and we believe the time has co
when the United States, the great RepuI
of the world, should recognize that Cub
and OF right ought to be free and in
pendent State.
3. We favor home rule in the Terrific
and the District of Columbia, and the ca
admission of Territories as States
4. All public salaries should be mad,
correspond to the price of labor and its !
ducts.
.. In times OF great industrial depressi
idle labor should be employed on pu
works as far as practicable.
d The arbitrary course of the courts
assuming to imprison citizens for rndi
contempt and ruling by injunction. sho
be prevented by proper legislation.
=. We favor just pensions for our disat
Union soldiers
8. Believing that the election francl
and untrammeled ballot are essential I
government OF, for and by the people,
Peoples Party condemns the w olesale
tenn of acknowledgements adopted in st
States as up-Repubcan and un-Democrl
and we declare it to he the duty of the
eral State legislatures to take such actio
will secure full free ard fair ballot
an honest count.
3. While the foregoing propositions ,
stitute the platform upon which our ~
stands and for the vindiCation OF which