Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-08-05
popuL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.


The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reaffirms its allegiance to the
priHciples declared by the founders of the re-
pupnc. and also to the fundamental principles
OF JUST government, as enunciated fu the plat
form OF the party in 1892 We recognize that
through The c0nniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
DUTY OF the hour. We realize that while VIC
nave political Independence. our financial
and industrial independence is vet to be at
tanned by restoring TO our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary to PEOPLES government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our public 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-
racy mas thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers, and for the well
rare OF this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
cial So stem. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand national money. safe
and sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue to be a full legal tender for all debts pub
nc and prlyate-a just, equitable and efficient
means of distributiondirect to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
str1cted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen TO one without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations,
Inird-We demand that the volume OF cir
culat1ng medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
to 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 Iawand
tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
citic act of congress.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the characterization of the lawful
money OF the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government in
payment of it's obligations, shall use its option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
TAX 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as n mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in.
vaslon OF the rlghttul powers of congress over
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
l,, be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
First-Transportation being a means of ex.
change and necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and on q non-partisan basis: ia
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny nd political power now exercised by
in the impairment. ii not the destruction, of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-The 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 no lion
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 com panics land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same if il he
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or Ii they can be purchased at a 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 life and property, giving to ali Transports
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
Ih1rd-We denOunce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts. and de-
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
t1onal and state legislation shall be such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
9ustrlouS citizen to secure home, and there
tore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess Of
tneir actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed Dy the government and held for ac-
I ual settlers only, and pri Jate land monopoly,
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
nave, through the connivanee of the interior
department. robbed multitudes of actual bona
nee settlers OF their homes and miners of their
Claims, ana we demand legislation by congress
which viii enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants after as we'll as before
patent,
Third-We demand that all bona tido settlers
on all pupnc lands be granted free homes as
provided in the national homestead law and
tnat no exception be made in the case o. In
uIau reservations when opened for settlement,
this demand.
Legislation: we favor
system of direct legislation through the initia
tive and referendum under proper constitu-
donal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators nv n
direct vote of the people,
Second-We tender to the patriotic Deor 10 of
CUBA our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for political freedom and independence and
we believe the time has come when tue United
states, ting gfea. republic OF the world should
recognize That Cuba IS, and OF right ought to
be. a free and independent state
IaiFd-Ne FAVOR homo rule In the ta-jri+ori.s
and the District OF Columbia nd the early adj
MISSION OF the terrific. es as states.
Hour'"--All public salaries should be made
ducts. 80 ~"
Fifth-In these times of Industrial depres-
SION lcie isEor Should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
olxtn-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts in
tempt and ruling them by injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation
Seventh-We favor Just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Elghth-Believin2 that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential TO gov
eminent of, for and by the people the PeoDIss
party condemns the wholesale system OF dis
adopted in some of the states
as un-repuDtcan and un-democratic aud we
declare II 70 be the DUTY OF the several states
legislatures to take such action as will SECURE
a full, free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth While the foregoing propositions con
stitute the platform upon which OR t,arty
stands. and for the vinGicatio1 of which its or
ganiZati0n will be maintained, we recognize
tnat the great and pressing issue of the pend
Dental election will turn Is Inc financial. cues
ton, and unOn this great and ,Def.,fif. iss,,e re-