The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-29

the same if it becomes necessary to
protect it's interests therein, or if
they can be purchased at a reasona.
ble price !; and the Government shall
operate said railroads as public high
ways for the benefit of the whole
people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for
protection Of life and property, CIV
Ing to all transportation interests
equal privileges and equal rates for
fares and freights
3. We denounce the present In
famous schemes for refuuding these
debts and demand that the law now
applicable thereto, be executed and
administered according to it's intent
and spirit
4 The telegraph, like the post
Office system. being necessity for
the transmission of news, should be
owned and operated by the Gov
ernment in the interest of the people.
True policy demands that the Ma.
tional and State legislation shall be
such as will ultimately enable every
prudent and Industrious citizen to se.
cure home, and therefore, the land
should not be monopolized for specu-
tive 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 natural set
tiers ouly, and private land monopo.
ly, as we'll as alien ownership. should
be: prohibited.
2. We condemn the frauds by
which the land grant Pacific Railroad
Companies, have through the conn-
vance of the Interior Department,
robbed multitudes of actual bona fde
settlers of their homes and miners of
their claims, and we demand legisla-
ton by Congress which which will
enforce the exception of mineral
lands from such grants after as we'll
as before the patent.
8. We demand that bona fide set
tiers on all public lands be granted
free homes as provided IN the Nation
al homestead law, and that no except
ton be made in the case of Indian
reservations when opened for settle
ment and that all lands not now pat
ented come under this demand.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
Eve favor system of direct leg
islation through the initiative and
referendum under proper constitu-
tional safeguards
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
/. We demand the election of Pres.
ident, Vice President and United
States senators by direct vote of
the people.
2. We tender to the patriotic peo-
pie of Cuba, our deepest sympathies
in their heroic struggle for political
freedom and independence, and we
believe the United States, the great
republic of the world, should recog-
nize that Cuba is and of right ought
to be free and independent State
3. We favor home rule in the ter
ritories and the District of Columbia
and the early admission Of the Terri
tories as States.
4. All public salaries should be
made to correspond to the price of
labor and its products.
5. In times of great industrial de-
preston Idle labor should be employ.
ed on public works as far as practi-
cable.
6 The arbitrary course Of the
courts in assuming to imprison citi
zens for indirect contempt and ruling
them by Injunction should be pre-
vented by proper legislation.
7 We favor just pensions for our
disabled Union soldiers.
8. Believing that the elective
franchise and an untrammeled ballot
are essential to government of, for
and by the people, the Peoples
Party condemns the wholesale sys-
tenn of disfranchiment adopted in
some of the States as un-Republican
and un. Democratic, and we declare
it to be the duty of the several State
Legislatures to take such action as
will secure full, free and fair ballot
and an honest count.
9. While the foregoing PROPOSE
tions constitute the platform upon
whicn our party stands, and for the
vindication of which its organization
will be maintained, we recognize
that the great and pressing issue of
the campaign upon which the pres
ent election will turn is the financial
question, and upon this great specific
issue between the parties, we coIdi-
ally invite the aid and cooperation