The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-27

In order to keep our public servants
in thorough touch and sympathy with
the oppressed masses, and to check to
some extent the scramble for office,
we demand a reduction of salaries I'M
til such time as through an increase
of the currency the price of property |
and products will justify the present
rates.
The Peoples Party National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform as
adopted:
THE Peoples Party assembled IN Ma |
tiOnal convention, reatfirmS 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-
otto action is the supreme duty of the hour.
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
| wants to corporate mOnOpOhes. The int1u-
ence of European money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice of the American people. Executive
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.
!. 1. 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 tendef tor
all debts, public and private, so that jpst,
, equitable and efficient means of distribution
may be made direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursement of the gov.
eminent.
g. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver and gold at the present le
gal ratio Of l6 to l without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
3. We demand the volume of circulating
a medium be speedily increased to an amount
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
increase of the public interest bearing bono
: debt made by the present administration az
S unnecessary and without authority of law
S and that no more bonds be issued except
3. by specific act of Congress.
O 5. We demand such legal legislation al
J. | will prevent the demonstration of the law
!. full money of the United States by private
:. | contract.
&. We demand that the government il
II payment of its obligations shall use it's op
tons as to the kind of lawful money il
which they are to be paid and we denounc,
! the present and preceding administration
n fer surrendering this option to the holder
u of government obligations.
n 7. We demand graduated income tax t.
s the end that aggregated wealth shall bea
r its just proportion OF taxation and we lie
y nounce the Supreme court, relative to tn
income tax law, as misinterpretation o
the constitution and an invasion of tn
'e rightful powers of Congress over the sub
y ject of taxation.
s. 8. We demand that postal sayings bank
te be established by the government for til
ID safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
20 and to facilitate exchange.
At RAILROADS.
,r l. Transportation being a means of ez
change and public necessity, the govern
r. ment should own and operate the railroad
-, in the interest of the people on a non-pal
, tisan basis; to the end that all may be az
y corded the same treatment in transports
ly ton, and that the tyranny and politics
tie power now exercised by the great railroa
tn ment if not the destruction of the politics
Ia rights and personal liberties of the citizens
NV may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
~ accomplished gradually in manner col
s. sistent with sound policy.
re 2. The interest of the United States in til
IT public highways built with public money
es and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
lie to the Pacific railroad should never be aliel
n ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
~ protected for the general welfare, as PROVE
-. ed by the laws of organizing such railroad
o'i The foreclosure of existing lines of the I'm
"a. ted States on these roads should at once flo
nd low default in the payment thereof of tt
b. debt of companies, and at the foreciOsul
er- sales of said roads the government sha
purchase the same if it becomes necessal
i, to protect its interest therein or if they ca
~ be purchased at a reasonable price; and Il
~ government shall operate said railroads
or public highways for the benefit of Il
whole people and not in the interest of Il
- ton of life and property; giving to all tran
~ portation interests and privileges and equ
lis, rates for fares and freight.
,he 8. We denounce the present infamo
schemes for refunding these debts and q
mand that the laws now applicable there
:. be executed and administered according
rth their true intent and spirit.
,rn A. The telegraph, like the postofice 81
inc tenn, being necessity for the transmissi,
as of news should be owned and operated
o % the government in the interest of people.
UNI
no 1. The true policy demands that the Z
ORE tional and State legislation shall be such
81, will ultimately enable every prudent a
industrious citizen to secure home a
ina therefore the land should not be 1honoI
one Lied for speculative purposes.
rty ''An lands now held by railroads a
ave other corporations in excess of their act,
the needs, should by lawful means be reclai
hat u ~ 'ne soseinmenI . anu 1elo TOT act'
ted waii &c aI;Sr nwrersn;n shn'1d ~. psnb
the tied.
sac 2. We condemn the frauds by which