The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-09-04
NATCHITOCHES LOUISIANA SEPTEMBER 4, 1896.
Peoples PART Plat
form.
Full Text of the one Adopted
at st. Louis.

:
the Peoples Party Convention, Gen. j
B. Weaver being chairman of the com
mittee on resolutions:
The Peoples party assembled in ma
tional convention, reailirms its allegi
ance to the principles declared by the
founders of the republic and also to the
fundamental principles of Just govern
ment as enunciated in the platform OF
the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the connivance of the present
and previous administrations the coun
try has reached crisis in its national
ife predicted in our declaration four
years ago, and patriotic action is the SUI
preme duty of the hour. We realize
that while we have political independ
ence our financial and industrial indie
pendence is yet to be attained by res
toring to our country the constitutional
control and exercise OF the functions
necessary to a peoples government
which functions have been bascly sur
rendered by our public servants to cor
rupt nionopolies. The influence OF the
Republican money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than
the voice of the American. people, cX-
ecutive power and patronage have been
used. to corrupt our industries and
defeat the will OF the people, and
plutocracy has been enthroned 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 economical finan-
cial system which shall make us masters
of our own affairs and independent of
European control, by the adoption OF
the following declaration OF principles;
FINANCE
Il. We demand a national money,
safe and sound, issued by the general
government only, without the interven-
ton of banks of Issue, to be full legal
tender for debts, public and private, and
a Just, equitable and efficient means OF
distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the
government,
2. We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of 16 to 1, with
out waiting for the consent OF foreign
nations,
3. We demand the volume of circu-
lating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the de-
mands of the business population oil
this country and to restore the just level
of prices of labor and production.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds
and the increase of the public interest
bearing bonded debt made by the present
administration, as unnecessary and with
out authority of law, and demand that
no more bonds be issued except by a
specific act of congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation
as will prevent the demonstration OF
the lawful money of the United. Estates
| by private contract.
9. We demand that the government
| in payment of its obligations shall use
| its option as to the kind of lawful mon
ey in which they are to be paid. and we
denounce the present and proceeding
administrations for surrendering this
option to the holders of government OBJ
legations
2. We demand the graduated income
tax, to the end that aggregated wealth
shall bear its just proportion of taxation,
and we denounce the decision of the
supreme court, in relation to the income
| tax law, as a misinterpretation OF the
constitution and an invasion of the
rightful powers of congress over the
subject of TAXATION.
8. We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government
for the safe deposit of the people and
\ to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
1. Transportation being the means oi
exchange and public necessity the gov
ernment should own and operate the
railways in the interest of the people
and on nonpartisan basis, to the END
that all may be accorded the same treat
ment in transportation, ana that thc
tyranny and political power now exer
cised by the great railroad corporations
which result in the impairment, il not
the destruction, OF the political rights
OF the citizens, may be destroyed. Sucl
ownership is to be accomplished gradu
ally in a manner consistent with sount
policy.
2. The interest of the United States
in the public highways built with public
money and the proceeds of extensive
grants of land to the Pacific railways
should never be aleinated, mOrtgagec
or sold. but guarded and protected fo
the welfare as provided by the laws or
panizing such railways. The foreclos
ure of the existing liens of the Unite,
States on these roads should at once fol
low default in the payment of the deb
of the companies and at the foreclosur
sales of said roads the government shal
purchase the same if it becomes necessa
nv to protect its interests therein or
they can be purchased at REASONABLE
price; and the government shall operat
said railways rs public highways fo
the benefit of the whole and not in tn
interest of the few, under suitable pro
visions for the protection of life an
Lproperty, giving to all transportatio
interests and privileges equal rates TO
fares and freight.
-3. We denounce the present infamou
schemes for refunding these debts an
demand that the laws now applicabl
thereto be executed and administere
according to their true intent and spiri
4. The telegraph, like the post -offic
system, being:a necessity for the trans
mission of news. should be owned an
operated by the government in the il
terest of the people.