People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-03-12

Silver, which has been accepted as coin
ever since the dawn OF history has been de-
monetized 10 add to the purchasing power OF
gold, by decreasing the value OF all forms OF
property as well as human labor, and the
supply OF currency is purpOsely abridged to
fatt-n usurers, bankrupt enterprise and en-
slave INDUSTRY. vast conspiracy against
mankind has been organized on two con-
tinents and 1t is rapidly taking possession OF
the world, II not met and overthrow at
once II for0oGes terrible social commissions,
the destruction OF civilization, or the estab-
lishment OF an absolute despOtism. We have
witnessed for more than quarter of CEN
fury the struggles OF the two great political
parties for power and plumber, while
grieyous wrongs have been inflicted upon
the suffering people. We charge that the
controlling Influences dominating both CT
these parties have permitted the existing
dreadful conditions to oevelop without
serious effort TO prevent or restrain them.
Neither DO ley now promise us any sub
stantial reform. They have agreed together
70 ignore, In the coming campaign. every
issue but one. They propose to drown the
outcries OF plundered people with the up-
roar OF sham battle over the tariff, so that
capitalists, corporations, national banks,
trusts, watered stock, the demonstration uf
silver, and the expressions Of the usurers
may all be lost sight Of. They propose to
sacrifice our homes. lives and children on the
altar OF mAmmon; to destroy the multitude
In order TO secure corruption funds for'ths
milliqnaires. Assembled on tue anniversary
OF the birthday Of the nation and filed With
the spirit OF the grand general chief, who es-
tablished our independence, we seek - re-
store the government Of the Republic 10 the
hands OF the plain people" with whose class
II originated. We assert our purposes to be
identical with the purposes Of the national
constitution, TO form more perfect union
ana establish justice, Insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense.
promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings OF liberty for ourselves and our
posterity.
We declare that this Republic can only en-
dure as free government while built upon
the love OF the whole people for each other
ana for he natiOn that It cannot be pinned
together by bayonets; that the Civil war is
over and that every passion and resentment
which grew out OF 1t must die with 1t, and
that We must be in fact as we are IN name,
one united brotherhood. Our country 6nds
Itself confronted by conditions for which
there Is no precedent In the history Of she
world. Our annual agricultural productions
amount to billions OF dolla in value which
must In few weeks or months be EXCHANGED
for billions OF dollars Of commodities con-
sumed In their proc auction; the existing cur
rency supply Is wholly inadequate to make
this exchange. The results are falling
prices, the formation Of combines and rings,
the impOverishment OF the producing class.
We pledge ourselves that II given power we
will labor to orrect these evils by wise and
reasonable legislation in accordance with
the terms OF our platform.
We believe that the powers OF government
In other words, Of the people-should be
expanded las In the case Of the postal SER
vice. AS rapidly and as far as the good sense
OF an intelligent people and the teachings Of
experience shall justify, TO the end that op-
preston, injustice and poverty shall eyentu-
ally cease in the land.
While our sympathies as party OF reform
are naturally upon the side OF every propo-
sltl0n which will tend to make men intelli-
gent, virtuous ana temperate, we neverthe-
less regard these questiOns-impOrtsn rs
they areas secondary 10 the great issues
now pressing for solution, and upon which
not only our individual prosperity, but the
very existence Of froe institutions depend,
and we ak all men to first hep US to de err
MINI whether we are to have "a Republic 10
administer, before We differ as to the con-
ditions upon which 1t is TO be administered,
believing that the forces OF reform this day
organized will never cease TO move forward
until every wrong isrighted and equal rights
and equal privileges established for all the
) men and women Of this country; we declare
therefore,