The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-24
PARTYS CREED.
Full Text of the Peoples Party
Platform.
EnunciateG at the National Con-
VentiOn.
AT ST. LOUIS TODAY.
Demands the Free and UnIimit-
ed Coinage of Silver.
The Omaha Platform.
AT ST. LOUIS TODAY

St. Louis, July 24.-Following is the
Populist platform as agreed upon by
the committee on resolutions:
The Peoples Party, assembled in ma
t1onal convention, reafTirms its allegi-
ance to the principles declared by the
founders of the republic and also to
the fundamental principles of just gov
ernment as enunciated in the platform
of the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the cOnnivance of the present
and preceding administrations the cOun-
try has reached a crisis in it's national
life as predicted in our declaration four
years ago, and that prompt and patrI-
Otic action IS the supreme duty of the
hour
We realize that while we have poIit-
ical independence our financial and in
dustrial independence is yet to be at
ta1ned by restoring to our country the
constitutional control and exercise Of
the functions necessary to peoples
government, which functions have been
basely surrendered by our public SER
wants to corporate mOnOpolies. The in
fuence of European money changers
has been more potent in shaping leg1s-
lation than the voice of the American
people. The executive power and
patronage have been used to corrupt
our legislatures and defeat the will of
the people and plutOcracy has thereby
been enthroned upon the ruins OF de-
mOcracy.
To restore the government intended
by the fathers and for the welfare and
prosperity ofthis and future genera
tiOnS, we demand the eStab abliShment of
an economic and financial system which
shall make US masters of our own af-
fairs and independent of European con-
troll by the adoption of the following
declaration of principles:
FINANCE.
F'irst-We demand a national money
safe and sound, issued by the general
government only, without the 1nterVen-
ton of banks of issue, to be a full legal
tender for all debts, public and private;
a Just, equitable and efficient means
of distribution direct to the people ana
through the lawful disbursements OF
the government.
Second-We demand the free and un-
restricted coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of is to l, with
out waiting for the consent of foreign
Third-We demand that the volume
of circulating medium be speedily IN
creased to an amount sufficient to meet
the demands of the business and popu-
lation of this country and to restore the
just level of prices of labor ana pro
duction.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of
bonds and the increase of the pubic
interest bearing debt made by the pres
ent administration as unnecessary ana
without authority of law and we de-
mand that no more bonds be issued ex-
cept by specific act of congdesS-
Fifth-We demand such legislation as
will prevent the demOnetIzatIOn OF the
lawful money of the United states Dy
private contract
Sixth-We demand that the govern
ment in payment of its obligations.
shall use it's option as to the kind OF
lawful money in which they are to be
paid and we denounce the present and
preceding administrations for Surren-
dering this option to the holders OF
government obligations
Seventh-We demand a graduated
income tax to the end that aggregated
wealth shah bear its just proportion
l.lcr aTra a
decision of the supreme court relative
to the income tax law as misinter-
DretatiOn of the constitution and an in
yasiOn of the rightful powers of con-
yress over the subject of taxation.
EIighth-We demand that postal saw
ings banks be established by the gov
ernment for the safe deposit OF the
savings of the people and to facilitate
TRANSFORMATION
F7irst-TranspOrtat being a means
of exchange, it is necessary the gov
ernment should own and operate the
railroads in the interest of the people
and on a nOn-partisan basis; to the
end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that
the tyranny and political power now
exercised by the great railroad cOrpor
atiOns, which result in the impairment,
if not the destruction of the political
rights and personal liberties of the
citizen may be destroyed Such own
ership is to be accomplished gradually
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 Pa
cific railroads should never be aliena-
ted mortgaged or sold, but guarded
and protected for the general welfare
as provided by the laws organizing
such railroads. The foreclosure of -ex-
isting liens of the United States on
these roads should at once follow de-
fault in the payment thereof by the
debtor companies; and at the fore
closure sales of said roads the govern
ment shall purchase the same if it be
therein, or if they can be purchased at
a reasonable price; and the govern
ment 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 all transportation interests equal
privileges and equal rates for fares
and freights.
Third-We denounce the present in
famous schemes for refunding these
debts and demand that the laws now
applicable thereto be executed and ad-
ministered according to their true in
tent and spirit.
FOurth-The telegraph, like the post
office system being a necessity for the
transmission of news should be owned
and operated by the government in the
interest of the people,
LAND.
The true policy demands that the ma
tional and the state legislation shall be
such as will ultimately enable every
prudent and industrious citizen to Sc
should not be monopolized for specula-
tive purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in ex-
cess of the actual needs should by