The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-13

tionnl cosyention. reafHrrns It's allegiance
TO the principles declared by the founders
CT the Republic and also 10 the fundAment
al principles Of Just government ~ .enuhci-
ated in the platform of the party in lstZ
We recognize that through the Connivance
OF the present and preceding Adfhinistra
tons. the country has reached crSst IN Us l
National life as predicted In our declaration |
four year ago. and that prompt and pa'ri-
otto seton - the supreme duty OF the hour |
We realize that while We have political lnde-
pendenee our financial aud industrial indie !
pendence - yet "a bs attained By restoring |
% our country the constitutional control
and exercise Of the functions necessary to |
people government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
vant- To corporate mOnopoliss. The inhu-
rnce OF European money changers has ben
more potent IA shaping legislation than the
voice Of the American peopls. EI"cutlEe
power and patronage have been used 20 cor
rupt our legislatures TO defeat the will OF
the people and plutDCracy has beeI en-
thrOned upon the ruins Of Democracy. 10
restore the government intended by the
fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
of this and future generations We demand
the establI shment of All economic ana u
nAncial system which shall make US mas
ters Of our own affair. and independent oi
European control by the adoption OF the
following
DECLARATIONS ~ PRINCIPLE.
/. We demand a National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
Gnent Only without the Intervention OF
banks OF issue, to b" a full legal tender Tor
all debts, puDtlC aud private, 80 that Just
equitable and efficient means Of distribution
may be made direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursement Of the gov
eminent.
z We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage OF silver and gold at tle present le-
of la
Couseut Of foreign nations.
D. We demand the volume OF circulating
medium be speedily increased 10 an amount
sufficient TO meet the demands OF the busl-
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 bond
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority OF law
and that no more bonds be issued except
by specific act of Congress.
D. We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the decentralization OF the law
full money of the United states by private
contract.
q. We demand that the government in
payment of It's Obligations shall use It's OPP
tons IA to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid and we dcnOunce
the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option to the holders
of government ODlIgatl ons.
I. We demand graduated income tax tC
the end that aggregated wealth shall beai
its Just proportion of taxation and We de
nounCe the Supreme court, relative to the
income tax law, as a mlsnterpretatiOn OF
the constitution and an Invasion of thu
rightful powers of Congress over the cub
iect of taxation.
3. We demand that postal sayings bank!
be established by the government Tor thu
safe deposit of the savings of the peopl,
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
L. Transportation being a means Of ex
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroad
in the interest of the people on non par
tisan basis; to the end that all may be &C
corded the same treatment in transporta
ton, and that the tyranny and politica
power now exercised by the great railroa
corporations, which results in the impair
ment il not the DIES ruCtOn OF the politiCa
rights and personal liberties of the citizens
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
accomplished gradually in . manner con
sstent with sound policy.
q The interest of the United States in tn
public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
nted mortuaged or sold, but guarded an
protected for the general welfare, rs PROVE
ed by the laws of organizing such railroads
The foreclosure of existing lines of the Tn
ted States on these roads should at once 70
low default in the pay ment thereof of tn
debt of companies, and at the fOreclosur
sales of said roads the government sha
purchase the same If it becomes necessar
to protect its interest therein or if they ca
Toe purchased at IA reasonable price; and tn
government shall operate said railroads q
public highways Tor the benefit of tn
whole people and not in the interest of til
few, under suitable provisions for prote,
tion of lite ana property; giving to all tran!
portatlon int rests and privileges and equ9
rates for fares aud freight.
We deuouuCe the present infamou
schemes for rtfuudlug these debts and q,
nand that the laws now applicable t"eret
be executed and dmn;stertd according
their true intent and spirit
4. The telegraph, IKE the postoltice sy
tenn, beng me- essity for the transmlssIo
of news should be owned ami operated b
the government IN the interest of people.
/. The true policy demands that the n,
tonal and ste legislation shall he such
VIII ultimately enable every prudent AT
indu,tri AIS citizen to secure a home an
therefore The nud should not be monop
LIED Ton spe ulative purposes.
"All lands now held by railroads an
other corporations IN excess of their aCtu
needs should Oy lawful means he reclaim
Ell by the government and held for actu
settlers only, and private land monopoly
well rs alien ownership should be proh
tied.
. We condemn the frauds by which ii
land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa
les have, through ConnivarCe of the Interi
department, robbed multitudes of actu
bonatide settlers of their homes and mine
OF their claims, that we demand lesislatic
by Congress which will enforce the exem
ton Of mineral land from such grants afte
rs well as before patent
3. We demand that bonafide settlers {
all public lands be provided free homes al
be provided for in the national Homestc,
law, and that no exception be made in Il
case of Indian reservations when open
for settlement, and that all lands not nc
patented come under this demand.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
4. We favor system of direct legislatit
through the initiative and referendum II
der proper constitutional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
l. We demand the election of Preside
and Nice-President and United States Sen
tors by direct vote OF TIE people.
2; We tender to the patriotic people
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their hero
struggle for political freedom and indepe
denCe, and we believe the time has cor
when the United States, the great Repub
of the world, should recognize that Cuba
and OF right ought to be free and inc
pendent State.
3. We favor home rule in the Territori
and the District of Columbia, and the ear
admission of Territories as States.
4. All public salaries should be made
correspond to the price of labor and its pr
ducts.
s. In times of great industrial depressio
idle labor should be employed on pub
works as far as practicable.
q The arbitrary course of the courts
assuming to imprson citizens for ipdir,
contempt and ruling by injunction, shou
be prevented by proper legislation.
=. We favor just pensions for our disabl
Union soldiers.
s. Believing that the election francb
and untrammeled ballot are essential to
government of, for, and by the people, t
Peoples Party condemns the W. olesa!e 3,
tenn of Acknowledgement adopted in sol
States as un-Republican and un- Democrat
and We declare il to ne the duty of the 5,