The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-07-28
THE PRoLE's PARTY PLATFORM.
Declaration of Principles Adopted by the
ST. Louis Convention.

The Peoples party assembled in
National Convention, reafirms it's al
Iegiance to the principles declared by
the founders of the Republic and also
the fundamental principles Of just
government as enunciated in the plat
form of the party in 1892 We recog.
nize that through the cOnnlvance or the
present and proceeding admlnlstra-
tions, the country has reached a Crisis
in its National life as predicted IN
declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the su
preme duty Of the hour. We realize
that while we have political indepen-
dence our financial and Industrial in
dependence Is yet to be attained by re
storing to our country the constitu-
tional control and exercise of the funC
tions necessary to a peoples govern
ment, which functions have been basely
surrendered by public servants to
corporate monopolies. The influence
of European money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than
the voice Of the American people. Elk
ecutive power and patronage have been
used to corrupt our legislatures to de-
feat the will Of the people, and plutoc
a has been enthroned upon the
ruins Of the democracy. To restore
the government intended by the faith
ers for the welfare and prosperity of
this and future generations, we demand
the establishment Of an economic and
financial system which shall make US
masters of our own aft airs, aud iude
pendent of European control by the
adoption of the following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
% We demand a National money,
safe and sound issued by the general
government only without the inter
vention of banks of issue, to be a full
legal tender for all debts, public and
private, so that a just equitable and
efficient means of distribution may be
made directly to the people and
through the lawful disbursement of the
government.
p We demand the free and unre
stric5ed coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of IL to 1 with
out waiting for the consent of foreign
na'ions.
81 We demand the volume Of Circu-
Iating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the de
mands of the business people of this
country and to restore the just level OF
prices of labor and production.
"a We denounce the sale of bonds
and tie Increase of the public interest
bearing bond debt made by the pres
ent administration as unnecessary and
without authority Of law, and that no
more bonds be issued except by specific
act of Congress.
~ We demand such legal legisla
ton as will prevent the characterization
Of the lawful money Of the United
States By private contract.
90 We demand that the government
in payment of it's obligations shall use
It's options as to the kind Of lawful
money in which they are to be paid,
and we denounce the present and pre-
ceding administration for surrendering
this option to the holders of govern
ment obligations.
~ We demand a GRADUATED income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth
shall Dear its just proportion of Taxa
tjon and we denounce the Supreme
Court relative to the income tax law,
a. a misinterpretation Of the constitu-
ton and an invation of the rightfui
powers of Congress over the subject Of
taxation.
~ We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
mant for the safe deposit of the savings
Of the people aud to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS
% Transportation being a means of
exchange and a public necessity, the
goverdm mt should own and operate
the railroads in the interest Of the PEG
pie on a non partisan basis, to the end
that all may be accorded she same
treatment in transportation, and that
the tyranny and political power now
exercised by the great railroad cUrpo,
r%ations, which results in the impair
mant if not the destruction Of the pc
I.icaI rights and personal liberties of
the citizens, may be destroyed. Such
ownership is to be &C :omplished grad
ualIy In a manner consistent with sound
policy.
q The interest of the United States