The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-08-14
NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA, AUGUST IA, 1896.
Peoples Party Plat
form.
Fall Text OF the one do pied
All ST. L0uiS.

The following is the platform and res
olutions adopted at St Louis by
the Peoples Party Convention, Gen. J.
B. Weaver being chairman of the com
mittee on resolutions:
The Peoples party assembled in na-
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 enunciate1 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 n 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 indcpen1-
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 peoples government,
which functions have been basely sur
rendered by our public servants to cor
rupt monopolies. The influence OF the
Republican money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than
the voice of the American people, ex-
ecutivc power and patronage have been
| used 4 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 iinar-
~. -bol -
OF our own affairs and Independent of
| the following declaration of principles:
FINANCE. +.
l. We demand n national MONEY,
safe and sound, issued by the general
government only. without the intcrvcn-
| ton of banks of issue, to be fall legal
tender for debts, public and private. and
Just, equitable and efficient means OF
distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements OF the
government,
.. We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage OF silver and gold at
the present legal ratio OF IS to l, with
| out waiting for the consent oi foreign
| nations,
3. We demand the volume of circu-
| lating medium DC speedily increased 10
an amount sufficient to meet the de
mands OF the business populltiOn Oi
this country AMI TO restore the just level
OF prices OF Labor and proluction.
4. We denOunce the sale OF bonds
and the increase of the public interest
bearing borde,; debt made by the present
| administration, rs unnecessary and with
out authority of law, and demand that
no more bonds be issued except by u
specific act OF congress.
8. We demand such legal legislation
as will prevent the decentralization of
the lawful money Of the United States
| by private contract.
6. We demand that the government
| in payment OF its obligations shall Use
| its option Is to the kind OF lawful mon
ey in which they are 10 be paid, AMI We
denounce the present and preceding
| administrations for surrendering this
option to the holders OF government OBJ
| ligations.I
z. We demand the graduated income
tax, to the end that aggregated wealth
shall bear its just proportion oi taxation.
| and we den nvuuce the decision OF the
| supreme court in relation to tie income
tax law, rs u mi,intcrpretttiOl OF the
constitution ana IN 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 oI the people and
to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
1. Transportation being the means of
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 the
tyranny and political power now excr-
ciscd by the great railroad corporations.
which result in the impairment If not
the destruction, OF the political rights
of the citizens, may be destroyed. Such
ownership is to be nc, onplished gradu
ally in 4 manner consistent with sound
policy.
2. The interest of the United States
in the public highways built with public
money ard the proceeds of extensive
grants of land to the Pacific railways
should never be aleinatcd, mortgagei
or sold but guarded and protected FOR
iit lfiOflt|h " Laws va
ganizing such railways. The foreclos-
ure of the existing liens of the United
States on these roads should at once DOL
low default in the payment of the debt
of the companies and 80 the foreclosure
sales of said roads tie government hall
purchase the same ii il becomes neceSsa-
ry to protect its interests therein or ii
they can be purchased at a reasonable
price; and the government shall operate
said railways us public highways for
the benefit OF the whole ani not in the
interest of the few, under suitable pro-
visions for the protection OF life and
property. giving to all transportation
interests and privileges equal rates for
fares and freight
3. We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts aud
demand that the laws now applicable
thereto be executed and administered
accordiuD To their true intent and sDiri.