Evening star., 1896-07-25
POPULIST PLATFORM.
Principles Advocated by the 8
Louis Convention.

Principles Advocated by the st.
Louis Convention.
The following Is the platform adopted by
tie populist convention yesterday:
The peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reaffirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders OF the
republic. and also to the fundamental prin-
ciples Of just government as enunciated in
the platform of the party in 1892.
We recognize that through the con-
nivance OF the present and preceding ad-
minstrations the country has reached
crisis in It's national life. as predicted IN
our declaration four years ago. and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of the hour.
We realize that while we have political
independence, our financial and Industrial
Independence Is yet to be attained by
storing to our country the constitutional
control and exercise of the functions nee
essary to peoples government. which
| functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopo-
lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice OF the American
people. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people, and plu-
toorecy has thereby 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 estab-
lShn:e mt of an economic and financial sys-
own affairs and Independent Of European
control by the adoption Of the following
declaration OF principles:
The Money Plank.
I. We demand national money. safe
| and sound. issued by the general govern
| ment only without the Intervention OF
banks of issue, to be full legal tender
| for all debts public and private; just.
equitable and efficient means of distribu-
ton. direct to the people. and through
the lawful disbursements of the govern
ment.
2. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver and gold at the present
legal ratio of 16 to l. without waiting for
| the consent Of foreign nations.
3. We demand that the volume of circu-
| lating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the demands
| of the business and population, and to re-
| store the just level Of prices Of labor ard
production.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds and the
| increase Of the public interest-bearing debt
made by the present administration as un-
| necessary and without authority Of law.
| and demand that no more bonds be issued
! except by specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonstration Of the lawful
money Of the United States by private con-
| tract
III
| payment Of its obligations, shall use its
| option as to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid. and we denounce
| the present and preceding administrations
| for surrenderng this option to the holders
| Of government obligations.
| T. We demand graduated income tax. to
the end that aggregated wealth shall bear
| it's just proportion of taxation, and we re-
gard the recent decision of the Supreme
Court relative to the income tax law as d
misinterpretation Of the Constitution and
an invasion Of the rightful powers of Con-
gress over the subject of taxation.
g. We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
| safe deposit of the savings Of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
Railroads and Telegraph.
/. Transportation being a means Of ex-
change and a public necessity. the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
| in the interest Of the people and on a nom
partisan basis to the end that all may be
accorded the same treatment in transpor
tation, ard that the tyranny and political
power now exercised by the great railroad
| corporations. which result In the impair
ment II not the destruction Of the political
rights and personal liberties Of the citizen,
may be destroyed Such ownership Is to
be accomplished gradually. in a manner
consistent with sound public policy.
2. The interest Of the United States in
| the public highways built with public
moneys and the proceeds Of grants Of land
| to the Pacific railroads, should never be
alienated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded
| and protected for the general welfare, as
provided by the laws organizing such rail-
roads. The foreclosure of existing liens of
| the United States on these roads should at
once follow default in the payment thereof
by the debtor companies; and at the fore
| closure sales of said roads the government
| should purchase the same, II it becomes
necessary to protect its interests therein
or II they can be purchased at a reasonable
price; and the government should opera te
said railroads as public highways for the
benefit of the whole people. and not in the
| interest Of the few, under suitable proyi-
| sions for protection of life and property
giving to all transportation interests equal
privileges and equal rates for fares and
freights.
3. We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts, and ds-
| mand that the laws now applicable there
to be executed and administered accord
ing to their intent and spirit
4. The telegraph. like the post office sys-
| tenn, being a necessity for the transmission
| Of news. should be owned and operated by
the government In the interest Of the peo-
| pie.
The Public Lands.
1. True policy demands that the national
| and state legislation shall be such as will
ultimately enable every prudent and in