The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-06
Tn. peoples PARTY Platform.

Following Is the Populist platform as
adopted:
THE Peoples Party assembled IN Ma
tional convention, resfiirms It's allegiance
90 the principles declared by the founders
OF the Republic and also to the fundameni
al principles Of Just government as ennnci-
ated In the platform 81 the party IN lsJZ
We recognize that through the connivance
Of the present and preceding adminisirS
tons the country has reached crisis IN It's
National life as predicted ia our declaration
four years ago. and that prompt and pstrl-
otto action is the supreme duty Of the hour.
We realize that while We have political indie
penicnec our hnancial and industrial indie
pendencs N yet To he attained by restoring
To our country the constitutional control
and exercise Of the functions necessary to a
people government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
wants % corporate mOnopoiies. The iniiu-
.nce OF European money changers has ben
more potent IN shaping legislation than the
voice Of the American people Executive
power ald patronage have been used 10 cor.
Tupt our legislatures TO defeat the Will OF
the people and plutDcracy has bee en-
thrOncd upon the runs ot Democracy. To
restore the government intended by the
fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
Of this aud future generations se demand
the establishment Of AL eCOuOmtc and Il
nanclal system which shall maze US mas
tiers of our own affairs and Ind-i~"d~nt OF
European control by the al on Of the
following.
d cLARArioS or rEfScIrLE..
l. We demand a National msney, safe
and sound issued 10y the general govern
msnt Only without the intervention of
hanks Of l,sue, to be- "a full legal tender for
all debts puDllC and private, so that "a Just
equitable and efficient means Of distribution
may he made direct To the people and
through the lawful disbursement Of the gov
eminent
z We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver ana gold at the present le
gal ratio Of ~ To without waiting tor the
consent Of foreign nations.
2. We demand the volume Of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient 10 meet the demands Of the bust
ness people OF this country and 10 restore
the just leye! 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.
b. We demand such legal legislation az
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 its obligations shall use its op
tons M to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid and we denounCt
the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option TO the holder
of government obligations.
I. We demand graduated income tax L
the end that aggregated wealth shall bea
its just proportion of taxation and we lie
nsunCe the Supreme court, relative to tn
income tax law, AS a misinterpretation o
the constitution and an invasion of tn
rightful powers of Congress over the sub
ect of taxation.
=. We demand tlrat postal sayings bank
be established by the government for tn
safe deposit OF the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
/. Transportation being means of ex
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroad
in the interest of the people on non-pal
tisan basis; to the end that all may be az
corded the same treatment in transports
ton, and that the tyranny and politics
power now exercised by the great rairoa
corporations, which results in the impair
ment IL not the DIES ructon of the politics
rights and personal liberties of the citizens
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to
accomplished gradually in a manner cor
sistent with sound policy.
2. The interest of the United States in til
public highways built with public moneys
To the Pacific railroad should never be alieI
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
protected for the general welfare, rs provit
ed 10y the laws of organizing such railroad
The foreclosure OF existing lines of the Tn
ted States on these roads should at once TO
low default in the pa, ment thereof of ti
debt of com panies, and mt the foreclosul
sales of SAID roaus the government sha
purchase the same If il becomes necessar
to protect us interest therein or If they ca
be putchas ell at II reasonable price; and II
government shall operate said railroads
public high ways tor the benefit of IL
VIII lie people and not in the interest of Il
few, under suitable provisions for prote
tiun of lie ana pro,er',; 9iviup to al tran
portatton mt rests -" pt'Nl ges end equ
rates Tor fares auu z sIgtd
". IehounC, We pre- mt iufamOl
scllc rs Tor rttun.iing tI.e.,' tits and q
mand tuH the laws now rIItt ,t t'rre
be ,xtcuted and umlnJsj "a cblding
their true intent and sprft
4. The telegraph, IKE Ii'- l'"-'otiice sv
TEN, NeIng ne essity for tur Irau,IuIssIo
OF news s'ou'd be owned anI u! Grated /
the COVER rnent III the interest OF people
l. The tru" policy demands that the n
tioual and ate legislation shall be such
will ultimately enable every prudent al
industrious citizen to secure a home ar
therefore he land should not be niouop
Azed tor speculative purposes.
IAN lands now held by railroads al
other corporations in excess of their actu
needs, should by lawful means be reClail
ed by the government and held for actn
settlers only, and private land monopoly
well as alien ownership should be prohi
tied.
2 We condemn the frauds by which Z
land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa
les have, through counivance of the Interi
department, robbed multitudes of actu
bonatide settlers of their homes and mine
OF their claims, that we demand legislati
by Congress which will enforce the exen
ton of mineral land from such grants aft
rs well as before patent.
3, We demand that bonafide settlers
all public lands be provided free homes a
be provided for in the national Homeste
law, and that no exception be made in I
case or Indian reservations when open
for settlement and that all lands not n,
patented come under this demand
DIRECT LEGISLATION
4. We favor system of direct legislati
through the initiative and referendum l
der proper constitutional safeguards. \
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
l. We demand the election of Presid,
and Nice-President and United States Sc,
tors by direct vote of tie people.
= We tender to the patriotic people
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their her
siuSSle AoI polllCdt freedom ana lndeD
dence, and we believe the time has co
when the United States, the great Reput
of the world. should recognize that Cub,
and of right ought to be free and in
pendent State.
3. We favor home rule in the Territor
and the District of Columbia, and the ca
admission of Territories as States.
4, All public salaries should be made
correspond to the price of labor and its .
ducts.
s. In times of great industrial depressi,
IDLE labor should be employed on pub
works as far as practicable
The arbitrary course of the courts
assuming to imprison citizens for indir
contempt and ruling by Injunction. sho,
be prevented by proper leviSI,t;or