Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-28
THE PoPuLIsT rLATFoRM.

The populists at St. Louis could not
obtain a candidate of their own for Presi-
dent OF the United States. but they Sc
cured a platform OF their own. which
contains features not to be found In any
other platform which has been erected
for the use Of the people or the voters
We gave this platform in full in our last
issue 1t is carefully worded. and II Is
expected, we surmise, that the Demo
Gratis will accept It as satisfactory to
them But they won't. Let US examine
1t. 1t is the expression Of the creed OF
large number OF voters. and will be
sent forth TO the world as such. The
denunclations OF corporate monopolies"
are too indefinite to amount to much SO
is the unsupported declaration that the
influence of European moDey-changers
has been more potent in shaping legisla-
ton than the voice Of the American peo-
pie.
But the Populist platform Is compact
document when you get through with It's
general denunciatlons and see what the
Populists declared in favor Of. rather
than what they declared against. The
following is what they have TO say on
the money question::
l. We demand a national money, safe
| and sound issued by the General Govern
ment only, without the Intervention OF
banks OF issue TO be n full legal tender
for all debts, public and private; a just,
equitable and efficient means of distri-
button, direct 10 the people, and through
the lawful disbursements OF the govern,
menf.
2. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver and gold, at the present
legal ratio of 16 10 /. without waiting
for the consent Of foreign nations.
8. We demand that the volume Of cir
cuating medium be speedily Increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the demands
Of business and population. and 10
restore the just level Of prices OF labor
and production.
4. We denounce the sale Of bonds. ana
the increase Of the public. interest 5ear-
ing debt made by ire present admlnistrs-
ton as unnecessary, and without aufhor,-
~ OF law and demand that nc more tonds
la issued, except by specific act CT con
lress.
5. We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization OF the lawful
money OF the United States by private
contract.
c. We demand that the government, IN
payment of its obligations. shall use IT'S
option as to the kind of lawful money
I'm which they are TO be paid. and we
denounce the present and preceding adj
ministra tions for surrcndering this op-
ton 10 the holders Of government obliga-
tons.
2 We demand a graduated. income-tax,
to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its Just proportion Of taxation, ana
we regard the recent decision Of the SUI
prone Court relative to the income-taX
law as a misinterpretation of the Con-
stitution. and an invasion Of the rightful
powers OF Congress over the subject OF
taxation.
g. We demand that postal saving banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit Of the savings Of the people,
and to facilitate exchange.
No. l declares against State banks ana
in favor Of national money, safe and
sound" We suppose that n majority OF
the voters of the Southern States are in
favor of State-bank issues, but they may
accept in lieu thereof the safe and
sound" money demanded in the Populist
platform. However. they may accept No.
as an acceptable substitute for the ut
terance Of the Democratic national plat
form on this subject. No. Is indefinite
There is no man living who can tell how
much "the volume of circulating medium
would have to be increased or diminished
under that plank.
No we favor AS a general rule.
We must own that we have not approved
some Of the loans issued by the admins
tration.
No 8, we suspect. is intended to favor
legislation Gf that be possible) TO prevent
contracts being made. the consideration
of which is gold coin" rather than 'law-
full money Of the United States"
No. 6 is a declaration in favor OF using
both gold and silver in paying the
debts Of the government.
No. demands a graduated income
tax-that is, an income-taX. the percent
age Of which shall increase as the in
come-tax itself increases.
No demands a system Of postal
savings banks The system Is in use in
England, but we do not think the British
income-tax is a graduated one.