The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-09-24

that the next General Assembly fully
investigate this transaction, and TO
the end that the interests OF the State
may be fully protected as far a. it can
be done, such legislative action shall
be taken as to counteract. as far a
possible, this unwise and secret trans
action.
REMOVAL OF CASES.
The removal of cases from the State
courts to the Federal courts for trial
wherein the plaintiffs are poor per-
sons and defendants rich foreign cor
ants, is a growing eyi! in North Caro-
lima, and in its practical operation
frequently amounts to denial of JUS
tice to poor suitors, and therefore
should be condemned. We demand,
therefore, that the next General AS
sembly shall pass such general stat
ute on this subject as to take from
sGch corporations doing business in
this State the privilege Of carrying on
business in North Carolina, and with
drawing the protection of the State
extended to their business, if they
persist in escaping the jurisdiction of
our courts when claims are sought to
be enforced against them therein.
We advocate such legislation as will
insure just listing and taxation of
all evidences of deot, and make an
equitable adjustment of the burden of
taxation between the debtor and a
creditor.
REDUCTION OF SALARIES.
Ia order to keep our public servants
IN thorough touch and sympathy with
the oppressed masses, and to check to
some extent the scramble for office,
we demand a reduction of salaries un-
til such time as through an increase
OF the currency the price of property
and products will justify the present
rates.
The Peoples Party National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform as
adopted
The Peoples Party assembled IN Ma
tional convention, reaffirms its allegiance
to the principle declared by the founders
OF the Republic and also to the fundament-
al principles of just governments as enunci-
ated IN the platform of the party in 1892.
OF the present and preceding administra-
tons, the country has reached a crisis in its
National life as predicted in our declaration
four years ago, and that prompt and patri-
otto action is the supreme duty of the hour
W realize that while We have political indie.
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendence IS yet TO be attained by restoring
10 our country the constitutional control
and exercise of the functions necessary to q
people government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
wants to corporate monOpOlies. The intiu.
ence OF European money changers has bsen
more potent IN shaping legis iation than the
nf hn 4 l.
power and patronage have been used to cor
rupt our legislatures to defeat the will OF
the people and plutocracy has been en-.
throned upon the ruins O. Democracy. TIC
restore the government intended by the
fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
OF TINS and future generations We demand
the establishment of an economic and ii.
nanclal system which shall make US mas
ters OF our own affairs, and independent of
European control by the adoption of the
following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
l. We demand National msney. safe
and sound issued by the general govern.
ment only without the intervention OF
banks Of issue, to be full legal tender fol
all debts, public and private, so that a lust
equitable and efficient means of distribution
may be made direct to the people anC
through the lawful disbursement of the gov
eminent.
:. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage Of silver and gold at the present lie
gal ratio OF 10 to l without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
/. We demand the volume OF circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amouni
sufficient TO meet the demands Of the bust
ness people of this. country and to restore
| the just level OF prices of labor and pro
GuctiOn.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds and the
increase OF the public Understanding 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-
.. y demand such legal legislation as
Will prevent the decentralization of the law.
full money of the United States by private
contract
6. We demand that the government in
payment Of its obligations shall use its on
tons as to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid and we denounce
the present and preceding administration
! r SurreDderlng this option to the holder
Of government obligations.
l. We demand graduated income tax to
! the end that aggregated wealth shall bear
Is Just proportion of taxation and we de.
nounce the supreme court relative to the
income tax law, as a INSTRUMENTATION of
| the constitution and an invasion of the
flghtfui powers of Congress over the sub
ject Of taxation.
s. We demand that postal sayings banks
De es,aohshed by the government for the
safe deposit of the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
/. Transportation being means of er.
change and public necessity. the govern.
ment should own and operate the railroads
IN the interest of the people on nou-par.
tIsan oasis; to the end that all may be &C
corded the same treatment in TRANSPORTS
ton, and that the tyranny and political
power now exercised by the great railroad
corporations, which results in the impair
ment II not the destruction of the pclitica,
rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
may be destroyed. Such ownership is n he
accomplished gradually in a manner con.
slstent with sound policy
| 2. The interest of the United States in the
| public highways built with public MONEYS
| and the proceeds Of extensive grants OF land
to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and
protected Tor the general welfare, as proyid-
ed by the laws OF organizing such railroads
me foreclosure OF existing lines of the l. nj
ted states on these roads should at once fol
/ low default in the payment thereof of the
| Qeot or com panleS, and at the foreclosure
! sales OF said roads the government shall
/ purchase the same if it becomes necessary
| to protect It's interest therein or if they can
| De purchased at reasonable price, and the
government shall operate said railroads as
public highways for the benefit of the
whole people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for protec-
ton OF life and property; giving to ali trans
portatlon Interests and privileges and equal
rates for fares and freight.
3. We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto
| oeexecuted and administered according to
their true intent and spirit.
4; The telegraph, hike the postofice sys-
tenn, being necessity for the transmission
OF news should be owned and onera,ed b1.
the government In the interest of people.
LAND.
l. The true policy demands that the IA
uonaI and state legislation shall be such as
WI ultimately enable every prudent and
industrious citizen to secure a home, and
therefore the land should not be monono-
Lied for speculative purposes.
"AH lands now held by railroads and
other corporations in excess of their actuaI
needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
ed hT the government and baIl E