Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-03-06
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Convention ~
Omaha, July 4, 1899.

Omaha, July 4, 1So%.
Assembled upon the 10th anniversary of tn,
Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party of America In their first national con
vention, invoking upon 1 cir action the bless
ing of Almighty God, puts forth in the name
and on behalf of the people If this country the
following preamble and declaration of prnc
pies:
The conditions which surround us Justify
our action; we meet in the midst OF n nation
brought to the verge of moral, political and
material ruin. Corruption dominates the bal
lot box, the legislatures, the congress, and
touches even the ermine of the bench. The
people are demoralzed; most of the states
have been compelled to Isolate the voters at
the polling places in order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers arc
largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silenced, business Frustrated, our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
the land concentrating in the hands of the
capitalists. The urban workmen are denied
the right Of organization for self projections
imported pauporized labor beats down theii
wages: a hireling standing army Inrocog'
nized by our laws, Is established to shoot them
down, and they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions The fruits Of the toll OF
millions are boldly svolen TO build up colossal
fortunes for few, unprecedented in the his.
tory Of mankind, and the possessors Of these,
In turn, despise the republic and cndangcr
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov
ernmental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millonares.
The national power to create money is ap-
propriated to enrich bondholders; n vast pub
lie debt, payable in legal tender currency, has
been funded into gold bearing bonds, thereby
adding millions to the burdens Of the people.
Silver, which has been accepted as coin since
the dawn of history, has been demoncti2cd to
add to the purchasing power of gold by de-
creasing the price Of III forms of property rs
well as human labor. The supply of currency
Is purposely abridged to fatteu usurers, bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and It is rapidly
taking possession Of tho world. IL not met
and overthrown at once 1t forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction of ciyilza-
ton or the establishment of an absolute des-
potism.
We have Witnessed for more that quarter
Of q century the struggles of two great politi-
cal parties for power and plumber, while griev-
Gus wrongs have been inflicted upon a suffer-
ing people. We charge that the controlling
influences dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions TO
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
resCYam THEN. Neither DO iey now pl,a,uis4
n any substantial relief They have agreed
together to ignore in the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose 70 drown
the outories IF plu--a-iru Rcople with the
uproar of sham battle over the tariff. SO that
capitalists, corporations, national banks, rings.
trusts, watered stock, the decentralization OF
silver and the oppression Of the usurers may
all be lost sight Of. They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
Mammon; to destroy the multitude in order
to secure corruption funds from the million
aire.
A.. Al ii
day Of the nation, and filed with the spirit OF
the grand generation who established our indie.
pspdence, we seek to restore the government
OF the republic to the hands of "the plain peo-
ple,n with which class it originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
the purposes of the national constitutional
form q more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings Of liberty for ourselves
and our posterity."
We declare that this republic con only en-
durs as q free government while built upon the
love Of tho whole people for each other and
for the nation; that it cannot be pinned tn
Rether by bayonets; that the civil war is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out of 1t must die with it. and that we
must be In fact, as we are in name, a united
brotherhood of free men.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there is no precedent In the
history Of the world. Our annual agricultural
productions amount to billions Of dollars in
value, which must within few weeks or
months be exchanged for billions OF dollars Of
commodities consumed III their production.
Tho existing currency supply is wholly made
auate TO make this exchange. The results are
falling prices, the formation OF combines and
rings and the impoverishment Of the producing
Glasses. We pledge ourselves that If given
power we will labor to correct these evils by
wise and reasonable legislation, in accordance
With the terms Of our platform.
We believe that the powers of government
In other words, Of the people-should be ex-
handed las in the case of the postal servicel as
rapidly and as far as the good sense of an In
telligent people and tho teachings Of expert
snce shall justify, to the end that oppression,
Injustice and poverty shall eventually cease IN
the land.
While our sympathies as party of reform
are naturally upon the side of every PROPOSE
ton which will tend to make men Intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these Questions-important as they are
Is secondary to the great issues now pressing
for solution, and upon which not only our in
diyidual prosperity, but the very existence of
Tree institutions depends. and We ask al men
~ help us to derermme wnetner We are Il
have republic to administer before we differ
ministered, believing that the forces of reform
this day organized will never cease TO move
forward until every wrong. is reInedied and
equal rights and equal privileges securely Is
tablished for all the men and women of this
country
We declare, therefore
That the union of the labor forces of the
United States this day consummated shall be
permanent and perpetual-may its spirit enter
Into all hearts for tho salvation of the republic
and the uplifting of mankind.
Wealth belongs to him who creates II, and
every dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent is robbery. ''If any win not work
neither shall he cat" Tho interests of rural
and civic labor are the same; their enemies
are identical.
We believe that the time has come when the
railroad corporations must either own the PEG.
pie or the people must own the railroads, and
should the government enter upon the work OF
owning and managing any or all railroads we
should favor an amendment to the constitution
by which all persons engaged in the government
service shall be placed under civil service
regulation of the most rigid character, so rs
to prevent the increase of the power OF the
national administration by the use OF such
additional government employees.
We demand u national currency, safe, sound
and flexible, issued by the general government
only; full legal tender for all debts, public
and private, and that without the use of bank
ing corporations; q just, equitable and efficient
means of distribution, direct to the people, Mt
O tax not to exceed per cent per aunum, to
be provided as set forth in the subtreasury
plan of the Farmers Alliance, or some better
system; also by payments in discharge of its
obligations for public improvements.