The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-17
(OFFICIAL)
RATIONAL ALLIANCE DEMANDS.

o. 4o9OS
WHEREAS, The Declaration of indie
pendence, as a basis for a Republican
form Of Government that might be
progressive and perpetual, states:
THAT all men are created equal
that they are endowed with certain in
alienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness; that to secure these rights, gov
ernments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the
governed"
We hold, therefore, that to restore
and preserve these rights under a
Republican form of government, pri-
vate monopolies of public necessities
for speculative purposes, whether Of
the means of production, distribution
or exchange, should be prohibited, end
whenever any such public necessity or
utility becomes a monopoly in private
hands, the people of the municipality,
state or union, as the case may be,
shall appropriate the same by right of
eminent domain, paying a just value
therefor, and operate them for, and in
the interest of, the whole people.
FINANCE.
We demand a national currency,
safe, sound and flexible; issued by the
general government only; a full legal
tender for all debts and receivable for
all dues, and an equitable and efficient
means of distribution Of this currency,
directly to the people, at the minimum
Of expense and without the %interven-
ton of banking corporations and in
sufficient volume to transact the bust
uees of the country on a cash basis.
(a) We demand the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver and gold at the
legal ratio of IL to 1.
Cb) We demand a graduated income
tax.
(c) That our national legislation shall
be SO framed in the future as not to
build up one industry at the expense
of another.
(d) We believe that the money of the
country should be kept as much as
possible in the hands of the people,
and hence we demand that all National
and State revenues shall be limited to
the necessary expenses of the govern
ment economically and honestly ad-
ministered.
(e) We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of savings
of the people, and to facilitate ex-
change.
81 We are unalterably opposed to
the Issue, by the United States, of in
terest bearing bonds. and demand the
payment of all coin obligations of the
United States, as provided by existing
laws, in either gold or silver coin, at
the option of the government and not
at the option of the creditor.
TRANSPORTATION.
(d) The government shall purchase
or construct and operate a sufficient
mileage of railroads to effectually con-
troll all rates of transportation on a
just and equitable basis.
() The telegraph and telephone,
like the postofice system. being a ne
cessity for the transmission of intelli-
gence, should be owned and operated
by the government in the interest Of
the people.
LAND.
We demand that no land shall be
held by corporations for speculative
purposes or by railroads in excess of
their needs as carriers, and all lands
now owned by aliens should be re-
claimed by the government and held
for actual settlers only.
ExRCTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS.
We demand the election Of United
States Senators by a direct vote of the
people. That each State shall be di-
vided into two districts of nearly equel
voting population, and that Senators |
from each shall be elected by the
people of the district.
DISTRICT LEGISLATION.
Relying upon the good, common !
sense Of the American people, and be- !
lieving that a majority of them. when
uninhuenced by party prejudice, will
vote right On all questions submitted tn
them on their merit; and, further, to
efectually a~nnihilate the pernicious
lobby n legislation, we demand direct !
legislation by means of the Initiative
and referendum.
R.. A. 8oUTHwoRrH.
5ecy-Treas. n. F. A. and /. q.