Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-07-30
THE POPULISTsPLATFORM
Free Silver oinage-Direct Legis>
Iation Income Tax

st. Louis, Ju'y 25.
The text of the Populist plat-
form is as follows:
The Peoples Party, assembled
in National Convention, reaffirms
it's allegiance to the principles
declared by the founders of the
republic, aud also to the funda-
mental pin lples Of just govern
ment as enunciated in the plat-
form of the party in 1892.
We recognize that through the
connivauce of the present and
preceding administrations. the
country has reached d crisis In
it's national life, as predicted in
our declaration four years ago,
and that prompt and patriotic
action is the supreme duty Of the
hour.
We realize that, while we have
political independence, our finan~
cial and industrial independence
is yet to be attained by restoring
to our country the constitutional
control and exercise of the func~
tions necessary to the peoples
government, which functions
have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate
monoplies. The influence of
European money-changers has
been more potent in shaping leg
islation than the voice of the
American people. Executive
power ard patronage have been
used to corrupt our legislatures,
and defeat the will Of the people,
and plutocracy has thereby been
enthroned upon the ruins of
Democracy To restore the gov>
errment intended by the fathers.
and for the welfare and prosper
ity Of this aud future genera
tions, we demand the establish
ment of an economic and fnan-
cial system, which shall make US
masters of our own affairs and
independent of European con>
troll, By the adoption of the fol-
lowing declaration of princi-
pies:
TIE MONEY PLANK.
1. We demand national
money, safe and sound, issued by
the General Government only,
without the intervention of banks
of issue, to be full legal tender
for all debts public and private;
just, equitable, and efficient
means Of distribution, direct to
the people. and through the law
full disbursements of the govern
ment.
2. We demand the free and
unrestricted coinage Of silver
and gold, at the present legal
ratio of 16 to l, without waiting
for the consent of foreign ma
tions.
3. We demand that the vol
ume of circulating medium be
speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the dem ands of
the business and population, and
to restore the just level Of prices
of labor and production.
4. We denounce the sale of
bonus, and the increase of the
public interest bearing deot
made by the present administra-
tiOn as unnecessary and without
authority of law, and demand
that no more bonds be issued,
except by specific act of Con-
gress.
5. We demand that the gov
ernment. in payment of its obi
cations, shall use it's option as to
the kind Of lawful money in
which they are to be paid. and
we denounce the present and
proceeding administrations for
surrendering this option to the
holders of government obliga-
tions.
z. We demand a graduated
income tax, to the end that ag-
gregated wealth shall bear it's
just proportion of taxation, and
we regard the recent decision of
the Supreme Court relativ to
the income tax law as a misinter.
probation of the Constitution and
an invasion of the rightful pow
ers of Congress over the subject
Of taxation.
We demand that the postal
saving banks be established by
the government for the safe de
posit of the savings of the peo-
pie and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS.
1. Transportation being