The American guide., 1896-08-01
PEOPLES PARTY PLATFORM.

Peoples Party Adopted ut the w. Louis
Convention.
Following is the declaration of prin-
ciples and platform presented to and
adopted by the Populist national con-
vention at st. Louis:
Tho Platform.
The Peoples party. assembled In national
convention, reaffirm its allegiance to the prln-
ciplcs declared by the founders Of the rcpub-
lie, and also to the fundamental principles Of
just government as enuncinted in the platform
OF the party In 1892. We recognize that through
the connivance Of the present and preceding
administrations. the country has reached o
crisis in its 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 present Independence. our
financial and Industrial Independence is yet to
be attained by restoring TO our country the
constitutional control and exercise OF tho
functions necessary to peoples govern
ment which functions have been basely sur
rendered by our public servants TO corporate
monopolies The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent In shaping
legislation than the voice OF the American
peop'e. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legis-
people and plutocraey has thereby been
enthroncd upon the ruins Of democracy. To
restore the government intended by the athers
and for the welfare and prosperity OF this and
future generations, we demand the ostablish-
ment OF an economic and financial system
which shall make us masters OF our own af-
fairs and independent OF European control, by
the adoption OF the following:
Declaration of Principles.
|. We demand national money, safe and
sound issued by the general government only,
without the Intervention OF banks OF issue, to
he a full legal tender for oil debts, public and
private Just, equitable and efi,cient means OF
distribution direct to the people and through
the lawful disbursements OF the government
9 We demand the FREQ and unrestricted
couagc OF silver and gold at the present legal
ratio OF 10 to !, without waiting for the con-
sent OF the foreign nations.
Z We demand that the volume Of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the demands OF the business
Hud population and to restore the Just level OF
prices OF labor and production.
d We dcuounce the sale OF bonds and the tn-
crsasc OF the public interest bearing debt
made by the present administration as unnec-
cssary aud without authority OF law, and de-
mnnd that no more bonds be issued except by
specific act Of congress,
O. We demand such legislation us will pre-
vent the dcmonetizatioa OF the lawful money
OF the United States by private contract
Il We demand that the government, in pay
mont Of its obligations, shall use Its option rs
to the kind OF lawful money In which they are
to be paid, and we denounce the present and
preceding administrations for surrondering
this option to the holders OF government obli-
cations
I We demand graduated Income tax to
the end that aggregated wealth shall bear It's
Just proportion OF taxation, ani we regard the
recent decision Of the supreme court relative
to the income law as misinterpretation Of tho
constitution and an Invasion OF the rlghtful
powers OF congress over the subject OF taxa-
ton,
E. We demand that postal saving banks be
established by the government for the safe
deposit Of the savings OF tht people and TO
facilitate exchange.
sccond--Transportati
l. Transportation being a means OF exchange
and public necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads In the interest
OF the people aud on a non-partisan basis; to
the end that ali may be accorded the same
treatment In transportation, and that the
tyranny and present power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations which result In
the impairment, II not the destruction OF the
present rights and personal liberties OF the
citizens may he destroyed, such ownership to
be accomplished gradually In manner con-
sistent with sound public policy.
. The interest OF tho United States In the
public highways built with public moneys and
the proceeds OF extensive grants Of land 10 the
Pacific railroads. should never he nlicnatei.
mortgaged or sold. but guarded and protected
for the general welfare as provided by the laws
organizing such railroads The foreclosure Of
existing liens Of the United States on thcse
roads should at once follow default In
y ymcnt thereof by the debtor compa-
nlosi and nt the foreclosure sales
Of said roads the government thall pur-
chase the same II II becomes necessary to pro-
tcet It's interests therein or II they can be pur-
chased at a reasonable price; and the govern
mclt shall operate said railroads as public
highways for the benefit Of the whole people
mud not In tho interest OF the few, under sulta-
bic provisions for protection Of liic and prop
orty giving TO nll transportation interests
equal privileges and equal rates for fares and
iroights.
We dcnouncc the present Infamous
schemes for refunilng these debts, and de-
mand that tho laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
Intent and spirit
The telegraph, like the railroads, being
necessity for the transmission OF news, shC uld
be owned and operated by the government In
the interest OF the people
hird-Lnnd.
/ True policy demands that the national and
state legislation su h as will ultimately enable
every prudent and Industrious eltlzen to secure
q home, aDl therefore the land should not be
m0n0pollzcd for speculative purposes. All
lands now held by railroads aud other corpora
Hons In excess Of their actual needs should be,
by lawful means, reclaimed by the govern
mcnt aud held for actual settlers only, and
private land monopoly, ms wcll as allen owner
ship, should be prohibited,
9 We condemn the frauds by which the
land grant Pacific railroad companies have,
through the conniyance Of tho Interior depart
mcnt, robbed multltudes Of actual bona fdc
settlers Of their homes and miners OF their
slnims, and We condemn legislation by con-
srcss which will enforce the exception OF
mineral land, both grants NJ we'll as before
patent
We demand that bona ndc settlers on all
public lands be granted free homes, ns provided
In the national homstcnd law, aud that no cx-
ccpton be made Ia the case OF Indian rcserva-
lions when opened for settlement, and that all
lands not now patented come under this de-
uiand.
Four-Direct Legislation.
We favor system Of direct legislation
through tho initiative and referendum under
proper constitutional safeguards.
live General ffbposiiiona
I. We demand the election Of prcsldent,vlce-
president and United States senators by n di.
rect vote Of the people.
. We tender to the patriotic people Of Cuba
our deepest sympathy in their heroic struggle
tor present freedom and Independence, and we
believe the tlmo has come when tho United
states, the great republic o. the world, should
recognize that Cuba is and OF right ought 70 be
o tree md independent state.
s. We favor home rule In the territories and
District Of Columbia and the early admission
Of the territories as states
4 All public salaries should bo made to cor
respond to the price OF labor and its products
B. In times OF great industrial depression
labor should he employed on public works as
far Rs practicable.
n The arbitrary course Of tho courts In rs
suminR 10 imprison citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction, should be
nrnXnnlnd hy nrnnnr lnrlslallnn.