The Louisiana populist., 1896-09-25
There No Free Country. Unless the People Rule.
Peoples Partv Plat
form.


The following is the platform and res
olutions adopted at st. Louis by
the Peoples Party Convention, Gen. j
b. Weaver being chairman OF the com
mittee on resolutions:
The Peoples party assembled in ma
tional convention, reafiirms its al egi'
ance to the principles declared by the
founders of the republic, and also to the
fundamental principles of just govern
ment as enunciated in the platform of
the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the connivance of the present
and previous administrations the coun-
try has reached crisis in its national
ife predicted in our declaration four
years ago, and patriotic action is the su-
preme duty of the hour. We realize
that while we have political independ
ence our financial and industrial indie
pendence is yet to be attained by res
toring to our country the constitutional
control and exercise of the functions
necessary to q peoples government,
which functions have been basely sur
rendered by our public servants to cor
rupt monopolies. The influence of the
Republican money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than
the voice of the American people, ex-
ecutive power and patronage have been
used to corrupt our industries and
defeat the will of the people, and
putocracy has been enthroned upon the
ruins of Democracy. To restore the
government intended by the fathers and
for the welfare and prosperity of this
and future generations, we demand the
establishment of an economical imam
cial system which shall make us masters
of our own affairs and Independent of
European control, by the adoption OF
the following declaration OF principles:
FINANCE
1. We demand a national money,
safe and sound, issued by the general
government only, without the interven-
ton of banks of issue, to be full legal
tender for debts, public and private, and
a lust, equitable and efficient means OF
distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements OF the
government,
2. We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of 16 to l, with
out waiting for the consent OF foreign
-retions,
demand the volume of circu-
lating medium be speedily Increased to
an amount suflicieD, to meet the de.
mands of the business population oil
this country and to restore the Just level
of prices of labor and production.~-,
a. We denounce the sale OF bonds
and the increase of the public interest
bearing bonded debt made by the present
administration, as unnecessary and with
out authority of law, and demand that
no more bonds be issued except by "a
specific act of congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation
as will prevent the characterization OF
the lawful money OF the Unitei States
by private contract.
6. We demand that the government
IN payment of its obligations shall use
its option as to the kind of lawful mon
ey in which they are to be paid, and we
denounce the present and proceeding
administrations for surrendering this
option to the holders of government OBJ
legations
"a. We demand the graduated income
tax, to the end that aggregated wealth
shall bear its Just proportion OF taxation,
and we denJunce the decision OF the
supreme court, in relation to the income
tax law, as a misinterpretation of. the
constitution and an invasion of the
rightful powers of congress over the
subject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government
for the safe deposit of the people and
to- .f9c cilitate exchange.