The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1896-07-30
POPULIST PLATFORM.
Adopted h National Convsation st D.
Louis On July "a. 1890

Louis On July -. 1890
Tho Peoples PARTY. assembled il NATIONAL
convention. roaf3rms its allegiance TO tho
principles declared by the founders o! this re-
public. and also to the fundamental rrinciple
OF just government enuncist,d in thu plat
form OF tho party in 1852 We recosniz, that
through the connivarce Of 'hs present and
preceding administrations. the country has
reached Q crisis in it, national lilo, AZ pre-
dictcd in our declaration OF four year, ago.
and that prompt anl patriotic action IL the
supreme duty Of tn, hour. We r,aIize that
while 70 have Political independents.
our financial and ildu trial independence
Is yet TO 30 attair,t by restoring
to or country tho constitutional c,nt:Ol and
exercise Of the functions necessary to peo-
ple's government, which functions have becn
basely surrendered by our public servants to
corporate monopoles Tho influence OF Euro
pean money changers Ia been mo- potent In
shaping legislation than the voice OF the Amer.
lean people Executive power and patronage
have boon used n corrupt our Legislatures and
defeat the will OF tho rcople and plutocracy
ha, thereby beoa enthrvaed upon tho ruins
Of democracy. To restore tho government in
tended BY the fathers and for the welfare and
prosperity Of this and future generations. va
demand the establishme 1t Of an economic and
financial systom which shall mase US mas
ters Of our own affairs and Independents Of
European control. By the adoption Of the fol-
lowing declaration Of principles:
Finance
'First-We dom md q national money, safe
and sound. issued By ths general s,vemment
only, w.thou: the Intervention Of banks OF
issue, to b full l,gal tend.r for all debts,
public and privats-a just. equitable and
efficient means Of distributing d rect to tho
people AMI through thu lawful di burs ,ments
Of the government
''Second-We demand tho fire., and u,re-
90 -, - Ill n Il n 4 A.
emit legal ratio Of i6 to I. without waiting for
the consent Of ,reign nations.
Third-We dem snd that tn, vOlum, Of cir
culatins medium DO speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet the demands of the
business and popul alton Of this countrv and to
restore the just level Of prices of labor and
production
'Fourth-We deaoun.e tbs le Of bonds aud
the increase Of the public in tarest bearing debt
made b. the present admni-tra ion unnec-
ess,ry and without authority of law, and that
no more ,nds be issued except by specific act
of Congress
"Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of tho lawful mon.
ey Of the United States BY private contract.
''Sixth-We d ,manl that the government. in
payment of its obis tions. shall use its option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid. and We d>nounce the present aud
precedin; administr atoms for SURF ndering
this option to the holdersO goyernment Ob,i-
cations
"Sev .nth-we demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aSsreS ted wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, and We
gard the recent decision of the supreme court
relative to the income tax law a miSinter-
pretatiOn of the constitution and an invasion
he rghtful power, of Congress over the
. bject of taxation.
Eighth-We dem md that postal saving,
tank. be estab, ish,d by thu G,vernment for
safe IeDoSit of tho savings of the peODl3 and
to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
a. transportation beng n means Of OK.
change and public necessity, the government
should own and operate the railroa is in the
interest of the people AMI q non partisan
basis. to the end that all may be accorded the
sam, treatment in transport alton and that tho
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
in the Impairment: if not the des ruction, OF
political rights and personal liberties Of the
citizens MAJ b, destroyed Such ownership is
TO be ACCOMPLISHED gradually. in n manner con-
sis ent with sound public policy.
~. Tho interest OF the United States in the
pubic highwavs built with pubic moneys and
the pro :e1d. of extensive grants o land to thu
Pacifi: railroads should never be alicl ated
mortgag,d or sold bat & Iardsd an proto ted
for the gen eral welfars as provided by the laws
organizing such railroads. The forsc osur, Of
roads should at ono, follow default in the
payment thereof by the debtor companies and
at the foreclosure sales Of said roads the gov.
eminent shall purchase the anne if it becomes
necsss airy to protect its interests therein. or il
they can DO purchased at a reasonable price
and the government shall Operat, said rail-
roads as public hishw ,ys for the benefit of the
wi, le pc pie an not in the interest of the few
under suitable provisions for protection of life
and property. CIV ng to al transportation in
terests equal privileges and equal rates for
fares and freightS
schemes for rsfundins these debts and demand
that the laws now applicabl, thereto b, exc
cuted and administered according to tn ,ir true
intent and spirit.
Il The telegraph Xix, the pos.o!fic, system,
being necessity fOr the transmission of ,ws,
should be owned and operated by the govern
mont in the interest of the pcopl.
Landa.
THE true policy demands that the national
and State legislation shall be such will ult-
matel5 enable evory prud lent anil industrious
citizen to secure a home, and therefore the land
should not DO monopolized fo- speculative pur-
poses All lands now held by railroads and
other corporations in excess of their actual
needs shoul1 By lawful means be reel Vim ID by
the government and held for actual settlers
only aud private land mon poly a. well as
alien ownership should b, prohibited
-. We condemn th3 fraul3 Dy which the
land grants to Pacific railroad com, aniss have
through tn, connivance of the Interior part
men t. robbed multitude, Of actual boaa fde
settlers Of their homes and mines of their
claims and we demar tn, leRi .lation by Con-
gress which will enforce the exemption f min
eral land from such giants aft,r WILL as
before patent.
81 We demand that bona fd, settlers all
public land be granted free homes provided
in tho national homestead law. and that
exemption be m ade in the Of Indian res-
ervations when opened TO- settlement, and that
all lands now patented como under this DE-
uand.
Direct Liquidation.
I'VE favor a system OF direct legislation
through tho initiative AID referendum under
prope. constitutional safeguards
General Propositions.
II. We dema7d the elect on OF President.
Vice Pres dent a,d United Stats senato-s By
direct vote Of tho pc ple.
"2 We tender to the patriotic people OF
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their heroic
struggle fo- political fr.eiom and ind,psnd-
erce, and We believe tn, tim, has come when
tn, United States. the great republic OF tho
world, should recogaizs that Cuba is AID OF
right ought to be, fire., and Independent
state.