The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-29
Bryan and Watson.
The Populists Candidates and
Platform.

The convention in session at St
Louis last week nominated Tom
Watson, of Georgia, for Vice Presi.
dent, and for President Wm. j..
Bryan, the nominee of the Chicago
convention for the same Office.
It is claimed that Mr. Bryan viii!
not accept the nomination separated
from Sewell, the regular nominee OF
the Democratic convention at Chi
.cago.
So far Mr. Bryan has given out no
announcement of his purpose.
The following is the platform and
declaration cf the Populists
THE PLATFORM.
.sThe Peoples Party, assembled in
National convention, reafirms its
allegiance to the principles declared
snny the founders of the Republic and
also to the fundamental principles of
Just government as enunc:ated in the
platform of the party in 1892. We
recognize that through the con-
nivsnce of the present and preceding
administrations, the country has
reached crisis in It's National life.
as predicted in our declaration four
years ago, and that prompt and patri-
otto action is the supreme duty Of the
hour. We realize that while we have
political independence, our financial
and industrial independence is yet to
be attained by restoring to our
country the constitutional control
aud exercise of the functions neces
eary to peoples Government, which
functions have been basely surrend-
cred by our public servants to cor.
porate monopolies. The influence of
European money-changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation
than the voice of the American peo-
ple. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our Legis-
lation and defeat the will of the peo-
pie, and plutocracy has thereby been
enthroned upon the ruins of democ-
racy. 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 economic and
financial system which shall make US
masters of our own affairs and indie.
pendent of European control, by the
adoption of the following.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
L. We demand a national money,
safe aud sound, issued by the Gene
raj Government only. without the
Intervention of banks of issue, to be
full legal tender for all debts, pub
lie and private (; just, equitable and
efficient means of distribution direct
to the pep,e and through the lawful
disbursements of the Government
2. We demand the free and un-
restricted coinage Of silver and gold
at the present ratio of l6 to l, with
out waiting for the consent of foreign
nations
3. We demand the volume of Cir
culating mediem be speedily ipcreas-
ed to an amount sufficient to meet
the demands of the business and
population, and to restore the just
level of prices of labor and produc-
ton.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds
and the increase of the public inter-
est bearing debt made by the present
administration as unnecessary and
without authority of law, and de-
mand that no more bonds be issued
except by specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legislation as
Will prevent the demonstration of
the lawful money of the United States
BY private contract
6. We demand that the Govern.
ment, in payment of its obligations,
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 preceding administrations for
surrendering this option to the hold
ers of Government obligations.
I. We demand graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth
shall bear it's just proportion of taxa
ton, and we regard the recent de-
cision of the Supreme Court relative
to the income tax Law as misinter-
pretation of the Constitution and an
invasion of the rightful powers of
Congress over the subject of taxa
ton.
8. We demand that postal saw
ings banks be established Oy the
Government for the safe deposit of
the savings of the people and to
facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
l. Transportation being a means