The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-25
TENETS OF THEIR FAITH
FULL TRANsCRIPTOFTH TIL E PEOPLES
 PARTY PLATFORM.


 Free Coinage at 16 to 1, Government Con-
 trol lofRailroads and Telegraph Systems
 Advocated-Appeal for Revision of
 Land Laws to Prevent Ownership by
 Aliens-Present and Preceding Adminis-
 trations Condemned-vigorousD Denunci-
 ation of "NIoney Changers in the Temple
 of the Republic''-R Resolution Declaring
 for the Recognition of Cuba,
 St. Louis. July 24-The following is the full text of the populist platform:
 The peoples party, assembled in na- tional convention, reaffirms it's allegi- ance to the principles declared by the founders of the republic and also to the fundamental principles of just gov ernment, as enunciated in the plat form of the party in 1892. We recog nize that through the connivance of the present and preceding administra- tions the country has reached Iisis in it's national life as predicted in our declaration four years ago, aud that prompt and patriotic action is the su- preme duty Of the hour. We realize that while we have political independ- ence, our financial and industrial inde pendence Is yet to be attained by re- storing to our country the constitution al control and exercise of the functions necessary to a peoples government which functions have been basely ,ur- rendered 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 people, EX- ecutive power and patronage have been used to corrupt our legislatures and defeat the will Of the people, and plu- tocracy has thereby been enthroned up on the ruins of democracy To restore the government intended by the fath- CTS and for the welfare and prosperity of this and future generations, we de- mand the establishment of an econom- ic and financial system which shall make us masters of our own affairs, and independent of European control by the adoption of the following:
 Declaration of Principles CD We demand a national money, safe and sound. issued by the general government only, without the inter- vention of banks of issue, to be a full legal tender for all debts, public and private; . just. equitable and efficient means of distribution direct to the peo- pie and through the lawful disburse- uantc If the srOvnrrpnnnt
 CD We demand the free and unre- stricted coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1, with out waiting for the consent of foreign nations.
 {3) We demand that the volume of circulating medium be speedily increas- ed to an amount sufficient to meet the demands of business and population, and to restore the just level of prices of labor and production
 (4) We denounce the sale of bonds and the increase of the public interest bearing debt made by the present ad- ministration as unnecessary and with out authority of law, and demand that no more bonds be issued except by spe- cific act of congress.
 (5) We demand such legislation as will prevent the characterization of the lawful money of the United States by private contract.
 (6) We demand that the government. in payment of it's obligations, shall use it's option as to the kind of lawful mon ey in which they are to be paid, and we denounce the present and 'preced- ing administrations for surrendering this option to the holders of govern ment obligations.
 CD We demand graduated tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall bear it's just proportion of taxation, and we regard the recent decision of the supreme court relative to the income tax law as misinterpretation of the constitution and an invasion of the rightfuI powers of congress over the subject of taxation.
 | (S) We demand that postal savings banks be established by the govern ment for the safe deposit of the sav- | ings of the people and to facilitate ex- change.
 Second-Transporta | (1) Transportation being means of exchange and a public necessity, the government should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the reo- pie and on a non-partisan basis, to ihe end that all may be accorded the same treatment in transportation, and that the tyrnanny and political power now | exercised by the great railroad corror- | ations, which result in the impairment, if not the destruction, of the political rights and personal liberties of the cit izen, may be destroyed. Such owner ship is to be accomplished gradually in a manner consistent with sound public policy.
 CD The interest of the United States in the public highways built with pub lie moneys, and the proceeds of exten- sive grants of lands to the Pacific rail- roads, should never be alienated, mort gagged or sold. but guarded and pro- tected for the general welfare, as pro- vided by the laws organizing such rail- roads. The foreclosure of existing Tier S on these roads should at once follow default in the payment thereof by the debtor companies, and at the foreclos- ure sales of said roads the government shall purchase the same, if 1t becomes necessary to protect its interests there in, or if they can be purchased it a req sonable price, and the government shall operate said railroads as public high ways for the benefit of the whole reo- ple, and not in the interest of the few, under suitable provisions for protecti In of life and property, giving to all troEs- portation interests equal privileges and