The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-14
The ResDsss PaStv uoa1onas Rloa1osD.

The Peoples Passv ueassaal Plea1ssD-
Following ID the PopuiisG platform -
The Peoples Party aasemblsd IN Ne
tional convention, readarms In allegiance
70 the principles declared by the founden
Of the Republic and also TO The fundameut-
nj principles Of tuss government q enund-
ated In the platform Of the party in lsb2 |
We recognize that through the ocunivanoe |
tons, the country has reached cYisie In it, |
National life - predicted in our declaration |
four years ago. and that prompt and patn- |
otto action 10 the supreme duty Of the hour. |
We realize that while We have political indie
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendenoe In yet 70 b attained by restoring
70 our country the constitutional control
and exercise Of the functions necesaYy to .
peoples government, which functions have
been bssely surrendered BY our public ser
wants TO corporate monopolies- The innu-
ence Of European money changers has been
voice Of the mer:can people. Executive
power and patronage have been used 70 cor
rupt our Legislatures to defeat the will Of
the people and plutOcyscy has been en-
throned upon The ruins Of Democracy. To
restore the government intended BY the
fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
| of this end future generations, We demand
the esta blishment Of an ecopomic and H.
nanciaI system which shall make Us mas
tern of our own Affairs, and Independent Of
European control by the adoption OF the
following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE.
l. We demand . National money, safe
ment only without the Intervention Of
banks Of issue, to be full legal tender for
ali debts, public and private, 30 that Just,
| equitable and efficient means of distribution
may be made direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursement of the gov
| eminent.
2. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage Of silver and gold at the present le-
| gal ratio Of l6 to without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
| 5. We demand the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
ness people OF this country and to restore
the Just level OF prices OF labor and pro
4. We denounce the sale of bonds and the
increase Of the public interest bearing bond
debt made by the present administration rs
Unnecessary and without authority of law
and that no more bonds be issued except
by specific act OF CONGRESS.
3. We demand such legal legislation -
will prevent the decentralization of the law
full money of the United States by private
q. We demand that the government in
payment Of its obligations shall use its op-
tons al to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid and We denounce
the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option to the holders
Of government obligations.
7. We demand graduated income tax to
the end that aggregated wealth shall beal
its just proportion of taxation and We de
nounce the Supreme court, relative to the
income tax law, as q misinterpretatiOn Of
the constitution and an invasion of thu
| rightful powers of Congress over the sub
. iect of taxation.
8. We demand that postal savings bank
! be established by the government for thu
safe deposit OF the savings Of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILRoADs.
> l. Transportation being q means of e1
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroad
, in the interest of the people ON a non-par
tisan basis; to the end that all may be &C
, corded the same treatment in transports
ton, and that the tyranny and politica
e corporations, which results in the impair
= ment if not the destruction of the politica
4 rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
8 may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
q accomplished gradually in . manner con
= sistent with sound policy.
public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
}. to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
!, protected for the general welfare, as provid
!, ed by the laws of organizing such railroads
ted States on these roads should at once fo
low default in the payment thereof of tn
debt of companies, and at the foreclosur
& sales of said roads the government sha
t. purchase the same if it becomes necessar
il to protect its interest therein or if they ca
| ho al q oh
q government shall operate said railroads 8
~ public highways for the benefit of th
whole people and not in the interest of th
Is few, under suitable provisions for prote'
ton of life and property; giving to all tram
It portation interests and privileges anu equ,
r. rates for fares and freight.
III 8. We denounce the present infamou
II schemes for refundi1g these debts and d.
mand that the laws now applicable theret
be executed and administered according [
their true intent and spirit.
20 4. The telegraph, like the postofice ~
n of news should be owned and operated
~ the government in the interest of people.
,e l. The true policy demands that the n
! tional and State legislation shall be such
!, will ultimately enable every prudent m
industrious citizen t. secure . home, an
therefore the. land should not be monop
10 IAN lands now held by railroads ar
y other corporations in excess Of their actu
q needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
~ ed by the government and held for actu
n settlers only, and private land monopoly
p; well a. alien ownership should be prohi
!. tied.
10 2. We condemn the frauds by which Il
OF land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa
II, les have through connivance of the Interi
ne department., robbed multitudes of actu
i. bonafide settlers of their homes and mine
at of their claims, that we demand legislatie
by Congress which will enforce the e1em
= ton of mineral land from such grants afte
o as well as before patent.
3. We demand that bonafide settlers {
to all public lands be provided free homes al
r, be provided for in the national Homeste,
Id law, and that no exception be made in Il
case OF Indian reservations when open
= for settlement, and that all lands not nc
&c patented come under this demand.
VI 4. We favor q system of direct legislatit
rs through the initiative and referendum u
"a der proper constitutional safeguards.
r aENsRAL PROPOSITIONS.
t. l. We demand the election of Preside
H. and Vice. President and United States Sen
in tors by direct vote of the people.
at 2. We tender to the patriotic people
an Cuba our deepest sympathy in their herr
=. struggle for political freedom and indepe
:" dence, and we believe the time has cor
when the United States, tho great Repub
n of the world, should recognize that Cuba
nd and of right ought to be free and inc
pendent State.
3. We favor home rule in the Territor
10 and the District of Columbia, and the cal
admission of Territories as States.
4. ALI public salaries should be made
correspond to the price of labor and its p1
T. ducts.
llr S. In times Of great industrial depressio
r. idle labor should be employed on pub
nd works as far as practicable.
~: 6. The arbitrary course of the courts
llr assuming to imprison citizens for indir,
I'd. contempt and ruling by injunction, shoI
it be prevented by proper legislation.
=: We favor Just pensions for our disabl
Union soldiers.