The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-02-10

horse and buggy cut up! You look
kind Of pale. We've been awful
good children; you ask the Bishop"
The Living Church |
The Peoples Party National Platform.
Following Ia the Popuiist platform - i
adopted:
"fhe Peoples Party assembled IN Ns-
to the prisciples declared by the founders |
of the Republic and also to the fundament |
al principles OF just government a. enunci-
ated in the platform OF the party In 1852 |
We recognize that through The oonnivance |
Of the present and preceding administra-
tons, the country has reached q crisis In its
National life az predicted in our declaration
four years ago, aud that prompt and pstri
otto action Is the supreme duty Of the hour.
We realize that while We have political indie
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendence is yet TO be attained by restoring
TO our country the constitutional control
and exercise OF the functions necessary to .
peoples government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
wants to corporate monopolies The inhu-
ence Of European money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice of the merican people. Executive
power and patronage have been used to cor
rnpt our legislatures to defeat the will of
the people and plutocracy has been en-
throned upon the ruins Of Democracy. To
restore the government intended by the
fathers and for tue welfare and prosperity
of this and future generations we demand
the establish ment of an economic and f.
nancial system which shall make us mas
ters of our own affairs, and independent of
European control by the adoption of the
following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE.
/. We demand National money. safe
ment only without the Intervention of
banks of issue, to be full legal tender for
all debts, public and private, so that just,
equitable and efficient means of distribution
may be made direct to the people and
| through the lawful disbursement of the gov
eminent.
g. We demand the free and unrestricted
| coinage of silver and gold at the present le-
gal ratio of 16 to without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations. .--
3. We demand the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
| sufficient to meet the demands of the bust
| 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 as
| Unnecessary and without authority of law
and that no more bonds be issued except
by specific act of Congress-.
s. We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the demonstration of the law
full money of the United States by private
&. We demand that the government in
payment of its obligations shall use its op-
tons as to the kind of lawful money in
which they are to be paid and we denounce
| the present and preceding administration
| frr surrendering this option to the holders
of government obligations.
7. We demand graduated income tai to
| the end that aggregated wealth shall bear
| its just proportion of taxation and we de-
nounce the Supreme court, relative to the
income tax law, as misinterpretation of
| the constitution and an invasion of the
| rightful powers OF Congress over the SUBJ
| ject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal sayings banks
be established by the government for the
| safe deposit OF the savings of the people
and to faciGi ate exchange.
RAILROADS..
/. Transportation being a means of ex.
| change and public necessity the govern.
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people on non-par-
tisan basis; to the end that all may be az
| corded the same treatment Ii transpOrta-
ton, and that tie tyrann: md political
power now eKerci ed by the sreat railroad
corporations, which results in the impair
ment if not the destruction of the political
rights and personal Liberties Of the citizens,
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to be
accomplished gradually in manner con-
| sistent with sound policy.
2. The interest of the United States in the
public highways built with public moneys,
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and
protected for the general welfare, as provid-
/ nd hxvt loN 49,
The foreclosure of existing lines of the Uni
ted States on these roads should at once fol-
low default in the payment thereof of the
| debt OF companies, and at the foreclosure
sales of said roads the government shall
purchase the same if it becomes necessary
to protect its interest therein or if they can
be purchased at a reasonable price and the
government shall operate said railroads as
public highways for the benefit of the
| whole people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for protec.
ton OF life and property; giving to all trans
| portatiOn interests and privileges and equal
rates for fares and freight.
| 3. We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto
| be executed and administered according to
their true intent and spirit. -,
4. The telegraph like the postofice sys-
tenn, being necessity for the transmission
1
the government in the interest of people,
| e. - =, "a LAND. : :.
l. The true policy demands that the IA
will ultimately enable every prudent and
industrious citizen to secure q home, and
| therefore the land should not be monopo-
lied Tor speculative purposes. III
AN lands now held by railroads and
other corporations in excess of their aet11al
needs. should by lawful means be reclaim
ed by the government and held for actual
settlers only, and private land monopoly as
weil "a alien ownership should be prohib-
| tied.
q. We condemn the frauds by which the
land grants to the Pacific Railroad compan-
| les have, through cOnnivance of the Interior
department. robbed multitudes of actual
| bonatide settlers of their homes and miners
OF their claims, that we demand legislation
by Congress which will enforce the exemp-
ton of mineral land from such grants after
as well as before patent
3. we demand that bonafide settlers on
all PUBIC lands be provided free homes and
be provided for in the national Homestead
law, and that no exception be made in the
case OF Indian reservations when opened
for settlement, and that all lands not now
patented come under this demand.
nron we ~ tsyor system Of direct legislation
der proper constitutional safeguards. -.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
L We demand the election of President
s ana Nlcerresldent and United States sena-
2; We tender to the patriotic people Of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their heroic
struggle for political freelom and indenen.
dence, and we" believe the time has come
when the United States, the great Republic
VI sne ~orid, should recognize that Cuba is
pendent State --~ '""e
o we favor home rule in the, Territories
ana the District OF Columbia, and the eariv
admission OF Territories as States.
4. All public salaries should be made IN
correspond to the price of labor and it's pro-
.. IN times OF great industrial depression.
Idle labor should be eannlnvnd II, ,rhI;s