The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-03-24

The Peoples Party National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform as
adopted:
The Peoples Party assembled IN Ma
tional convention, reafirms its allegiance
to the principles declared By the founders
of the Republic and also to the fundament-
al principles Of just government as enunci-
ated in the platform of the party in 1882.
We recognize that through the connivance
| of the present and preceding administra-
tons, the country has reached crisis in its
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 lnde-
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 monopolles. The lnhu-
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
rupt 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 the welfare and prosperity
Of this and future generations, We demand
the establishment of an economic and IT,
nancial system which shall make us mas
tiers of our own affairs, and independent of
. following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
l. We demand National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
ment only without the Intervention OF
banks of issue, to be full legal tender fol
, all debts, public and private, so that a just
equitable and efficient means of distribution
ho tn ha
t through the lawful disbursement of the gov
, eminent.
.. 2. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver and gold at the present lie
gal ratio of l6 to without waiting for the
2 consent of foreign nations.
3. We demand the volume of circulating
\ medium be speedily increased to an amour
sufficient to meet the demands of the bust
= ness people of this country and to restore
I the just level of prices of labor and pro
4. We denOunce the sale of bonds and thu
y increase of the public Understanding bono
Y debt made by the present administration a
a unnecessary and without authority of Law
| and that no more bonds be issued excep
by specific act of Congress.
: 5. We demand such legal legislation a
t will prevent the demonstration of the law
c full money of the United States by priyat
6. We demand that the government il
payment of its obligations shall use lis OPP
t tons as to the kind of lawful money il
f which they are to be paid and we denounc
the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option ~ the holder
j. of government obligations.
1 z. We demand graduated income tax t.
n the end that aggregated wealth >uall bea
), its just proportion of taxation lad we de
nounce the Supreme court, relative 10 tn
g income tax law, as ,isinteIi. hon o
t the constitution and "a inva:- f tn
= rightful powers of Congress- ove1 tDe sub
ieCt of taxation.
r 8. We demand that postal saying bank
/ be established by the government for tn
l. safe deposit of the savings of TIE peopl
:, and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
/. Transportation being a means Of ez
o change and public necessity, the govern
Y ment should own and operate the railroad
o in the interest of the people on a non-pal
tisan basis; to the end that all may be az
y corded the same treatment in transports
d ton, and that the tyranny and politics
70 power now exercised by the great raiIroa
corporations, which results in the impair
, ment if not the destruction of the politics
le rights and personal liberties of the citizens
l. may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
; accomplished gradually in a manner col
sistent with sound policy.
u 2. The interest of the United States in th
Is public highways built with public money!
~ and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
to the Pacific railroad should never be alie1
- ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
protected for the general welfare, as provi(
)6 ed by the laws of organizing such railroad
o. The foreclosure of existing lines of the I'm
ted States on these roads should at once TO
D. low default in the payment thereof of th
" debt of companies, and at the fOreclosul
a. sales of said roads the government sha
4 purchase the same if it becomes necessar
~ to protect its interest therein or if they ca
Z be purchased at a reasonable price; and th
" government shall operate said railroads
n public highways for the benefit of th
whole people and not in the interest of tt
le few, under suitable provisions for prote
10 portation interests and privileges and ecu;
rates for fares and freight.
s. We denounce the present infamor
v schemes for refunding these debts and d
lie mand that the laws now applicable theret
4 be executed and administered according
their true intent and spirit.
q 4. The telegraph, like the postoffice sy
D. tenn, being necessity for the transmissio
ct of news should be owned and operated b
Ne the government in the interest of people.
Ill LAND.
IL l. The true policy demands that the p,
N tional and State legislation shall be such ,
will ultimately enable every prudent, an
is industrious citizen to secure home. an
=: therefore the. land should not be monop
III Lied for speculative purposes.
y IAN lands now held by railroads an
r other corporations in excess of their actu
49, needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
ed by the government and held for actu
80 settlers only, and private land monopoly
a. well as alien ownership should be prohi
o. tied.
z. We condemn the frauds by which tt
W land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa]
"a les have, through connivance of the Interit