Barbour County index., 1898-07-20
roruIIsr NATIONAL rLArroax.

The Peoples party, assembled I'm national
convention. reaffirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders Of the re-
public, and also to the fundamental pr1ncipIes
OF Just government. as enunciated in the plat
form OF the party I'm 1892. We recognize that
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in it's national life as predicted
IN our declaration four years ago, and that
prQmpt and patriotic action is the supreme
DUTY OF the hour. We realize that while We
have political independencee our financial
ana INDUSTRIAL Independence is yet to be at
tdIneu Dy restoring To our country the cousti-
tutionai control and exercise of the Functions
necessary to peoples government which
our n,,h,i nave oeen basely surrendered BY
nur nu p1nnc servants to corporate monopo-
mes The influence of European money
SSnangers mas been more potent in shaping
IeRlsiation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patrons1e
nave oeen used TO corrupt our legislatures
ana oeIeat the viii of the people. and plutoc-
ruins OF democracy. To restore the goverr
ment intended by the fathers and for the Tel-
the establishment of an economic and 1r.r
eiai system. which shall make us masters os
OUT own aHairs and independent of European
controi. by the adoption of the following de-
iarotion of principles:
FINANCE
First- We demand u national mouev a.fs
anu sound issued by the general Rovernmen
only, without the intervention of banks ~ ;s
sue TO be Il fun legal tender for ali debt. n,,h
,o ie anu prlnate-a Just, equitable aud efBcispt
IueaIis oi distribution direct to the people ana
through the lawful disbursements OF The row
ernment. ~ o so'
Second-we demand the free and unr..
stricted coinage of silver and gold an the nres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one without walt
ing g,i, LOT the consent of foreign nations
Ihird-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiating medium be speedily increased to nm
amount suf1clent TO meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
production.
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds nd
the increase OF the public interest bearing
ueot maze Dy the present administration a.
unnecessary ana without authority of law. and
tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
chic act OF congress-.
Fifih-We demand such lerisIation o.. will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract
Sixth-We dema nd that the government jn
pay yment OF its obligations, shall use its optIou
as TO The kind of lawful money in which they
are 10 De paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for SURRENDER
ing TINS option to the holders of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear Its just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the sunreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion OF the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal saving.
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit OF the savings OF the peopl
ana to facilitate exchange.
= TRANSPORTATION.
Firet-Transportation being a means of er
change and a necessity the govern ment shouli
own ana operate the railroads in The interest
OF the people and on non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment In transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
in the Impairment. If not the tiestruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in man
ner consistent with sound public policy
SecondLIhe interest of the United States in
tne pubnc highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
10 the Paci railroads, should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold. but guarded and pro-
tected Tor the general welfare, as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
on these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor mpanies :and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
ernment should purchase the same ff il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in, or If they can be purchased AT a rea bls
price, and the government shall operate said
railroads a public highways for the benefit of
tne whoie people and not in the interest of the
lew, under suitable provisions for protection
of life and property, giving to all Transports
uon interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares aud freighUs.
Third-We denounce the present infsmons
schemes for refunding these debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post office
system, being necessity for the Transmission
OF news, should he owned and operated by
tne government in the interests OF the people
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the na-
tional and state legislation shall be such a.
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen 10 secure a home. and there
tore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads "a hpr t;.,,xs
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tuaI settlers only, and pri Iate land monopoly,
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
Sne land grants to Pacific railroad companies
department, robbed multitudes of actual hons
fide settlers of their homes and miners of their
fi, cIaiIhs, ana we demand legislation by congress
whcn VIII enforce the exemption OF mineral
land from such grants after as well as before
patent,
Third-We demand that all bona f,de settI.r.
on all public lands be granted free homes a.
provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case Of In
and that all lands now patented come under
this demand. -
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor .
system OF direct legislation through the initfa
tive ard referendum under proper constit,,
uOnal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
F1rst-We demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators bv a
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender TO the patriotic peoI,Ie of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their strlgrle
Ior poilucal freedom and indepeudeDce and
we Deheve the time has come when the United
states, the great republic of the world, sbouI6
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought to
be, a free and independent state
Thlrd-We favor home rule i'm the territories
ana the District OF Columbia and the earIy ad-
mission OF the territories as states
fourth-All public salaries should be mads
ducts. WI" ''o P'o
Flfth-ln those times of industrial depres-
SION Idle labor should be employed on pubiie
WORKS as Tar as practicable.
oiAln-Ihe arbitrary course of the courfs in
assuming TO imprisOn citizens for indirect con-
Tempt and ruling them by Injunction thouId
De prevented by proper legislation
SeVenth-We favor just pensions for eyerv
disabled Union soldier
Eighth Relieving that the elective franchise
ana untrammeied ballot are essential to eov-
ernment OF, for and by the people, the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system OF dis
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and un-democratic aud wa
declare II to be the duty OF the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
a fun,free and fair ballot and an.honest count.