Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-02-23
poPUI1sT NATIONAL pLATFoRn.

puDiic. and also to the fundamental pr1ncipIee
form OF the party la 1892. we recognize that
through the eOnniysnce of the present and
preceding ADMINISTRATIONS the country has
redcneo Crisis IN its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago and that
prompt and patriotic, action is the supreme
uuty OF the hour. We realize that while VIC
nave political Independence, our financial
ana industrial Independence is yet to be at
talned by restoring To our country the consfi-
Iuttonal controi and exercise of the functions
necessary 10 peoples government which
functions have been bssely surrendered bv
our pubic servants To corporate rnonopo-
mes: Inc influence of European money
SndnEeIs mas peen more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the Amerjca1
people Executive power and patronage
nave oeen used to corrupt our legislatures
ana defeat the will OF the people. and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers, and for the wel-
fare of this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
clal system, which shall make us masters OF
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laration of principles:
rst-yre ,,e,,,o,l tiNAN ,.;,
and sound. issued by the general government
only. without the Intervention of banks of Is
sue 10 DC a fuu legal tender for all debts pub
nc ana private-a just, equitable aud efficient
means OF distribution direct to the peopIe and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-We demand the free and pnre.
strlcted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
enl ieeai ratio or sixteen 10 one without wait
ing Tor the consent OF foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufhclent TO meet he demands of the
business and population of this country and
10 restore the Just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administrator "a
unnecessary ana without authority of law nd
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
chic act CT conYreSs-
F1fth-We demand such legislation rs will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money OF the bhited States by private con-
tract.
SiXth-We demand that the government. in
pa! Ineit OF It's O0iigations shall use its option
as 10 the Kind OF lawful money in which they
are 10 DC Is.id, ana we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender.
ing this option TO The holders of government
obligations
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear It's gust proportion OF taxation, and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative 10 the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vaslon OF the righttui powers of congress over
the subject OF aXatiOn.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peupl
ana 10 facIiltaie exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS.
First-TransportatiOn being means of ex-
change ana ncccsSity,the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment IN transportation and that the
tyranny ana political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
n the impairment, If not the destruction of
tue political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen. may be DESTROYED Such owner
snip is 10 be accomplished gradually i'm man.
ner consistent with sound public policy
Seeond-Ihe interest of the United States in
the pubic highways buiit with public moneys
ana the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pacific railroads. should never be alien
ated. mortgaTed or sold. but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare as provided nv
tho rvs Orga 1;7, -, - "a NJ W
closure OF existing liens of the United States
on these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor companies :and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same III IL be-
comes necessary 10 protect its interests there
In, or IL iney can be purchased at a reasonable
price, and the government shah operate said
railroads as public HIGHWAYS for the henefit ~
the whole people ana not in the interest of the
few. under suitable provisions for protection
/ of life ard property, giving to all transporta-
ton Interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freigdtS.
Third-We denOunce the present Infamous
schemes Tor refunnng these debts and de-
mand mat the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
| vi news. SuOuIu lie owned ana ODeraf0d nv
the government in the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
uonal and state legislation shall be such as
VIII Ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrlous citizen TO secure a home, and there
fore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held BY
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only. and PR ate land monopoly
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
| tied.
| Second-We condemn the frauds nv which
the land grants TO Pacific railroad Companies
have, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
noe settlers OF their homes and miners OF their
claims. and we demand L. gislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption OF mineral
Iaiiu IRON sucn grants after as well as before
| patent.
Third-wc demand that ali bona fide settlers
| on all public lands be granted free homes as
| provided III The national homestead law, and
| that no exception be made in the cese o. In.
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come under
| this demand.
Fourth-DEect Legislation: We favor a
system of direct legislation through the iIitia-
| tive and referendum under proper constitu-
| tional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First--We demand the election OF president
vice presiCent and United States senators by a
| direct vote of the people.
4
| Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come VIII IN the United
states, the great republic of the world, should
| recognize that Cuba is. and of right ought 10
| be, a free and independent state
Thfrd-Nc favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia. and the early ad.
mission of the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be- made
TO correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
| ducts.
Fifth-1n these times of industrial depres.
| sion idle labor should DC employed on public
works as far as practicable.
SiXth-Jhe arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming 10 imprisOn citizens for indirect con.
| tempt and ruling them 10y injunction should
| he prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
| Eighth Relieving that the elective franchise
and untranmeied bal OF are essential to gov.
ernmcnt of, for and by the people. the Peoples
| party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted ia some OF the states
as un-repubiican and un-demOcratic, aud we
declare II to be the duty Of the several states
legislatures to take such Dction as will secure
fuii,free and fair ballot and an honest count.
Ninth-While the foregoing propositions con.
stiiufe the Platform Upon which our party
stands. aud Tor The vIndicetion of which its or
ganizatiOn viii be maintained. we recognize
that the great and pressing issue of the pend
irig- cam pai2n upon which the present presi-
deHtiui election viii turn IS the financial ques-
tiol aud upon this great and specific issue be-
tween the paTfi = we cordially invite the afd
and cooperation Of all organizations and citi-
zens agreeing with US upon this vital ques.
ton.
TIT GREAT PEzwSPAPER