The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-03-10

sdoPted: II
The Peoples Party s.ssmbisd IN No
TO the principles declared by the founders
Of the Republic and also 10 the funda.uent-
nj principles Of just government ~ enunca-
sted In the platform OF the party In lSsz
We recognize that through the oonuivance
Of the present sad preceding adminsssrs-
National life a predicted ia our declaration
four years ago. and that prornpt aud pasvl-
otto action IL the supreme duty OF the hour.
We realize that while We have political Inde-
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendence 10 yet 70 be attained by restoring
10 our country the CONSTITUTIONAL control
and exercise OF the functions necessary to
peoples government, which functions have
been baseiy surrendered by our pubic ser
vanfs TO corporate monopolies. The lEnu-
ence of European money changers hEs been
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice OF the merican people. Executive
power and patronage have been used 20 COZ
rupt our legislatures TO defeat the viii OF
the people and plutocracy has been en-
tbYoned upon the ruins OF Democracy. 10
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 Il /
nancial BY stem which shall make Us mas
| ters of our own affairs, and independent OF
European control by the adoption OF the
| following:
DECLARATION OF PRIsCiPLEs.
| |. We demand q National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
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
2. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage of silver and gold at the present le-
gal ratio of Is 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 meei ne demands of the busi-
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 De 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
d. We demand that tine 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
for surrendering this option to the holders
of government obligations.
I'll Z. 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 a misinterpretation OF
the constitution and an invasion of the
= rightful powers of Congress over the sub
g ject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal sayings bank,
d safe deposit of the savings of the peopl,
~ and to facilitate exchange
: RAILROADS.
:, /. Transportation being a means of ex
change and public necessity, the govern
1 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 transporta
u ton, and that the tyranny and pOlitlca
10 power now exercised by the great railroat
r. corporations, which results in the impair
70 ment if not the destruction of the politica
&c rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
81 may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
1T accomplished gradually in a manner con
i, sistent with sound policy.
:, 2 The interest of the United States in tn
u, public highways built with public moneys
ID and the proceeds of extensive grants of LAM
10 to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
" ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded AM
protected for the general welfare, as provid
ot ed by the laws of organizing such railroads
Rs The foreclosure of existing lines of the I'M
h ted States on these roads should at once TO
low default in the payment thereof of tn
O debt of companies, and at the fOreclosur
a sales OF said roads the government sha
10 purchase the same if it becomes necessar
&C | to protect its interest therein or if they ca
be purchased at REASONABLE price; and th
q, government shall operate said railroads 8
h | public highways for the benefit of tn
mr. whole people and not in the interest of th
:. few, under suitable provisions for prote
~ ton OF life and property; giving to ali tram
ne pOrtatiOn interests an privilege nd equ.
re rates for fares and freis Mt.
nd 8. We denounce the present infamor
schemes for refunding these debts and d.
mand that the laws now applicable theret
re be executed and administered according
H. their true intent and spirit.
"A 4. The telegraph, like the postotfice sy
0u tenn, being necessity for the transmissio
he of news should be owned and operated
lie. the government in the interest of people.
Ii LAND.
n, l. The true policy demands that the a
tional and State legislation shall be such
al will ultimately enable every prudent an
is industrious citizen to secure home, an
e1 therefore the land should not be monop
"a, lized for speculative purposes.
IAN lands now held by railroads an
RI other corporations in excess of their actu
ill needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
an ed by the government and held for actu
- settlers only, and private land monopoly
lily tied.
'Or 2. We condemn the frauds by which Il
~ land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa
w les have through connivance of the Interi
ny department, robbed multitudes of actu
ey oonafide settlers of their homes and mine
az of their claims, that we demand iegislatit
~ by Congress which will enforce the exem
III ton of mineral land from such grants afte
Oh as well as before patent.
on 3. We demand that bonafide settlers
a. all public lands be provided free homes 81
AZ be provided for in the national Homeste
err, case OF Indian reservations when open
O ;, for settlement, and that all lands not nc
patented come under this demand.
4. We favor system of direct iegislati,
her through the initiative and referendum u
der proper constitutional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
a l. We demand the election of Preside
MD and Vice-President and United States Ser
mo tors by direct vote OF the people.
No. z. We tender to the patriotic people
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their here
IL struggle for political freedom and indepe
up when the United States, the great Repub
ger of the world, should recognize that Cuba
Ia and of right ought to be a free and inc
~. pendent State.
..S 8. We favor home rule in the Territor
A'o and the District of Columbia, and the ca,
ere admission of Territories as States.
4. All public salaries should be made
the correspond to the price of labor and its p
ties ducts.
"a 5. In times of great industrial depressic
The idle labor should be employed on pub
&c works as far as practicable.
20 3. The arbitrary course of the courts
les. assuming to imprison citizens for indir,
Ork contempt and ruling by Injunction, Shot
sial De prevented by proper legislation.
81 y: We favor just pensions for our disabl
At Union soldiers.
vi. 8. Believing that the election franch
no and untrammeled ballot are essential to
us government of, for, and by the people, t
NJ Peoples Party condemns the wholesale s,
as tenn of disfranchisement adopted in Sol
the States as un-fepublican and un-D Democrat
and We declare it to be the duty of the 8,
the erai State legislatures to take such action