The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-01-06


viii prevent the dsmonetisnt1oa q IL lAw-
ful money Of the Unitod etntoo b. p9iynto
8. We demand that the euvsgnment in |
payment Of it, obhgntions shall use I'D op-
tons - to the kind Of lawful money In |
which they are 70 be Isid and we denounes
f'r surrendering this option 70 The holders |
Of government obligations.
Z. We demand graduated income tax to
the end that aggregated wealth shall bear
its Just proportion Of taxation and We de-
nounce the Supreme court, relative to the
the constitution and An invasion Of the
rightful powers of Congress over the sub
Jet of taxation.
s. We demand that postal sayings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit of the savings Ct the people
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILRoADs.
/. Transportation being . 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 &C
corded the same treatment in Transports
ton, and that the tyranny and political
power now exercised BY the great railroad
corporations, which results in the impair
ment if not the dest ructi0n 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 IF 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
ed by the laws of organizing such railroads.
/ 60 pf - h. nj
| 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 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.
8. 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, beng necessity for the transmission
, of news should be owned and operated BY
the government in the interest Of people.
LAND.
g /. The true policy demands that the ma
. tional and State legislation shall be such q
will ultimately enable every prudent ant
t industrious citizen t. secure q home, ant
= | therefore the land should not be monopO
Lied for speculative purposes.
"All lands now held by railroads ant
other corporations in excess of their actua
: needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
g ed by the government and held for actua
settlers only, and private land monopoly a
we'll as alien ownership should be prohib
: tied.
J. e. We condemn the frauds BY which tn
j. land grants to the Pacific Railroad compan
les have, through connivance of the Interio
department, robbed multtudes of actua
e bonafide settlers of their homes and miner
f 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 bonafde settlers OF
J., all public lands be provided.free homes an,
O be provided for in the national Homestea'
law, and that no exception be made in tn
9 for settlement, and that all lands not nov
patented come under this demand
=. We favor a system of direct legislation
3 through the initiative and referendum un
@ der proper constitutional safeguards.
/, GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
e l. We demand the election of Presiden
@ and e-President and United States Sens
tors by direct vote OF the people.
we 70 tine people
q struggle for political freedom and indepen
E dence, and we believe the time has com
when the United States, the great Republi
of the world, should recognize that Cuba
q and of right ought to be free and indie
c pendent State.
We favor homo ruIa in tho Torr;%or;n
) and the District of Columbia, and the earl
l. admission of Territories as States.
ii All public salaries should be made
q correspond to the price of labor and its pre
n ducts.
II 5. In times of great industria' depression
idle labor should be employ N publ
works as tar as practicable.
b. The arbitrary course of the courts i
assuming to imprison citizens for indiret
= contempt and ruling by injunction. shout
l. be prevented by proper legislation.
h. Union soldiers.
d 8. Believing that the election franchis
| and untrammeled ballot are essential to
IN government of, for, and by the people, th
- Peoples Party condemns the wholesale sy
l. tenn of Acknowledgement adopted in SON
"a States as un-Republican and n-Democrati
n and We declare it to be the duty of the Sc
Is eral State legislatures to take such action
y will secure full, free and fair ballot an
=, an honest count.
8. While the foregoing propositions co,
stitute the platform upon which our part
stands and for the vindication of which
organization will maintain, we recogni
that the great and pressing issue of tt
~ pending campaign upon which the presel
Or Presidential election will turn is the fnal
l. cial question, and upon this great and sp
= cifc issue between the parties, we cordial
Or invite the aid and cooperation Of all orga
" izations and citizens agreeing with us upo
this vital question