The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-12-06
(OEFICIALl
NATIONAL ALLIANCE DEMANDS
Adopted at Washington, D. c., February
6, 1896.

o, $780,
WHEREAS, The Declaration of Indie
pendence, as a basis for a Republican
form of Government that might be
progressive and perpetual, states:
THAT all men are created equal;
that they are endowed with certain IL
aIienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happi-
ness; that to secure these rights, gov
ernments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers froa the
governed"
We hold, therefore, that to restore
and preserve these rights under a
Republican form of government, pri-
vate monopolies of public necesei5ies
Cor speculative purposes, whether OF
the means Of production, distribution
or exchange, should be prohibited, auG
whenever any such public necessity or
utillSy becomes a monopoly in private
hands, the people of the municipality,
state or union, as the case may be,
snail appropriate the same by right OF
eminent domain, paying a just vaiue
therefor, and operate them for, and Ia
the interest of, the whole people.
FINANCE.
We demand a national currency,
safe, sound and flexible; issued by the
general government only; a full lega
tender for all debts and receivable for
all dues. and az equitable and efficient
means Of distribution of the currency,
directly to the people, at the mlnimul2
of expense and without the interven
ton of banking Corporations and III
sufficient volume to transact the bueI
ness of the country on a cash basis.
(d) We demand the free and unlim-
tied coinage Of silver and GOLD at the
legGl ratio of Is to /.
(b) We demand a graduated income
tax.
(G) The government shall purchase
or construct and operate a sufficient
mileage Of railroads to effectually con-
trOl all rates of transportation on g
just and equitable basis.
O) The telegraph and telephone,
like the pOstOfhce system, being q ne
cessity for the transmission OF lntelli
gence, should be owned and operated
by the government in the interest of
the people.
We demand that no land shall be
held by corporations for speculative
purposes or by railroads IN excess Of
their needs as carriers, and all lands
nov owned by aliens shOulG De r..
claimed by the government Il held
for actual settlers only.
ExEClIoN OF UNITED STATES SENATORS,
We demand the election of United
States Senators by a direct vote Of the
people, That each State shall be GI-
vIded into two districts Of nearly equal
voting population, and that Senayor>
from each shall be elecS&d by tn
people Of the district.
DISTRICT LEGISLATION.
(c) That our national legislation shall
be 40 framed IN the future as not 30
build Up n industry at the expense
of another.
CD We believe tha5 tine money Of the
country should be kept as much AT
possible in the hands Of the people,
and hence we demand Eh8t all National
and State revenues shall be limited tt
the necessary expenses of the govern
ment economically and honestly Ad
miDistered.
(el we demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
meat for the safe deposit of savings
of the people, and to facilitate az
change.
o. We are u~nalterably opposed TO
the issue, by the United States, OF in
terest- bearing bonds, and demand the
payment OF all coin obligations of tbs
United States. as provided by existing
laws, in either gold or silver coin, at
the option Of the government and no!
at the option of the creditor.
TRANSPORTATION.
Relying upon the good, comma
sense of the American people, and be
Iieviug that a majority of them, when
uninfuenced by party prejudice, will
vote right on all questions submitted tc
them on their merit; and, further, tc
efectually annihilata the pernicioue
lobby in legislation, we demand direct
legislation by means of the initiative
and referendum.