The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-09-08

reduce and equalize taxation ard
who are in favor OF free ballot and
q fair count, and of guaranteeing to
each political party the right to rep
resentation on all election boards,
which shall be Of their own selection,
to prevent disfranchising voters ty|
partisan election boards; who are in
favor of q more economic admins
tration of our government, county,
State and National; who are opposed
to having Executive and Legislative
branches Of our government DONNA
ted and controlled by trusts, com
bines and monopolies, and who are
willing to cooperate with the PEG
ple's party to secure these reforms,
are invited to participate IN all Peo-
les party primaries and conven-
tons.
The Peoples Party National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform a.
adopted:
THE Peoples Party assembled IN Ma
tional convention, reatfrms its allegiance
to the principles declared by the founders
of the Republic and also to the fundament-
al principles of just government as enunci-
l q,
We recognize that through the connivance
of the present and preceding administra-
tons, the country has reached crisis in its
National life as predicted in our declaration
four years ago, and that prompt and patri-
otto action is the supreme duty of the hour.
We realize that while We have political indie
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendence is yet to be attained by restoring
to our country the constitutional control
and exercise OF the functions necessary to
people government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
wants to corporate monopolies. The influ-
ence OF European money changers has been
voice of the merican people. Executive
power and patronage have been used 10 COZ
rupt our Legislatures to defeat the wiz of
the people and plutocracy has been en-
throned upon the ruins Of Democracy. To
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 ii.
nancial system which shall make us mas
ters of our own affairs, and Independent OF
European control by the adoption of the
following:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE
| l. We demand National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
ment only without the Intervention Of
banks of issue, to be full legal tender fol
all debts, public and private, so that a lust
equitable and efficient means of distribution
may be made direct to the people anG
through the lawful disbursement of the gov
| eminent.
3. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage OF silver and gold at the present lie
gal ranu uf Is to l without waiting for tn,
consent of foreign nations.
3. We demand the volume of circulatin,
medium be speedily increased to an amour
Icy1f tn,ap 70 pao<t h. L. e
ness people OF this country and to restor'
the just level of prices of labor and pro
4. We den0unce the sale of bonds and tn,
increase OF the public interest bearing bOnt
debt made by the present administration q
unnecessary and without authority of Law
and that no more bonds be issued excep
by specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation a
will prevent the demonstration of the law
full money of the United States by priyat
6. We demand that the government il
payment of its obligations shall use its or
tons as to the kind of lawful money Il
which they are to be paid and we denounc
the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option to the holder
of government obligations.
Z. We demand q graduated income tax Il
the end that aggregated wealth shall bea
its just proportion of taxation and we de
nounce the Supreme court, relative to tn
|
the constitution and an invasion of tn
rightful powers of Congress over the sub
ject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal sayings bank
be established by the government for tn
safe deposit OF the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
l. Transportation being a means of ez
change and public necessity, the govern
} ment should own and operate the railroad
in the interest of the people on q non-pal
tisan basis; to the end that all may be az
corded the same treatment in transports
ton, and that the tyranny and politics
power now exercised by the great railroa
corporations, which results in the impair
ment if not the destruction of the politics
rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
} may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
, accomplished gradually in q manner cor
sistent with sound policy.
2. The interest of the United States in tn
public highways built with public money.
to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
protected for the general welfare, as proyid
ed by the laws of organizing such railroads
} The foreclosure of existing lines of the I'M
ted States on these roads should at once TO
low default in the payment thereof of tn
: debt OF companies, and at the foreclosur
} sales of said roads the government sha
purchase the same if it becomes necessar
to protect its interest therein or if they ca
; be purchased at q reasonable price; and th
government shall operate said railroads q
public highways for the benefit of tn
whole people and not in the interest of tb
few, under suitable provisions for prote1
ton OF life and properly; giving to ali tran!
pOrtatiOn interests and privileges and euu1
, rates for fares and freight.
s. We den0unce the present infamuu