The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-09-22


vention of banking compositions;
Who favor a graduated income tax
and further necessary legislation to
reduce and equalizs taxation aud
who are in favor of free ballot and
\ fair count, and of guaranteeing to
each political party the right to rep
re sentation on all election boards,
which shall be Of their own selection,
to prevent DISTINGUISHING voters by
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 domino
ted and controlled by trusts, com
bines and monOpolies, and who are
willing to cooperate with the PEG
pies party to secure these reforms,
are invited to participate IN all Peo-
les party primaries and conven-
tons.
The People, Party National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform as
1.-The Peoples Party assembled IN Ma
tional convention, reaffirms its allegiance |
to the principles declared by the founders |
of the Republic and also to the fundament |
al principles OF just government as enunci- |
ated in the platform of the party in 1892 |
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
peudence is yet to be attained by restoring
to our country the constitutional control
and exercise of the functions necessary to a
peoples government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
ence of European money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice OF the merican people. Executive
power and patronage have been used to cor
rupt our legislatures to defeat the will 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 f.
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 PRINCIPLES.
l. We demand National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
ment only without the Intervention of
banks of issue, to be a full legal tender for
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-
cYol putIn rNf IN vys%h E.. Al
consent of foreign nations.
s. We demand the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the demands of the bust
ness people of this country and to restore
the just level of prices of labor and pro-
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 be issued except
by specific act of Congress.
5: We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the demonstration of the law
full money of the United States by private
s. We demand that the government in
payment OF its obligations shall use its Op-
tions a. 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.
| 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
income tax law, as a misinterpretation of
rightful powers of Congress over the sub
ject of taxation.
8. We demand that postal sayings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit of the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
! l. Transportation being a means of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
| in the interest of the people on q non-par-
| tisan basis; to the end that all may be &C
corded the same treatment in transporta-
ton, and that the tyranny and political
power now exercised by the great railroad
ment if not the destruction of the political
rights and personal liberties of the citizens.
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to be
accomplished gradually in a manner con-
sistent with sound policy.
z. The interest of 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
The foreclosure of existing lines of the Uni
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 ali trans
porsan t interests and privileges and equal
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 postoffce sys-
tenn, being necessity for the transmission
OF news should be owned and Operated bv
the government in the interest of people.
/ LAND
l. The true policy demands that the ma
nonal and State legislation shall be such as
viii ultimately enable every prudent and
INDUSTRIOUS citizen to secure home, and
therefore the Land should not be monopo-
h1ed for speculative purposes.
Au lands now held by railroads -and
other corporations in excess of their actual
needs, should by lawful means be reclaim.
Cd by the government and held for actual
settlers only, and private land monopoly as
well Is alien ownership should be prohib-
2. We condemn the frauds bv which thu
land grants to the Pacific Railroad compan-
les have, through connivance Of the Interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual
bonatide settlers Of their homes and miners
Of their claims, that We demand legislation
~ Congress which will enforce the exempI
ton Of mineral land from such grants After.
a. we'll a before patent.
s. We demand that bonafde settlers on
al public lands be provided free homes and
pc provided for in the national Homestead
law, and that no exception be made in the
case OF Indian reservations when orened
for settlement, and that all lands not now
patented come under this demand.
4. We favor system Of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum nm
der proper constitutional safeguards.
| aHKERAL PRofosI1IoHs.
l. We demand the election Of President
d. L. 4 ~