The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-10-06

who favor graduated income tax
and further necessary legislation 10
reduce and equahzs taxation aud ,
who are in favor of free ballot and !
4 fair count, and OF guaranteeing TO /,
each political party the right to rep :
on all election boards, !,
which shall be Of their own selection, ,
TO prevent DISTINGUISHING voters by ,
partisan election boards; who are in
lavor 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 i
ted and controlled by trusts, COM
bines and monopolies, and who are
willing to cooperate with the Peo-
pies party to secure these reforms,
are invited to participate In all Peo-1
les party primaries and conven-
tons.
The Peoples PARTY National Platform.
Following is the Populist platform as
adopted:
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 a 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
tn ho tint al
and exercise of the functions necessary to a
peoples government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
wants to corporate monopolies. The infiu-
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
tiers of our own affairs, and independent of
European control by the adoption of the
following:
| DECLARATION OF PR1NcIPLEs
| 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 for
all debts, public and private, so that Just,
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 L. meet the demands of the bust
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 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
!; &. We demand that the 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.
7. 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.
. 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.
y l. Transportation being a means of ex
4 change and a public necessity, the govern
3 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 transpcrta
3. ton, and that the tyranny and politica
: corporations, which results in the impair
:, ment if not the destruction of the politica
rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
g may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b,
g accomplished gradually in q manner con
sistent with sound policy.
2. The interest of the United States in tn,
public highways built with public moneys
S and the proceeds of extensive grants of lane
II to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded ant
8 ed by the laws of organizing such railroads
Q The foreclosure of existing lines of the Uni
ted States on these roads should at once fol
low default in the payment thereof of tn
i debt of companies, and at the foreclosur
Q sales of said roads the government shall
% to protect its interest therein or if they cal
. be purchased at reasonable price; and tn
u government shall operate said railroads q
|, public highways for the benefit of tn
. whole people and not in the interest of tn
few, under suitable provisions for protec
Q ton of life and property; giving to ali trans
: portation interests and privileges and equa
e rates for fares and freight.
4 3. We denounce the present infamou
- schemes for refunding these debts and de
q mand that the laws now applicable theret
q be executed and administered according t.
J. their true intent and spirit.
q 4. The telegraph, like the postoffice sya
tenn, being necessity for the transmission
( OF news should be owned and operated b,
J. the government in the interest of people.
( LAND.
Ii l. The true policy demands that the IA
6onal and State legislation shall be such a
win ultimately enable every prudent an,
o industrious citizen to secure q home, an,
) therefore the land should not be monopo
lied for speculative purposes.
r. IAN lands now held by railroads IAN,
- other corporations in excess of their actua
It needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
70 ed by the government and held for actua
> settlers only, and private land monopoly q
). tied.
VI 2. We condemn the frauds BY which tn
land grants to the Pacific Railroad compan
| ASS 40 % eAAAOO6A NOAA1N0uCc The lut0IlO
department, robbed multitudes of actus
bonafide settlers of their homes and miner
l. OF their claims, that We demand legislatio,
n by Congress which will enforce the exemr
ton OF mineral land from such grants aftel
as well as before patent.
3. We demand that bonafide settlers o.
all public lands be provided free homes an
!. be provided for in the national Homestea
:, law, and that no exception be made in tn
IL case Of Indian reservations when opene
SfNR oHtt nrH& Id III
i patented come under this demand.
, 4. We favor q system of direct Legislation
., through the initiative and referendum mr.
st der proper constitutional safeguards.
" GENIRAL PROPORTIONS.
q l. We demand the election of Preeideu
+ and Vice- President and United States Sens
tors BY direct vote of the people.
2. We tender tn the nafriofic x,eorla q