The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-02-17

EouovlnG 0o xOP0@ ps80W0 ~
The Peoples Pazty aasmb.sd IN No
Iional CONVENTION, rsanrms tn allagtanco
70 the principles declared By the fo0ndsu
Of the Republic and also 70 the fundamsut
al principles Of juse goveSnmeat - snund-
ated In tie platform Of the party In lss0
Of the present and prece.ting edministn-
tons, the country has reached . erisis In III
National life - predicted In our declaration
fou2 yean ago, and that prompt and pstri
otic seton u the supreme duty OF the hour.
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendence II yet 70 Be attained BY restoring
10 our country the constitutional control
and exercise Of the functions necessary TO
peoples government, which functions have
been basely surrendered BY our public ser
enoe Of European money changers has been |
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice Of the merican people. Executive- |
power add patronage have been used 70 cor |
rupt our Legislatures to defeat the viii OF
the people and plntoc1acy 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 d
nanciai system which shall make u mas
ten of our own anairs, and independent Of
CuIVPc1h SoaaSA " &AS ~A~fs%~A ~ ~>@~
following:
pKCLARATIoH OF PRINCIPLRs.
l. We demand . National msney, 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 privste, 30 that just,
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-
| gai 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 to 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
un necessary and without authority OF law
| and that no more. bonds be issued except
by specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation q
will prevent the demonstration of the law
full money of the United States by private
9. We demand that the government in
/ payment of its obligations shall use its op
, tons a to the kind Of lawful money In
which they are to be paid and We denounc>
the present and preceding administration
l Tor 6U1IeQOcIluK tul0 OptlOu W tuo uOlucIl
, 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
5 nounce the Supreme court, relative to tn
: income tax Jaw, - . misinterpretation o
rightful powers of Congress over the sub
s ject of taxation.
Y 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.
g RAILROADS.
4 l. Transportation being q means of e.
change and public necessity the govern
/ ment should own and operate the railroad
= tisan basis; to the end that all may be a
y corded the same treatment in transports
- ton, and that the tyranny and politics
u power now exercised by the great railroa
n corporations, which results in the impair
a ment if not the destruction of the politics
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to
- accomplished gradually in b manner col
sistent with sound policy.
4 2. The interest of the United States in th
le public highways built with public money
n and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
:, to the Pacific railroad should never be alier
NJ ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
le protected for the general welfare, as provit
/. ed by the laws of organizing such railroad
"A The foreclosure of existing lines of the I'm
~ ted States on these roads should at once 70
K, low default in the payment thereof OF Il
or debt of companies, and at the foreclosu
RI sales of said roads the government sha
purchase the same if it becomes necessal
IL to protect its interest therein or il they ca
lg be purchased at a reasonable price; and Il
e. government shall operate saiu railroads
= public highways for the benefit of IL
| Uhnlo noOnlo and in tho n for If ri
IN few, under suitable provision for prote
ton OF life and pro- erty; givi;'- To all tran
portation interests and privileges and ecu
in rates for fares and freight.
IF. 3. We denounce the present infamo
=, schemes for refunding these debts and
20 mand that the laws now applicable there
1t be executed and administered according
n their true intent and spirit.
IT 4. The telegraph, like the postofice 81
tenn, being necessity for the transmissit
Is of news should be owned and operated
H. the government in the interest of people.
a LAND.
D. l. The true policy demands that the 4
H. tional and State legislation shall be such
~ will ultimately enable every prudent a
w industrious citizen to secure q home, a
'e. therefore the land should not be monoE
at Lied for speculative purposes.
no. IAN lands now held by railroads a
~ other corporations in excess of their actu
=, ed by the government and held for actu
ei, settlers only, and private land monopoly
OF well as alien ownership should be prob
as tied.
~ 2. We condemn the frauds by which t
~ land grants to the Pacific Railroad comps
Ir- department., robbed multitudes of actt
v. bonafide settlers of their homes and min,
- of their claims, that we demand legislati
'e- by Congress which will enforce the exen
rO- ton of mineral land from such grants aft
to as well as before patent.
no 3. We demand that bonafde settlers
20 all public lands be provided free homes a
OIL be provided for in the national Homeste
Lp- law, and that no exception be made in I
Mt case OF Indian reservations when open
for settlement, and that all lands not n
'es patented come under this demand.
err 4. We favor . system of direct legislati
m. through the initiative and referendum I
is der proper constitutional safeguards.
al eINHRAL PROPOSITIONS.
&C. l. We demand the election of Presid,
and Vice-President and United States SCI
m tom By direct vote OF the people.
er- 2: We tender to the patriotic people
of Cuba our deepest sympathy in their her
;ol struggle for political freedom and indep'
Ia dence, and We believe the time has CO.
when the United States, the great Reput
of the world, should recognize that Cubs
ne and Of right ought to be . free and in
lat pendent State.
va 3. We favor home rule in the Territo1
-; and the District of Columbia, and the "a
VI admission of Territories as States.
he 4. AL public salaries should be made
he correspond to the price of labor and its p
"a ducts.
81 5. In times Of great industrial depressi.
I'll. idle labor should be employed on put
alt works as far as practicable.
&C 6. The arbitrary course of the courts
assuming to imprison citizens for indir
'ol contempt and ruling by injunction, sho,
IRE be prevented by proper legislation.
OK Z: We favor Just pensions for our disah
~ Union soldiers.
70, 8. Believing that the election franch
all and untrammeled ballot are essential Il
CHI government of, for, and by the people,
asst Peoples Party condemns the Wholesale 8
;Is tenn of Acknowledgement adopted in 90
MS States a n-Repuhlican and n In. Damocra1