The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-03-17
ne Peoples Rassy usafsaal Yla11osn.
Following n the Populiss platform =

The Peoples Party aasembled IN Ne 9
, the principles declared by the fouuden c
( the Republic and also TO the fundament .
principles Of Jus: government - enunG-
ted in the platform Of the party In lky2. |
We recognize that through The connivancs
the present and pressing seminntna-
lationai life - predicted in our declaration ,
our years ago. and that prompt and pefr1- |
tic action In the supreme duty OF the ho1f. /
Ne realize that while We have political indie
,endenee our financial and industrial indie /
,endence II yet 70 be attained by ressonnS i
md exercise OF the functions necessary TO
,eopie's govern ment, which functions nave
,een baseiy surrendered by our public ser
rants TO corporate monopoiies. The innu-
.nce OF European money changers has been
more potent in shaping Legislation than the
power and patronage have been used 10 cor
fupt our legislatures to defeat the WAL OF
the people and plutOcracy has been en-
throned upon the ruins OF Democracy. 10
restore the government intended oy tne
fathers and Tor the welfare and prosperity
of this and future generations, We demand
the establish ment OF an economic and D.
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.
!. We demand National money, safe
and sound issued by the general govern
ment only without the intervention OF
banks of issue. to he q full legal tender for
all debts, public and private, SO 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 ie-
gal ratio of 10 to without waiting for the
consent Of foreign nations.
3. We demand the volume OF circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
suf icient to meet the demands OF the busl-
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 De issued except
by specific act of Congress
8. We demand such legal legislation as
| will prevent the demonstration OF the law
full money of the United States by private
q. We demand that the government in
payment of its Obligations shall use its OPP
tons az to the kicd 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.
!. 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, IS misinterpretation OF
the constitution and an invasion OF the
rightful powers Of Congress over the sub
ject of taxation.
= s. We demand that postal sayings banks
, be established BY the government for the
Co. Df no nf
and to facilitate exchange.
RAILROADS.
l. Transportation being q means OF e1
? change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people on a non-par
r tisan basis to the end that all may be &C
9 corded the same treatment in transpOrta
4 ton, and that the tyranny and politica
q power now exercised by the great railroad
Q corporations, which results in the impair
q ment if not the destruction of the pOlitica
g rights and personal Liberties of the citizens
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b.
- accomplished gradually in q manner con
. sistent with sound policy.
l. 2. The interest of the United States in tn
d public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of lant
to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
q ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded ant
o protected for the general welfare, as provid
"
The foreclosure of existing lines of the Uni
% ted States on these roads should at once fol
l. low default in the payment thereof of tn
# debt of companies, and at the foreclOsur
y. sales Of said roads the government shal
:. purchase the same if it becomes necessar
81 to protect its interest therein or if they ca
To be purchased at REASONABLE price; and tn
10 government shall operate said railroads q
public highways for the benefit of th
10 whole people and not in the interest of th
a. few, under suitable provisions for prote'
70 ton Of life and property; giving to all tram
- portation interests ans privilege md equ'
rates for fares and freis ut.
3. We denOunce the present infamor
D schemes for refunding these debts and d.
N mand that the laws now applicable theret
a be executed and administered according
their true intent and spirit.
ID 4. The telegraph, like the postoffice sy
ID tenn, being necessity for the transmissio
A of news should be owned and operated
the government in the interest of people.
LAND.
d l. The true policy demands that the a
n. tional and State legislation shall be such
r. will ultimately enable every prudent, ar
: industrious, citizen to secure q home, ar
q therefore the. land should not be monop
~ Lied for speculative purposes.
d, IAN lands now held by railroads Far
4 other corporations in excess of their actu
=: needs, should by lawful means be reclair
LII ed by the government and held for actu
a settlers only, and private land monopoly
- tied.
81 2. We condemn the frauds by which Il
%. land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa
I'D les have, through connivance of the Interi
ut department., robbed multtudes of actu
80 bonafide settlers of their homes and mine
as of their claims, that we demand legislati.
be by Congress which will enforce the e1em
ID. ton of mineral land from such grants aft
&c. as well as before patent.
8. We demand that bonafide settlers
ne all public lands be provided free homes al
as be provided for in the national Homeste
- case of Indian reservations when open
IL for settlement and that all lands not NJ
or patented come under this demand.
he 4. We favor a system of direct legislati
70. through the initiative and referendum u
-. der proper constitutional safeguards.
"eI GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
OF l: We demand the election of Preside
So. and Vice-President and United States Ser
nd tors BY direct vote OF the people.
T. 2; We tender to the patriotic people
~ Cuba our deepest sympathy in their herr
p struggle for political freedom and indepe
us dence, and we believe the time has COZ
= ~ when the United States, the great Repub
ag of the world, should recognize that Cuba
~ and of right ought to be free and inc
[r. pendent State.
ed 3. We favor home rule in the Territori
10 and the District of Columbia, and the cal
I" admission Of Territories as States.
)le 4. ALI public salaries should be made
SO correspond to the price of labor and its p1
nd ducts.
5. In times of great industrial depressio
70: idle labor should be employed on pub
It" works as far as practicable.
BE b. The arbitrary course of the courts
N. assuming to imprison citizens for indirt
- contempt and ruling by injunction, ahou
KS be prevented by proper legislation.
IL =: We favor just pensions for our dissbl
m Union soldiers.
- 8. Believing that the election franchi
ne and untrammeled ballot are essential to
government of, for, and by the people, t
ed Peoples Party condemns the Wholesale 8,
nm TEN OF Acknowledgement adopted in sol
States as un-Eepublican and un-D Democrat
a. and We declare it to be the duty of the *
eral State legislatures to take such action
DIV will secure full, free and fair ballot a