Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-07-27
poPuI1sr NATIONAL pLArYssn.

fufuLlST NATURAL fIAIx0B4.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public and also to the fundamental PRINCIPLES
OF Just government, as enunciated IN the plat
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country haa
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
uuty OF the hour. We realize that while VIC
have political Independence, our financial
and industrial Independence is vet To he At
tafned by restoring 10 our country the copsti-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
functions have been bssely surrendered hy
our public servants to- corporate mopopo-
hes. The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent In shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people. and nlutoc
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
r r.n OF democracy To restore the govern
rare of this and future generations we demand
the establishment OF an economic and imam
c c,sn system, which shall mako us masters OF
our own aHairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
iarstion of principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand a national uonsv AFT.
and sound, issued by the general qoyernmen
only, without the intervention OF banks of is
sue 70 be full legal tender for all debts pub
Tic ana private--a just, equitable aud effcient
means of distribution direct to the peopIe and
through the lawful disbursements OF the gov
ernment.
Second-We demand the free and unre.
strlcted coinage of silver and gold an the pres-
ent legal ratio OF sixteen TO one. without wait
ing Tor the consent of foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume ot cir
culating medium be speedily increased tn an
amount sufficient 10 meet the demands Of the
business and population of this country and
restore laval Of
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds ana
the Increase of the public interest hearing
oeot made oy the present administration a
unnecessary and without authority of law md
tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
Fifth-we demand such legislation IA will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government I'm
payment of its obligations, shall use its option
as as 10 tne KIND oil lawful money in which they
are 10 be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender-
ing this option to the holders of government
Obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tax TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear Its just proportion of taxation, and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative To the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress- over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS.
first-Transportation being a means of er
change and necessity, the government shout 1
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
| the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment IN transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations which result
| in the Impairment, If not the destruction OF
| the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
| snip is TO be accomplished gradually i'm man
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-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 railroads. should never be alien
tected for the general welfare, as provided by
| the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
| On these roads should at once follow default i'm
! payment thereof by the debtor mpanies and
| at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| eminent should purchase the same IL il be-
| comes necessary to protect its interests there
| in. or If they can be purchased at q reasonable
| price, and the government shall operate said
| ra1lronds as public highways for the benefit of
| the whole people and not in the interest of the
| few, under suitable provisions for protection
| or lie and property, giving to all transporta-
| for fares and freighfs
| Third-We denounce the present infamous
| schemes for refunding these debts, and do
"
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post office
system, Delng q necessity Tor the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interests of the people.
| LAND.
Frst-the true policy demands that the ma
tional and state legislation shall be such al
will ultimately enable every prudent and In
dustrious citizen to secure home, and there
tore the land should not be moRopoliZed for
A lie h.ia -
| railroads and other corporations in excess Of
| their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
| tual settlers only, and pri yate land MONOPOLY
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
| have, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
| hide settlers of their homes and miners OF their
| claims, and we demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption OF mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-we demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes, as
! provided in the national homestead law, and
| tnat no exception be made in the case Of In
| dian reservations when opened for settlement,
| and that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
system OF direct Legislation through the intia
tive and referendum under proper constitu
| uonal safeguards.
| GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president.
| vice president and United States senators by q
| direct vote of the people.
| Second-We tender TO the patriotic peoIle of
| Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
| Tor political freedom and Independence, and
| we believe the time has come when the United
| States, the great republic of the world, should
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought to
be, a free and independent state.
| Th1rd-Wc favor home rule in the territories
| and the District of Columbus. and the early adj
mission of the territories states.
| Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
| ducts.
Fifth-In these times of Industrial depres
sion idle labor should be employed on public
! works as far as practicable
Sixth-The arbitrary course of the courts IL,
assuming to imprison citizens for indirect con.
| be prevented by proper legislation.
| Seventh-We favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
Misunderstanding that the elective franchise
| and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
| eminent OF, for and by the people. the Peoples
| party condemns the wholesale system of dis
| as un-republican and un-democratic and we
declare II to be the duty OF the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
| full free and fair ballot and an honest count.
Ninth-While the foregoing propositions con
| stitutc the platform upon which party
! stands aud for the yIndicatiOn of which it's or.
| gaIization VIII be maintained, we recognize
that the great and pressing issue of the pend.
I icia al