Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-06-08
poruL1sr NATIONAL rLArysrr.


convention. reaffrms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public, and also to the fundamental principles
of just government, as enuncated In the plat
form OF the party I'm 1892 We recognize that
through the connyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached a crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of The hour. We realize that while VIC
have political Independence. our financial
anu industrial Independence is yet to be at
talned by restoring to- our country the constf-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary To Il peoDle'S government, which
functions have been basely surrendered BY
our pnnhc servants to corporate mouopo-
lies The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the America1
people Executive power and patronage
have been used 10 corrupt our lexislaiures
and defeat the will of the people, and plutoc-
racy mas thereby been enthroued upon The
runs OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers, and for the wei
1are OF this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic ana insn-
cfai system. which shall make us master1 OF
our own ahairs and independent of European
iaration OF principles:
FINANCE.
First-We demand national money. safe
only, without the intervention of banks Of h.
sue TO be full legal tender for all debts pub
u. ant
means of distribution direct to the peonIe and
1nrougn the lawful disbursements Of inc Ecy-
Second-we demand the free and p,r.-
strlcted coinage of silver and gold at the prss-
EN- legal ratio of sixteen TO one. without watt
Ing Tor the consent OF foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased tn an
amount sufhcient to meet the demands OF the
business ana population of this country and
| production. 49,"
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present ADMINISTRATION a
! unnecessary ana without authority OF Iawand
tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
/ cltic act of congress.
Fifth-we demand such legislation as 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 to the kind of lawful money in which thev
| are TO be paid, and we denounee the present.
| ana preceding administrations for surrender-
| obligations
seventh-We demand 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
yasion of the rghtful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
I Eighth-We demand that postal saving.
banks be established by the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
| TRANSPORTATION.
| First-Transportation being a means of ey-
| change and necessity the govern ment shouli
| own anu operate the railroads in the interest
| OF the people and on a nOn-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the sama
| treatment in transportation and that the
the great railroad corporations which result
| In the Impairment, If not the destruction of
me t polulcal rights and personal liberties OF
the cltlzen, may be destroyed. Such owner
| ship is TO be accomplished gradually i'm man
ner CONSISTENT with sound public policy.
| Second-The interest of The United States I'm
| the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
10 the ia zinc railroads; should never be alien
ated, morigaged or sold. but guarded and PRO
| tected Tor the general welfare, as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United Staten
| on these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof 10y the debtor companies and
| at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| ernment should purchase the same IL IL be-
comes necessary TO protect its interests there
| in, or II they can be purchased at a reasonable
| price. and the government shall oDerafe eaii
| railroads a public highways for che beneft ~
| Inc whole people and not in the interest of the
| lew, under suitable provisions for protection
| OF lie and property, giving to all Transports
ton interests equal privileges and equal rntes
| for fares and freights
Ih1rd-We denounce the present Infamous
| scnenes 1or refunding these debts. and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| executed ana administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
| of news, should be owned and oDerafed NV
| the government in the interests of the people
| LAND.
| FHst-the true policy demands that the M
uonaI ana state legislation shall be such a.
| VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
! dustrious citizen TO secure a home and there
| fore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes All lands now held by
| railroads and other corporations in excess OF
| their actual needs should by lawful means be
| 1eciained 10y the government and held for ac-
| tual settlers only. and pri ate land monopoly
| tied. " PiOA"N
| Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
nave, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
| hde settlers of their homes and miners of their
clhims ana we demand legislation by congreea
| which will enforce the exemption of mineral
| land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
| Third-we demand that all hona ada .o,,i.
OH all puphc lands be granted free homee aa
provided in the national homestead law, and
| mat no exception be made in the case OF In
| dian reservations when opened for Settlement
ana that all lands now patented come under
FOurth-Direct Legislation: We favor .
| system OF direct legislation through the initia
| lNe AID referendum under proper constitu
| uonaI safeguards
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
| First-We demand the election OF presiden,
vice president and United States Senator'S nv =
| direct vote of the people
| we leuueT 10 tue patriotic DeOI Ia Of
| Cuba our deepest sympathy in their STRUGGLE
Tor political freedom and Independence ana
| we believe the time has come when the limited
states, the great republic of the world shouId
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought IN
| be. a free and independent state
Third-We favor home rule in the terrftories
| ana rue District OF Columbia and the early ad-
| mission OF the territories states
| fOurth-All public salaries should nc mads
| 10 correspond TO the price of labor and it's pro-
| ducts. f-N
FIfth-ln these times of industrial depres-
| sion idle labor should be employed on pubfis
| works as far practicable
| SNtn-Ihe arbitrary course OF the courts in
| assuming TO imprison citizens for Indirect con-
| tempt and ruling them by Injunction Should
| be prevented by proper legislation.
| .SeVenth-We favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
| Notwithstanding that the elective franchise
| and untrammeled ballot are essential TO eov-
| eminent OF, for and by the people. the PeopIes
| party condemns the wholesale system of dis
| reimbursement adopted i'm some of the states
| as un-republican and un-democratic aud we
declare II to Toe the duty of the several states
| legislatures 10 take such action a. will secure
| Il fuii,free and fair ballot and an honest count
| Ninth-WhiIe the foregoing propositions con-
| stiute the platform upon which our party
| stands. and for the vIndicafon of which in or
| ganlZauOn will be maintained, we recognize
tnat the great and pressing issue of the Dend-