The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-07

M FesDIae Passv Hsassaal Flssssn.
Following d the PopuliA platform =
nds I'D: II
"rhs Psopl. Party as.mbasd q Ne
tional CONVENTION, .samrIa - a1laG,anoe
Of the Republic and also 70 The fundAment-
al principles Of 1use ecvefnmentas ennna-
sted In the platform Of the party In lss2
We recognize that through The eonnivancei
of the present and preceding adminissr.-
National life - predicted in our declaration
four years ago, and that prompt and patri-
otic sction 10 the supreme duty OF the hour.
We realize that while We have political inde-
pendenee our financial and industrial indie
pendence is yet TO Be attained by restoring
70 our country the constitutional control
and exercise OF the functions neces9aJ TO
peoples government, which functions have
been basely surrendered by our public ser
wants TO corporate monopoles- The innu-
ence of European money changers has been
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 tne
of this and future generations. We demand
the establishment OF an economic and Il |
nancial system which shall make ~ mas
| ters of our Owl affairs, and Independent OF
European control by the adoption OF the
following:
| DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE.
| /. We demand National meney, safe
and sound issued by the general govern.
ment only without the Intervention OF
banks Of issue, to be q full legal tender for
ali debts, public and private, 80 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-
gal ratio of l6 to without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
8. We demand the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient TO meet the demands Of the busi-
ness people of this country and TO restore
, the lust level of prices of labor and pro
4. We denounce the sale OF bonds and the
increase of the public Understanding 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
Z full money Of the United States by private
8. We demand that the government in
I payment of its obligations shall use its OPP
tons a. to the kind of lawful money in
:, which they are to be paid and we denOunce
Q the present and preceding administration
for surrendering this option to the holders
of government obligations.
Z. We demand a graduated income tax to
the end that aggregated wealth shall beal
e its lust proportion of taxation and We de-
nounce the Supreme court, relative TO the
income tax law, as misinterpretation OF
the constitution and an invasion OF the
8 rightful powers of Congress over the sub
| iocf If taxation
l. 8. We demand that postal sayings banks
d be established by the government for thu
safe deposit of the savings Of the people
II and to facilitate exchange.
81 RAILROADS.
/. Transportation being a means of ex
change and public necessity, the govern
y ment should own and operate the railroad
l. in the interest of the people on q non-par
>. tisan basis; to the end that all may be &C
10 corded the same treatment in transports
i ton, and that the tyranny and pOlitica
is power now exercised by the great railroa'
~ ment if not the destruction of the politica
8, rights and personal liberties of the citizens
70 may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
b. accomplished gradually in q manner con
;s sistent with sound policy.
10 q The interest of the United States in tn
20 public highways built with public moneys
Is and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
- to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
~ ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
y protected for the general welfare, as provid
10 The foreclosure of existing lines of the I'm
10 ted States on these roads should at once TO
40 low default in the payment thereof of tn
IL debt of companies, and at the foreclosur
ne sales of said roads the government sha
4 purchase the same if it becomes necessar
OF be purchased at q reasonable price; and tn
u government shall operate said railroads 9
ht public highways for the bench If til
whole people and not il. the inter ;; Of til
few, under suitable Provisions for prote
40 ton of life and property; giving to all tram
a rates for fares and freight.
= 8. We denOunce the present tnfamOU
IL schemes for refunding these debts and d.
mand that the laws now applicable theret
ed be executed and administered according
IN their true intent and spirit.
- 4. The telegraph, like the postof6ce sy
X. tenn, being a necessity for the transmissio
e. of news should be owned and operated
r. the government in the interest of people.
No LAND.
= l. The true policy demands that the a
~ tional and State legislation shall be such
st industrious; citizen to secure home, ar
IN therefore the. land should not be monop
-: lized for speculative purposes.
lis IAN lands now held by railroads al
on other corporations in excess of their actu
10. needs, should by lawful means be reclaiI
Ia ed by the government and held for actu
settlers only, and private land monopoly
well az alien ownership should be prohi
We tied.
hv 2. We condemn the frauds by which Il
r: land grants to the Pacific Railroad compa
~ les have through connivance of the Interi
to department. robbed multitudes of actu
nd bonafide settlers of their homes and mine
n of their claims, that we demand legislatit
by Congress which will enforce the e1em
lp- ton ct mineral land from such grants aft<
~ 8. We demand that bonafide settlers
=. all public lands be provided free homes al
%. be provided for in the national Homeste,
nd law, and that no exception be made in Il
on case of Indian reservations when open
az for settlement, and that all lands not nc
'o' patented come under this demand.
10 4. We favor q system of direct legislatit
as through the initiative and referendum u
ed der proper constitutional safeguards.
no eENSRAL PROPOSITIONS.
II l. We demand the election of Preside
= and Vice President and United States Sen
en- tors by direct vote OF the people.
ed 2. We tender to the patriotic people
ess Cuba our deepest sympathy in their here
struggle for political freedom and indepe
III dence, and we believe the time has cor
IA when the United States, the great Repub
ow of the world, should recognize that Cuba
~" and Of right ought to be a free and inc
lu- pendent State.
Am 3. We favor home rule in the Territorj
ch- and the District of Columbia, and the cal
. admission of Territories AZ States.
4. All public salaries should be made
correspond to the price of labor and its p1
ducts.
5. In times Of great industrial depressio
idle labor should be employed on pub
works a. far as practicable.
BIS 6. The arbitrary course Of the courts
ng assuming to imprison citizens for indir,
40 contempt and ruling by injunction, shou
10 be prevented by proper legislation.
'os z: We favor Just pensions for our disabl
asst Union soldiers.
ted 8. Believing that the election franch
nor and untrammeled ballot are essential to