Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-05-25
roruI1sr NATIONAL PLArrsxr.


convention. reafhrms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the -
public, and also TO the fundamental principles
OF Just government. as enunciated In the plat
form OF the party in 1892 We recognize that
through the conniyence of the present ana
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in it's national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and thai
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty OF the hour. We realize that while 20
have political Independence, our innneieI
and industrial independence 10 yet to be at
tained oy restoring to our country the consti-
tuttonal control and exercise of the functions
necessary TO peoples governments, which
functions have been bssely surrendered ~
| lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
| have been used to corrupt our legislaturss
and defeat the will of the people and plutoc-
ruins n nf merely peen entnroned upon the
ment intended by the fathers and for the Wei-
| rare OF this and future generations we demand
| the establishment of an economic and imam
| cfal system. which shall make us masters OF
our own affairs and independent OF European
control. by the adoption of the following dee
| FINANCE.
F1rst-We demand a national money safe
| ana sound, issued by the general governmen
| only, without the intervention of banks of L.
| sue TO be a full legal tender for all debts pub
| nc ano prlxate-a just, equitable and efBcieut
meals OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements Of the row
eminent.
second-we demand the free and unre-
strlcted coinage of silver and gold at the prsG-
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one without wsit-
ing for the consent OF foreign nations
Thlrd-We demand that the volume OF DIR
cuiating medium be speedily increased to an
| amount sufhc1ent to meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds snd
the increase OF the public interest bearing
deot made by the present administration a.
unnecessary and without authority of Jaw nd
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
Fffth-we demand such legislation az will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sxth-We demand that the government I'm
payment of its obligations, shall use its option
as 10 the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender-
ing this option TO the holders of governments
Seventh-we demand a graduated income
! tax 10 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 q mis-
incorporation OF the constitution and an in
D Nasion OF the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
r Eighth-We demand that postal savings
r banks be established by the government for
! the safe deposit OF the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
4 TRANSFORMATION.
| First-Transportation being means of q q
change ana necessity the government shout 4
own and operate the railroads in the interest,"
4 of the people and on non-partisan basis: to
3 the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
y the great railroad corporations. which result
IN the impairment. II not the destruction. of
n the political rights and personal liberties of
= the citizen. may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is TO be accomplished gradually i'm a 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
n to the Pa cific railroads, should never be alien
ated mortgaged or sold. but guarded and pro-
. the laws organizing such rairosdsip The vor -
closure of existing liens of the United States
ON these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor com panfes 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 II they can be purchased at q reasonable
price, and the government shall operate eaiS
railroads a public highways for the benefit of
the whole people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all transporta-
for fares and freights.
Ihird-We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
| fOurIn-Ine telegraph, like tho post DIN q
system, being necessity for the Transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interests OF the people.
First-the true policy demands that the m.
t1onai and state legislation shall be such ~
: will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen TO secure a home, and there
tore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes. ALI lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess Of
tneir actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri .ate land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership should he Drfhfh.
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 hons
fde settlers of their homes and miners OF their
claims. and we demand legislation by congress-
which will enforce the exemption of minera
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-we demand that all bona fide seftIer,
on all public lands be granted free homes n
provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement
J and that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth(Direet Legislation: We favor 9
system of direct legislation through the fnitia
i've and referendum under proper constftu
tlonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
Ffrst-We demand the election Of preside,t
= vice president and United States senators by I
4 direct vote of the people.
{ Second-We tender to the patriotic people o1
u cuba our deepest sympathy in their stru9rl1
Tor political freedom and independence an
we Deheye the time has come when the Unite
States the great republic of the world shOuIS
recognize that Cuba is, and OF right ought ID
be, free and independent state
Third-We favor home rule in the terrItorie,
ana the District OF Columbia and the early ID
mission OF the territories as states
fourth-All public salaries should be made
ducts. ~ - ~
Fifth-In these times OF industrial depres
= SION Idle labor should be employed on publi.
WORKS as far as practicable.
q SAtn-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts IN
assuming 10 imprison citizens for in direct con
Tempt and ruling them by Injunction shouI<
De prevented by proper legislation
> SeVenth-We favor just pensions for eyery
! disabled Union soldier.
e Notwithstanding that the elective franchiss
ana untrammeled ballot are essential to sov
eminent OF, for and by the people, the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted i'm some of the sta -
as un-republlcan and un-democratic and w
declare II to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will eeCurs
1ul,free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-Whie the foregoing propositions con
stitute the platform upon which our parfy
STANDS. and for the vIndicatiOn of which II ~.
gaD1zauon Will be maintained, we recoruIrc
tnat the great and pressing issue of the Den6
ing campaign upon which the present presI
GENITAL election will turn fs the financial oues
tlon, and upon this great and specific issue b
. tween the parfi IS we cordially Invite the AZ