Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-01-26
roruI1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

The Peoples party, assembled I'm nation.i
convention. reafiirms its allegiance to the
public, and also to the Fundamental pr7ncip1c~
OF JUST government, as enunciated IN the Mat.
FORM form OF the party In 1892. We recognise that
preceding administrations the couutry hns
reached crisis in its national life as nre5;cfc1
, III OUT aeciaratlon four years ago, and that
1uty OF the hour. We realize that while NC
nave political independencee. our imam cisl
talned by restoring to our country the con All
tutionai control and exercise of the fupcfio m
necessary to peoples government, which
functions have been basely Surrendered nv
our public servants to Corporate mono No
lies. The influence OF Europeau monev
cnsneers mas been more potent in shaping
leEIsiduon imam the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patrons %
nave been used to corrupt our leRisIaturea
ana deIeat the viii OF the people. and plutoc-
racy mas thereby been enthroned upou the
ruins of democracy. To restore the royern-
ment intended by the fathers and for The vel
III, ,sIe Oh tnls and future generations. we demand
tne establishment of an economic and inau0
cfal system, which shall make us masters OF
our own affairs and independent Of European
contfoi, oy the adoption of the following dec-
laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
FIRST We demand n national money safe
ana sound, issued by the general government
sue TO be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and eficient
meaue oi olstrioutlon direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements OF the Rov-
ernment-
Second-We demand the free and uure-
s.ncted coinage OF silver and gold al the pres
ent legal ratio or sixteen TO one without Wait-
ing Tor the consent of foreign nations
Tnird-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient 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 depounce the s.t- ~ 49,
the Increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration a.
unnecessary ana without authority of law, and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cine act of congress.
Ffth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the characterization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-we demsnd that the government. I'm
payment OF It's obligations, shall use its option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
aho preceding administrations for surrender
Ing this option to the holders Of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
TAX 70 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-
vasion of the rightful powers of congress- over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks De established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
First-Transportation being a means OF ex.
cnange aud necessity, the government should
own ana 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 aud that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. W ich result
In the impairment, II not the destruction of
/ the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
| ship is to be accomplished gradually in 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
| ated. mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
| tected for the general welfare. 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 in
| payment thereof by the debtor com panies :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, ana the government shall operate said
| railroads as public highways for :he benefit of
| rev, under suitable provisions for protection
OF lie and property, giving to all transporta-
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and freights.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes Tor refundiDg these debts, and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post ONCE
system, being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated nv
| the government in the interests of the people.