The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-03-31

otOWIu6 tos 1oPNs
adopted:
The Peoples Party assembled IN Ss-
tioual convention. reafhYms IT allegiance
to tie principles declared by the founden
of the Republic and also TO the1undanenF
nj principles Of tust government - enunE
sted in the platform Of the party IN l1sz
We recognize that through the connivsnoe
of the present and preceding sdminassE
,,or,s the country has reached . crssss IN IL
National life - predicted in cur declaration
four year, ago. and that pronps and pairr
otto action il the supreme duty OF the nool-
We realize tha. while We have political ince-
u~ndeuee our financial and industrial indie
penjence - yet 10 be attained cy ressofns
10 our country the constitutional conlfoi
and exercise OF the functions necessary 10
ueople's government, which functions have
been baseiy surrendered by our pubic SET
wants to corporate monopolie.- The innu-
ence Of European money changers nas oesn
more potent in shaping legislation than the
voice of the merican leopie Execuuye
uower aad patronage have been used 70 cor.
rup, our legislatures TO deies' inc sai VI
the people and plutocracy has oeea En-
| ,hroned upon the ruin. Of Democracy. 10
restore the government intended oT the
| fathers and for the welfare and prosperity
| of this and future generations. We demand
the establishment of al economic ana u
| nancial sys,em which shall make us mas
ter. of our own affairs, and independent OF
| European control by the adoption OF the
| following:
| DECLARATION or PRIscIPLKs.
| /. We demand National msney, safe
and sound issued by the general govern.
| ment only without the Intervention OF
| banks OF issue to he full legal tender for
Ali debts pu bic and private, so that just,
equitable and efficient means OF distribution
NAV 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 al the present le-
. gal ratio of 10 to without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
g. We demand the volume OF circulating
! medium be speedily increased TO an amount
sufficient TO meet the demands OF the bust
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
T increase Of the public interest bearing bond
q debt made by the present administration as
. unnecessary and without authority of law
, and that 40 more bonds be issued except
: By specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legal legislation as
will prevent the demonstration of the law
full money of the United States by private
g. We demand that the government in
7 payment of its obligations shall use its op-
r tons as TO the kind Of lawful money IN
s which they are to be paid and We denounce
! the present and preceding administration
Y Of government obligations.
| = We demand graduated income tax to
the end that aggregated wealth shall oeal
its lust proportion of taxation and We de
| nolnce the Supreme court, relative to the
income tax law as q mislnterpretatiOn OF
the constitution and an invasion OF the
r rightful powers OF Congress over the sub
iect of taxation.
5. We demand that postal sayings bank!
be established by the government for TIT
t. safe deposit of the savings of the people
T and TO facilitate exchange.
III RAILROADS.
/. Transportation being means OF ex
y change and public necessity, the govern
l. ment should own and operate the railroad
:. in the interest of the people on nOn-p PAL
tisan basis to the end that all may be &C
corded the same treatment in transports
ton, and that the tyranny and poltica
l. power now exercised by the great railroa
a corporations, which results in the impair
=. ment if not the destruction of the poIitica
IL rights and personal liberties of the citizens
a. may be destroyed. Such ownership is to b
IN accomplished gradually IN manner con
,o sistent with sound policy.
1' . The interest of the United States in tn
J. public highways built with public moneys
Sc and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ian
NJ to the Pacific railroad should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded an
protected for the general welfare, as provid
r The foreclosure OF existing lines OF the I'M
=, ted States on these roads should al once fo
low default in the payment thereof of tn
e, debt of companies, and at the fOreclOsur
to sales of said roads the government shal
a purchase the same if it becomes necessar
. to protect its interest therein or if they ca
be purchased at a reasonable .llce and tn
ct government shall operate said railroads a
public highways for the benefit of tn
IF whole psople and noi in the in rest of tn
few, under suitabi, proVisi"::, :rr prote<
, don of life and properly; givius; ~ all tran:
o. portation interests and privileges and equs
n rates for fares and freight.
>ol 8. We denOunce the present infamOu
20 schemes for refundins these debts and DE-
mand that the laws now applicable theret
be executed and administered according
their true intent and spirit.
1. The telegraph, like the postofice sy!
n. tenn, being q necessity for the transmissio
of news should be owned and operated b
y the government in the interest of people.
/ LAND.
e l. The true policy demands that the al
O. tiOnal and State legislation shall be such 8
or viii ultimately enable every prudent an
- :, industrious, citizen to secure a home, an
q, therefore the. land should not be monop<
Y, lized for speculative purposes.
IN IAN lands now held by railroads an
=, other corporations in excess of their actus
u needs, should by lawful means be reclaim
III GU Ny TIC RUNcIuu1cuL duU uSlU lOI 6ctux
of settlers only, and private land monopoly 8
III well ss alien ownership should be prohil
VIZ tied.
ns 2. We condemn the frauds by which til
Or land grants to the Pacific Railroad compar
TO les have, through connivance of the Interic
:. department, robbed multitudes of actus
III bonatide settlers of their homes and miner
ne of their claims, that We demand legislatio
at by Congress which will enforce the exeml
4 ton of mineral land from such grants afte
80 as well as before patent.
y 8. We demand that bonafde settlers o
he all public lands be provided free homes an
be provided for in the national Homestea
law, and that no exception be made in th
case OF Indian reservations when opene
at for settlement, and that all lands not no
patented come under this demand.
4. We favor system of direct Legislation
" through the initiative and referendum u
a der proper constitutional safeguards.
70 eKKFRAL PROPOSITIONS.
re l: We demand the election Of Presiden
9 and Vice-President and United States Sens
. tors BY direct vote OF the people.
2. We tender to the patriotic people Q
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their heroi
struggle for political freedom and indeper
he dence, and We believe the time has com
when the United States, the great RepubE
of the world should recognize that Cuba
III and of right ought to be free and inde
-. pendent State.
D. we favor nome rule IN the Ierrltorle
re and the District of Columbia, and the earl
ID admission of Territories as States.
o., 4. ALI public salaries should be made
- correspond to the price of labor and its prt
lie ducts.
o. 5. In times of great industrial depression
TO idle labor should be employed on publ
works as far as practicable
y 6. The arbitrary course of the courts i
ID assuming to imprison citizens for indire<
TO contempt and ruling by injunction, shout
10 be prevented by proper legislation.
4: We favor just pensions for our disable
at Union soldiers.
to 8. Believing that the election franchis
8 and untrammeled ballot are essential to
government of, for, and by the people. til
Peoples Party condemns the Wholesale sy!
o. tenn of disfranchisement adopted in som
O. States "a un-Penn hlican and mr. nann on.ot;,