The Advocate and news., 1898-11-23
THE POLITICAL FUTURE.

THE POLITICAL FUTURE.
The politicians and leaders" of the
elements opposing the Republican party
have been telling how we should all get
together for the 1900 campaign. They
have all said that 1t is a desirable thing
that there should be complete fusion
amalgamation-by reorganization into
one party, but they have not been over
anxious to lay out the diagrams for this
consolidation. We have been thinking
about that part of it. We have secured
from some prominent reformers plat
form for the occasion II is not as rad
ical as we would like to see, but you must
strike a balance, and we believe that we
have balance between the radicals and
conservatives in this proposed platform,
First, the preamble:
The Peoples party assembled In national
convention reafiirms It's allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders Of the
republic, and also to the fundamental prin-
ciples Of just government as enunciated In
the platform Of the party In 1892. We PecOg-
nize that through the connivance Of the
present and preceding administrations the
country has reached a crisis In It's national
life, as predicted in our declarations four
years ago, and that prompt and patriotic
action Is the supreme duty OF the hour.
We realize that while we have political in
dependence, our financial and Industrial In
dependence Is yet to be attained by restOr-
Ing to our country the constitutional con-
troll and exercise Of the functions neces-
sery 70 peoples government, which func-
. tlOng have been baselY surrendered by our
public servants to corporate mOnOpOlies.
The Influence OF European money changers
has been more potent in shaping legislation
NhuNN Naa oh aa,Na abnA A a.wl,n
ecutive power and patronage have have
been used to corrupt our Legislatures and
defeat the will of the people and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned on the
ruins OF democracy. TO restore the gov
ernment intended by the fathers and for the
welfare and prosperity Of future genera
tionB we demand the establishment of an
economic and financial system which shall
make us masters of our own affairs and
Independent of European control, by the
adoption OF the following declaration of
principles
You will notice that we use the name
Peoples party. It is now in doubt wheth-
er the gold element or the other side will
control the Democratic party by 1900.
The chances are that Croker G. Hill will
manage. II they control the name there
will be nothing for true Democrats to do
but to take some other name, and we
have put in the Peoples party because
we know Of no better name.
Here is the
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
/. FINANCE.
l. We demand national money, safe and
sound issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks
Of Issue, to be full legal tender for all
debts, public and private; Just, equitable
and efficient means of distribution to the
people and through lawful disbursements
OF the government.
o We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage Of gold and silver at the present
legal ration of is TO /, without waiting for
the consent of foreign nations.
.. We demand the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amOunk
sufficient to meet the demands of business
and population and restore the just level Of
prices OF labor and production.
4 We denounce the sale of bonds and the
increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration
as unnecessary and without authority of
issued except by specific act of Congress-
D. We demand such legislation as will
prevent the demOnetization Of the lawful
money OF the United States by private con-
tract.
8. We demand that the government, in
payment of its obligations, shall use it's
option as to the kind of money In which
they are to be paid, and we denounce the
present and preceding administrations for
surrendering this option to the holders Of
government obligations.
z We demand graduated income tax
TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear It's Just proportion OF taxation, and
premS court relative to the income tax