Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-02-16
poruI1sr NATIONAL rLArro.n.

principles declared by the founders Of the ~
OF Just government, as enuncisted in the plat
FORM or the party in 1872. We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present ana
reached crisis in it's national life as preifofeI
In our declaration four years ago. and fhrf
prompt and PATRIOTIC action IL the supreme
duty of the hour. We realize that while No
have political independencee, our fnancIsI
and industrial independence 10 yet TO be At
talned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutionai control and exercise of the Function
n1ecessary 10 peoples government. which
functions have been bssely surrendered by
lies. The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people Executive power and pafrOnaRe
have been used to corrupt our leRislafuree
and defeat the will of the people and plufoc-
racy mas thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers, and for the vel
rare OF this and future generations, we demand
cial system. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
controi. by the adoption of the following dec-
laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
flrst- We demand n national money, safe
ana sound. issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of Is
sue 10 be a full legal tender for all debts pub
TIC ana prlvate-a just. equitable and ef3cieut
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements Of the gov
eminent.
Second-we demand the free and unre-
str1cted coinage of silver and gold AT the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one without wait
ing for the consent OF foreign nations
Iniro-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased 70 an
amount suffcient TO meet the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of honda and
the increase of the public interest bearing
ueot MADE py the present administration as
OWld Will
that no more bonds be issued except nv ana
ciic act of congress.
Fffth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the characterization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government. in
payment of its obligations, shall use its option
as to 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 government
obligations.
SeveDth-We demand a graduated income
tax TO 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 q mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
yasion OF the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the peupi
and 10 facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
First-Transportation being means OF ex-
change and necessity, the government shouli
own and operate the railroads in the interest
or the people and on q non partisan basis. to
the end that all may be accorded the came
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
/ n the impairment, If not the destruction OF
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen. may be destroyed. Such owner.
| ship 10 to be accomplished gradually i'm a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
| Second-The interest of the United States In
htrflf
| 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 Tor the general welfare, as 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 IL they can bo purchased at a reasonable
price, and the government shall Operate said
railroads as 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 TRANSPORTS.
| ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and freights.
Ihird-We denounce the present Infamous
| schemes for refunding these debts. and de-
| mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| executed and administered according to their
1 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.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the mn.
uonal and state legislation shall be such AZ
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. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess OF
| their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
| tual settlers only, and pri sate land monopoly,
laa H.
/ tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
| have, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multtudes of actual bona
/ fde settlers of their homes and miners OF their
claims. and we demand legislation by congress
winch Will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-We demand that all bona fide settlers
ON al public lands be granted free homes, as
provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
and that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
system OF direct legislation through the initia-
tive ard referendum under proper coustftu-
uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president.
vice president and United States senators by a
direct vote of the people.
| Second-We tender to the patriotic people of
SuUd our deepest IN their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come when the United
states, the great republic OF the world, should
recognize that Cuba is. and of right ought to
be, a free and independent state.
Thfrd-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbus. and the early adj
mission of the territories as states.
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
TO correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
ducts.
Fifth-In these times of industrial depres-
sion Idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Slxth-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming 10 fmprison citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
Seyenth-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Misunderstanding that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to row
eminent of, for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republcan and un-democratic aud we
declare IL to be the duty Of the several states
full,free and fair ballot and an honest count.
Ninth-whiIe the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vindicatfon of which IL or.
ganizatiOn will be maintained. we recognise
that the great and pressing issue Of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
Dental election will turn r. the financial oues-
ton. and upon this great and specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite the aid
and cooperation of all organizations and cfts-
zens agreeing with US upon this vital ques.
ton.