The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-22
~(OPFIOiAL)
NATIONAL ALLIANCE DEMANDS,
Adopted at Washington, D. c., February
6, 1890.

WHEREAS, The Declaration Of indie
pendence, as q basis for g Republican
form of Government that might be
progressive and perpetual, states:
t'That all men r created equa(;
that they are endowed with certain IL
| elienable rights; that among these r
life. liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness: that to secure these rights, gov
ernments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the
! governed"
We hold, therefore, that to restore
and preserve these rights under q
| Republican form Of government, prl-
vate monopolies of public necessities
for speculative purposes, whether or
| the means of production, distribution
! or exchange, should be prohibited, and
| whenever any such public necessity or
| utility becomes a monopoly in private
hands, the people Of the municipality,
! state or union, as the case may be,
| shall appropriate the same by right OF
eminent domain, paying a just value
therefor, and operate them for, and In
the interest Of. the whole people.
FINANCE.
We demand a national currency,
safe, sound and flexible; issued by the
general government only; a full legal
tender for all debts and receivable for
all dues. and an equitable and efficient
means of distribution Of this currency,
directly to the people, at the minimum
of expense and without the interven-
tion of banking corporations and In
sufficient volume to transact the busI'
ness of the country on q cash basis.
(G) We demand the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver and gold at the
legal ratio of Is to 1.
O) We demand a graduated income
tax.
() The government shall purchase
or construct and operate a sufficient
mileage of railroads to efectually con
troll all rates of transportation on a
just and equitable basis.
0) The telegraph and telephone,
like the postofhce system, being q ne
cessity for the transmission Of intolIl,
gence, should be owned and operated
by the government in the interest OF
the people.
LAND.
We demand that no land shall be
held by corporations for speculative
purposes or by railroads in excess OF
their needs as carriers, and ell lands
now owned by aliens should be re.
claimed by the government and held
for actual settlers only.
ExEOTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS.
We demand the election of United
States Senators by a direct vote OF the
people. That each State shall be di
vided into two districts of nearly equal
voting population, and that Senators
from each shall be elected by the
people Of the district.
DISTRICT LEGISLATION
(c) That our national legislation shall
be 80 framed in the future as not tC
build up one industry at the expense
of another.
(G We believe that the money Of the
country should be kept as much 81
possiOle in the hands OF the people
and hence we demand that all NatiOnaI
and State revenues shall be limited tx
the necessary expenses of the govern
ment economically and honestly aO
ministered.
() We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of savings
of the people, and to facilitate ez
change.
f) We are u~nalterably opposed tC
the issue, by the United States, of in
terest- bearing bonds. and demand the
payment Of all coin obligations of thf
United States, as provided by existing
laws, in either gold or silver coin, a.
the option of the government and not
at the option of the creditor.
TRANSPORTATION.
Relying upon the good, commor
sense of the American people, and be
ieving that a majority of them, wheI
uninfuenced by party prejudice, vii
vote right on all questions submitted t.
them on their merit; and, further, t.
efectually annihilate the pernicious
lobby in legislation. we demand direc'
legislation by means of the initiative
and referendum,