Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-17
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.

The pcople-all OF us-want more
money, and a plenty Of It; and the
masses of the people are starving for
currency. or any circulating medium.
The supply of free and unlimited silver
coinage that once blessed us and our
fathers for over a century of uninter-
rupted prosperity and happiness, has
been cut off for over twenty-six lean
years for labor and production, no mat
ter how fat they may have been for
the cornerers and monopolizers of the
money left by decentralization and con-
traction. Even speculation in the
money-centrcs, after deprlvng the
country at large OF circulating me-
dunn for 10! these many stringent
years. now feels the pinch of money
scarcity and is obliged to confess that
even they are menaced with a money
famine.
Therefore. confronted by condition
and no longer dupes OF a theory. we
want more money--all we can get from
every natural and lawful source-nnd
we demand the restoration of our con-
stitutional silver and it's free and un-
limited coinage, at the ratio of 16 to !,
It's fixed value as money all the world
over. We need the money for our la
Dor and productions, and to furnish
employment at competitive wages, with
enhancing markets for our wares and
advancing values for our lands, and all
our property; and without more money
and an abundance of it, we shall never
again realize and enjoy these things.
We want not only more silver-all Of
it-but all the gold that can be pro-
duced, with large issues Of more green
backs. no longer under the ban of "the
endless chain which falls link from link
In the presence of both silver and gold.
the legal-tenders provided especially by
Article J., Section n, Clause l. OF the
Constitution of the United States and
still! unrepealed, though violated most
grossly by the silver demonetizing act
of February -, 1873.
That will bring salvation of itself, as
wa know from past experience, before
we had recommendation and its conse-
quent contraction of the currency,-for
gold, no matter what its amount. never
was and never will be a currency with
the people while it is so soft and costly
being as soft as lead and sixteen
times more costly than silver per
weight; nor can it ever be used by the
People as a currency until it becomes
cheaper than silver and circulates as
coin and not as bullion to be weighed
though bearing the stamp of the gov
ernment's mint!
We desire definite and final stop put
TO the issue of interest bearing bonds
In time OF peace. and to free bank
notes for national banks, and we de-
mand currency from the govern
ment, whose duty 1t is to supply it di-
rect TO the people. without parting
with It's sacred trusts and sovereign
preroGatives for private gain to any
person or set of persons-government
alone having power to coin, make and
ISSUE money. And we want a tariff for
revenue, without discriminating be-
tween sections, or materials, or pro-
Ne>eSb WIN We SCillstll'l Tie TUnCul OIL the
Internal revenue, with It's so-caIlcd
war-taxes. when the war ended %
years ago. Down with trusts and nil
monop0lles, with only such allowance
of limited corporations rs may be ne
cessary to accomplish legitimate pur-
poses without interference with free
competition for ALL We want extraya-
gance superseded by economy in all de-
partmeniE OF government, and we ask
cessation of the endless suuandering
OF useless wars, and especially of war
for subjugation and conquest-"crim-
inal aggression against human rights
and liberties. at home or abroad.
The people want government very
different from NIcKinley's, with widely
variant policies, and If Mckinley is re-
elected, they may expect to have adj
ded TO what they opposed and de-
nounced in 1896, and nothing that they
demanded, an imperial colonial policy,
with u standing army and the MILL
tarlsm that 1t implies in our domestic
affairs, ms we'll as In foreign wars of
conquest; expansion and subjcction; a
reign OF money power monopoly, trusts
and the destruction OF free competition
and of all Independents labor and en-
terprisc; more and more contraction OF
the currency. ana all cries for relief
responded to by impossible gold and
certificates Of large amounts; all to cll-
max in servitude TO the banks and
the loss of oil real liberty. The peo-
pie are in hostility to all these undem-