Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-01-25
ropu11sr Ma r1oNAL PLATFORM.

Iuc recipes party, assembled natiOua
convention. reafhrms its allegiance to the
| principles declared by the founders OF the re-
| public, and also TO the fundamental principss
OF Just government. Us enunciated In the plat
| form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the cOunivance of the present and
preceding administrations the conntry hae
reached crisis n its national life as predicted
| in our declaration four years ago, and that
| prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
| DUTY OF the hour We realize that while VIC
| have political Independence. our financial
and industrial independence is vet to be at
/ tutionai control and exercise of the functions
| necessary 10 a peoples government which
| functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopo-
! lies The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
! legislation than the voice of the american
| people Executive power and patronage
| have been used 10 corrupt legislatures
and defeat the viii of the people. and plutoc-
/ racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
| ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the well
VI NE i,s anu 1ulure geheratlons,we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
| cial system. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
| control, by the adoption of the following dec
laration of principles:
| FINANCE.
| FIRST w demand a national money, safe
| and sound. issued by the general government
| only. without the Intervention of banks of is
sue TO be full legal tender for ali debts pub
| lie and private-a just, equitable and efficient
| means OF distribution direct to the people and
| through the lawful disbursements of the gov
| Second-We demand the free and unre.
| str1cted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one without watt
| ing for the consent of foreign nations
| Third-We demand that the volume of cir.
| culating medium be speedily increased to an
| amount sufficient to meet he demands of the
/ business and population of this country aad
| to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
| Fourth--We denounce the sale of bonds and
| the increase OF the public interest bearing
| uebt made by the present administration
unnecessary ana without authority of Iawand
| tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
| cific act of congress.
Fifth-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 governments
obligations.
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 as a mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
| and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of ec
81
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on q non partisan basis. to
the END that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
IN the IN Impairment, II not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, mEy be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in man
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-The interest OF The United States in
an ne, pubic pup hIghWays built with public moneys
to the Pa eific railroads, should never he alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro
tected FOR the general welfare, as provided by
inc laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United Sfatea
on these roads should ut once follow defaultin
payment thereof by the debtor companies: ana
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same IL IL be-
comes nece ssary to protect its interests there
in. or If they can be purchased at a reasonable
price, and the government shall operate said
raiiroads as public highways for the benefit Of
the whole people and not in the interest of tho
few. under suitable provisions for protection
of life and property, giving to all transporta-
for lures ana frefghts.
Ihird-We denounce the present infamous
scbemes Tor refunding these debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered accord my TO their
true intent and spirit.
fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
OF news. should he owned and operated by
tue government n the interests Of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the pa
uonal and state legislation shall be such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen TO secure home, and there
fore the land should not be moaopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads. and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed bJ the government and held for ac-
tual setliers only, and pr |ate land MONOPOLY,
as wen as alien ownership, should be prohib.
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds bv which
rail- ur,s<..
nave, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
noe settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims. ana we demand legislation by conpress
which Will enforce the exemption Of mineral
patent
Third-We demand that all bona sde settlers
on an puDhc lands be granted free homes as
PROVIDED III The national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case o. In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
ahd tnat all lands now patented come under
this demand
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
y stem o. dIrcct legislation through the intia
i've arc referendum under proper coustitu
tional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
flrSt--We demand the election of president
wee president and United States senators by
direct vote OF the people -
second-He tender to the patriotic Deot of
Cuoa our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
W. We t peilege me time has come whenthe United
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought ia
re. u free ana independent state.
Ihird-He favor home rule in the territories
ana me District Of Columbia. and the earIy adj
MISSION OF the territories 5 states
fonrih-AH public salaries should he mads
ducts. f.
Fifth-in these times of Industrial depres-
sioD Idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
SiStn-Jhe arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming 10 imprison citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
ceyenth-We favor Just pensions for everv
disabled Union soldier.
Notwithstanding that the elective franchise
ana untrammeled ballot are essential to roy-
of, for and by the people. the Peoples
party condeHns the wholesale system of Dip
reimbursement adopted in some OF the states
as un-repubiican and un-democratic aud we
declare II 70 be the duty of the several states
iegfslatures TO take such action as will secure
a fuil free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-Wh iie the foregoing propositions con-
stifute the platform upon which our marty
stands and for the vIndication of which fts or
gan1ZatiOn will be maintained. we recoonize
mat the great and pressing issue of the Dend-
ing campaign upon which the present nresi-
Dental election will turn is the financial ONES.
ton. and upon this great and specific issue he
tween the parties we cordially invite the AID
and cooperation of all Organizations and Gift
zens agreeing with US upon this vital quee>