Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-07-26
popuI1sr NATIONAL pIArroRn.

PoPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party, assembled in national
convention. reaflirms it's allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders OF the re-
public, and also to the fundamental principles
OF just government. as enunciated In the plat
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the eonnfvance OF the present ana
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in it's 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 We
have political Independence. our financia
and industrial indeS endence is vet to be at
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
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 to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the viii of the people. and plutoc.
racy has thereby been enthroned upon tho
ment intended by the fathers, and for the well
fare of this and future generations, we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
clai 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 We demand u national money safe
and sound, issued by the general government
y. s.
sue 70 be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and eficient
means or distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-we demand the free and uare-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient 10 meet the demands of the
| business and population of this country and
to restore the Just level of prices of labor and
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds ana
the Increase of the public interest bearing
oebt made by the present administration as
unnecessary ana without authority of law and
| Thar no more bonds be issued except by spe-
| cilc act of CONGRESS.
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
| prevent the demonetiZation of the lawful
| money of the United States by private con-
| tract.
j Sixth-We demand that the government. in
payment OF its obligations, shall use its option
| as to the kind of lawful money i'm which they
are to be paid, and we denOunce the present
| and preceding administrations for, surrender
| ing inis option 10 the holders of government
| Seventh-We demand u graduated income
! tax 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
| bear its just proportion of taxation and wa
regard the recent decision of the supreme
| court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
| the subject of taxation.
Eighth-we demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
and TO facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
| First-Transportation being means of er-
| Change aud necessity the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
| of the people and on non partisan basis: TO
the end that all may be accorded the same
| treatment in transportation aud that the
! tyranny and political power now exercised by
| the great railroad corporations. which result
| in the Impairment If not the destruction of
| the political rights and personal liberties of
| the citizen. may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in a man
| ner consistent with sound public policy
| Second-The interest of the United States in
| the public highways built with public moneys
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 for 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 defaultin
| payment thereof by the debtor companies and
! at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| ernment should purchase the same IL il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
| in. or II they can be purchased at q 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 transporta-
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and treights.
| Ihird-We denounce the present Infamous
| schemes for refunuing these debts and de-
| nland that the laws now applicable thereto he
| executed and administered according to their
! true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph. like the post Office
! system. being necessity for the transmission
| of news, should be owned and operated by
| the government in the interests of the people.
1 LAND.
/ Ffst-fhe true policy demands that the ma
| uonal and state legislation shall be such az
| viii ultimately enable every prudent and in
| dustrious citizen TO secure home, and there
| tore toe land should not be moaopolized for
| speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
! reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
| tual settlers only, and pri Jate land monopoly,
| rs wen as alien ownership should be prohib-
| Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have. through the connivance of the Interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
itde settlers of their homes and miners of their
claims and we demand legislation by congress
| which will enforce the exemption of mineral
| land from such grants, after as well as before
| patent,
| on al public lands be granted free homes "a
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 and referendum under proper constitu
| uonal safeguards.
| GENERAL. PROPOSITIONS
f1rst-We demand the election OF president
vice president and United States senators by
| Second-Ve tender to the patriotic peonIe NJ
| Cuna our deepest sympathy 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, II free and independent state.
| 1hird-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia and the early ad.
| mission of the territories states.
| Fourth-All public salaries should be made
duets.
| pEifth-ln these times of, industrial depres.
| sion idle labor should be employed on public
! works as far as practicable.
| SiXth-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming 10 imprson citizens for indirect con-
| tempt ana ruling them by Injunction should
| be prevented By proper legislation.
| SeYenth-We favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
| Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
| ernment Of for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
franchisement adopted in some of the states
! rs un-republican and un-democratic, aud we
declare il TO be the duty of the several states
legislatures 10 take such action as will secure
n tuH.free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-N bile the foregoing propositions con-
stItute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vIndicaton of which it's or
| gaIiHation will be maintained, we recognize
that tne great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present preei.
Dental election will turn is the financial oues-
ton. and UPON this great and specific issue be-
| tween the parties we cordially invite the aid
aud cooperation of all organizations and citi-
| lens agreeing with US upon this vital ques.
| ton.