Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-08-09
popuL1sr NATIONAL pLArronn.


form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present and
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
in our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
have political independencee. our fnapcia
and industrial indies endence 10 yet to be It
ta,pea oy 81 OUT t *. me colsu
necessary to peoples government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
lies. p The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will 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
fare of this and future generations, we demand
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 We demand "A national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
( only without the intervention OF banks of Ia
| sue 10 be full legal tender for all debts pub
| lie and private-a just, equitable and efncient
means of distribution direct to the people and
| through the lawful disbursements of the gov
| ernment.
Second-We demand the free and unre-
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
1 culattng medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient 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 bonds ana
| the increase of the public interest bearing
| debt made by the present administration "a
| unnecessary ana without authority of law, and
| that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
| cific act of CONGRESS.
W. IA and oh
| prevent the demonetiZatiOn of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
| tract.
! Sixth-We demand that the government, in
payment of it's obligations, shall use its option
as 70 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.
| 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
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
| and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being means of ey-
change aud Il necessity, the governmentshouli
| own and operate the railroads in the intereet
of the people and on a non-parfisan basis: 10
| the end that all may be accorded the same
! treatment In transportation and that the
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 man.
ner consistent en- 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 m S gag 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 default in
| payment thereof by the debtor companies land
ct 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 IL 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, nnder suitable provisions for protection
of life and property. giving to all transpOrta-
| for fares and freights.
Third-We deDounce the present infamous
schemes for refunuing these debts, and de-
| mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like tho post office
| system, being a necessity for the Transmission
OF news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the M.
| uonal and state legislation shall be such AZ
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrlons citizen to secure 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 Iate land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib.
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
| department. robbed multitudes of actual bona
| hde 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,
Third-we demand that all bona fide settlers
| on all public lands be granted free homes, az
provided in the national homestead law, and
that no exception be made in the case Of In.
| dian reservations when opened for settlement,
this demand.
Fourth--Direct Legislation: We favor
| system of direct legislation through the initia
| tive ard referendum under proper constitu
| tional safeguards.
First--We demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators by Q
| direct vote of the people.
Seconu-We tender to the patriotic peOple NJ
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
| for political freedom and independence, and
| States, the great republic of the world, should
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought to
| De. II Tree ana independent state.
Third-We favor home rule in the territories
| and the District of Columbia. and the early ad-
mission of the territories as states.
| Fourth-Al public salaries should BIZ made
| to correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
| ducts.
GFifth-ln these times of Industrial depres-
| sion idle labor should De employed ON public
| works as far as practicable.
SlXth-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts In
| assuming TO imprison citizens for indirect con-
| tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
| be prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Relieving that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
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-rcpubican and un-democratic aud we
declare ii to be the duty of the several etates'
| legislatures to take such action as will secure
| a full free and fair ballot and an honest count
NiDth-Wbile the foregoing propositions con-
| stitute the platform upon which our party
| stands. and for the vIndication of which its or
ganIzatIDn Will be maintained, we recognize
that the great and pressing issue of the pend.
| ing campaign upon which the present presi-
DENTAL election will turn is the financial CUES.
| ton and upon this great and specific issue he
tween the parties we cordially invite the ala
and cooperation of all organizations and citi-
zens agreeing with US upon this vital ques.
ton.
The Farm, Field Il Fireside and the
INDEX can both be secured one year
| for $l.50 The regular price of each