Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-02-08
PopuL1sr Ma rIoNAL pLArFoRx.

PoPULIsT Ma TI0NAL PLATFoRM.
The Peoples party, assembled in natiors
convention. reafirms its allegiance to the
public, and also to the fundamental principles
OF Just government, as enunciated In the plat.
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in it's national life as predicted
III our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt ana patriotic action rs the supreme
duty of the hour. We realize that while Wo
have political independencee our financial
and industrial independence is yet TO be at
tanned by restoring 10 our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
functons have been basely surrendered by
our puhHc 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 plutoe-
racy mas thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers, and for the wei.
fare of this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and inan-
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue to be Il full legal tender for all 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
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
Thlrd-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiatlng medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient TO meet The 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 ana
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration a.
unnecessary and without authority of Law, and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cific act of congress-.
Fffth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the characterization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
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
Seyenth-We demand a graduated income
tax TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, and We
regard the recent decision of tie supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vaslon OF the rightIui powers of congress over
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
bar be established by the government for
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
MISREPRESENTATION being means of ar
change aud necessity, the government shouli
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on a 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 impairment, If not the destruction of
| the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
lfoh ndsr a.
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-The interest of the United States in
the pubic highways built with public moneys
ana the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pacific railroads, should never be alien
| ated mortgaged or sold. but guarded and pro-
tected Tor 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 a 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 Transports
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and treights.
Third-We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunGing these debts. and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
system. being 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 ma
tfonal and state legislation shall be such as
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrIous citizen to secure a home, and there
tore the land should not be mopopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tuai settlers only, and pr |ate land monopoly,
as Wen as alien ownership, should be prohib-
| tied.
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
fde 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 pubic lands be granted free homes, as
provided IN the national homestead law, and
That no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement,
aud that ali lands now patented come under
Fourth-Drect Legislation: We favor a
system OF direct legislation through the fnitia
I'VE ari0 referendum under proper constitu
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
first-We demand the election of president.
wee president and United States senators by q
direct vote of the people.
Seconc-Wc tender TO the patriotic people Of
Supd our ueepest 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
De. free and independent state.
Ihlrd-We favor home rule in the territories
ana tue District of Columbia. and the early adj
mission OF the territories as states
Eourth-All public salaries should be made
ducts.
Fifth-in these times of Industrial depres-
sion idle labor should be employed ON public
works SIS far as practicable.
Sixih-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming to fmprison citizens for in direct con-
Tempt and ruling them by injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
.Seveuth--We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Misunderstanding that the elective franchise
ana nntrammeled ballot are essential to gov
eminent of, for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of diF-
reimbursement adopted in some OF the states
a. un-republican and un-democratic, aud We
declare II to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
fnii-free and fair ballot and an honest count
NInth,While the foregoing propositions con-
ttitu1e the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vindicafion of which its ar.
gan1zation will be maintained, we RECOGNIZES
that the great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presf-
Dental election will turn is the financial once.
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