Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-01-04
poPuL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

Tue feopies party, assembled in natioue
principles declared by the founders of the re-
pubic, and also to the fundamental prlncipies
OF JUST government, as enunciated I'm the plat
FORM OF the party In 1892 We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country hna
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
IN our oeclaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
dnty of the hour. We realize that while VIC
nave potitIcal lnGep ndcncee. our financial
ana industrial Independence is vet to be at.
taineG 10y restoring To our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
functions have been basely surrendered byI
our puhhc servants to corporate monopo-0
lies. The influence of European money!
ehahSets mas 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 will of the people and plutoc-
racy has thereby been euthroned 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
the establishment of an economic and finan-j
cial system. which shall make us masters OIL
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following tiec-
larotion of principles:
First We demand aISAS ma,;oro, mon.
and sound issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue 10 be tuli legal tender for all debts pub
lie ana prlVate-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.
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without watt
ing for the consent of foreign nations
TElrd-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiating medium be speedily increased to an
amount SUFFICIENT TO meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
10 restore the Just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds nd
increases nfIhtin inf hoe ~
debt made by the present administration asl
unnecessary ana without authority of law and
that no more bonds be issued except by spell
citic act Of congress.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
SiXth-We demand that the government, in
payment of lis obligations, shall use its option
as to The kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid. and we denounce the present
ana preceding administrations for Surrender.
ing tnis option to the holders of governments
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tsXto the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and wa
regard the recent decision of the supreme 4
court relative TO the income tax law as a mia1
incorporation OF the constitution and an I'M
Vason of the rightful powers of congress oyei
the subject of taxation.
Egbth--Ne demand that postal sayiura
banks be established by the government fo]
and 10 facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS
flrst-Iransportation being means of
chnnge aud necessity, the government SHOULD
own and operate the railroads in the fntere
OF the people and on non-partisan basis:
the end'that all may he accorded the san
treatment IN transportation and that Id
tyranny and political power now exercised b.
the great railroad corporations. which resu
n the impairment, If not the destruction III
the political rights and personal liberties q
the citizen. mey be destroyed Such ownerl
SIN ? IS 70 be accomplished gradually in man.
ner consistent with sound public policy
SecoHd-Thc interest of The United States I'm
the public highways built with public MONEYS
ana the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the IA einc railroads, should never he alien
ated. moTfgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
tccted for the general welfare as provided by
the laws organl zng such railroads The fore
ciOslfe OF existing liens of the United States
On these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor com panies ;and
at The foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
erhment should purchase the same IL IL be-
comes necessary TO protect its interests there
In, or IL th'es- can be purchased at a reasonable
price, ana the government shall operate said
railroad IS public highways for ,he benefit Of
the whcle people and not in the interest of tne
Few, uncer suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all TRANSPORTS.
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and treights.
Ihird-We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunuing these dobts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be-
executed and administered ACCORDING to tbeii
true intent and spirit.
system, being necessity for tn transmission
Of news, should be owned and operated byI
tho government in the interests OF tho people
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the nal
uonal and state legislation shall he such as
viii ultimately enable every prudent and i'm
dustrlouS citizen TO secure home. and there
fore 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 bs the government end held FOR ac-
tual settlers only, and pri ate land monopoly
as wen as alien ownership. should bc prohib-
lied
Seeond-we condemn The frauds by which
tue land grants TO Pacific railroad companies
department., robbed multitudes of actual bona
fide settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims. ana we demand legislation by congress
which Will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent.
Thir,l-We demand that all bona fide settlers
on 81 pubic innds be granted free homes, a.
provided IN the national homestead law. and
that no exception be made in the case o. In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
aud that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Drect Legislation: We favor =
system of direct legislation through the iuitfa
tive AID referendum under proper copstitu
ugnei safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
first--We demand the election of president
vice president ard United States senators by 4
direct vote of the people.
Seeond-Ne tender TO the patriotic people Of
Luoa orr deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we 5elicye the time has come whsn the United !
states, the great republic OF the world should :
recognize That Cuba IS. aud of right ought to
&c. 4 free and independent state.
.1Elrd--ste favor home rule in the territories
aud the District OF Coium bia and the early adj
mission of the territories as states.
tonr,h-AlI public salaries should be made
20 correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
ducts.
Fifth-In these tipes of Industrial depres-
sian Idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Sisth-lb he arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming to iDpriss c items for indirect con-
tempt and ruling tae m by Injunction tho1j
be prevented by proper legislation
SeTenth--We favor just pensions for Ell
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective frau n
and uHtrammeied ballot are essential T. 4
ernment OF. for and by the people. the PeopI63
party condemns the wholesale system of die
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-repupiican and un-democratje, aud No
declare II TO be The dhty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
f'N,free and fair ballot and an honest court.
Ninth-sf lille the foregoing propositions cor !.
sfitute the Platform upon which our pan<T
stands and for the yIndicafion of which ffe
ganizatiOn will be maiBtaiDed, we recocI
that the Great and pressing issue of the 30
Ing campaign upon which the present ~
dental election will turn is the financial u
tioD. and uDon this great and specific issue
tween the part IS we cordially fnyire the