Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-01-11
popuL1sr NATIONAL pLArrsRr.

PoPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFeKN.
The Peoples party, assembled in nationa
convention, reafirms its allegiance to the
public, and also to the fundamental PRINCIPLES
OF Just government, as enuncated I'm the plat
form OF the party in 1892 We recognize that
through the cOnniyance OF the nresant .nd
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in 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 wo
have political Independence, our financial
and industrial independence is yet to be at.
talned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary 10 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
nave been used TO corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people. and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon tho
ment intended by the fathers, and for Inc wei.
1are OF this and future generations, we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
clal 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 national money safe
ana sound, issued by the general government
only. without the Intervention of banks of is
sue 70 be Il full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable aud efncient
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
eminent.
seeond.we demand the free and uure-
strlcted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
| ent legal ratio of sixteen to one without wait.
| ing for the consent OF foreign nations
Ihlrd-We demand that the volume of cir.
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet he dema nds 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 and
| the increase of the public interest bearing
| debt made by the present administration a
unnecessary ana without authority of Iaw,and
that no more bonds be issued exceDt nv ane,
! cific act of congress-.
Fifth-We demand such legislation an 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 its obligations, shall use it's option
as TO the kind of lawful money in which thew
are to be paid and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender.
ing this option to the holders of governments
obligations.
Seventh-we demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear It's 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
| the safe deposit of the savings OF the peopl
and TO facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
Ffst-TransPortation being a means of &c
change and a necessity the government shouIi
own ana operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on nOn-partisan basia: to
| the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment IN transportation. aud that the
tyranny ana 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.
| of fhn Init GfakA t.
| the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants OF land
TO the Pa cific railroads, should never be alien.
ated, mort2aged 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 defauItin
payment thereof by the debtor com panies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov.
eminent should purchase the same IL IL be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
| in, or If they can be purchased at q reasonable
price, ana fhe government shall operate said
| railroads as public highways for ,he benefit Of
the whole people and not in the interest of the
rev, under suitable provisions for protection
OF NE and property, giving to all transports.
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and freights.
Third-we denounce the present infamons
schemes for refunding 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 the post ONCE
| system, being necessity for the transmission
4
the government in the interests OF tho people.
LAND.
flrst-tne true policy demands that the ma.
| t1onal and state Legislation shall be such az
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and In.
dustrious citizen TO secure a home. and there
tore the land should not be moRopozed 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 wen 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
mat no exception be made in the case o, In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
ana tnat all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legisation: We favor a
system OF direct legislation through the initia
I'VE ard referendum under proper constitu
uQnal safeguards.
| GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
flrst-We demand the election of president,
vice president and United States senators by .
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender TO the patriotic peot Ie Of
Cuoa 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
ne: IA free and independent state.
Ihlrd-We favor home rule in the territories
aud the District of Columbia. and the early ad.
MISSION OF the territories as states.
Fourth-All public salaries should be- made
70 correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
Fifth-In these times of industrial depres.
sion Idle labor should be employed on public
works as far practicable.
Sf1th--The arbitrary course of the courts I'm
assuming 10 impriss n G items for in direct con.
tempt and ruling tbs m by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
Seyenth-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
MISUNDERSTANDING that the elective franchise
and -untrammeied ballot are essential to gov
eminent of, for and by the people. the Peoples
party copdem ms the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and uu-democratic. aud We
deIsare tito be the duty of the several states I.
legislatures to take such action as will secure
fuil-free and fair ballot and an honest count.
Ninth-Whie the foregoing propositions con.
stifute the platform upon which our party
stands and for the ylndication of which fta or.
ganizatj0n will be maintained, We recognize
that the great and pressing issue OF the pend
ing cam paign upon which the present presl.
dental election turn is the financial ques-
ton. and uDon this great and specific issue be.
tween the parties we cordially invite the aid
and cooperation of all CARNATIONS and citi-
zens agreeing with Us upon this vital quee-