The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-13

Below will be found the manifesto issued b
The national committee of the united people
party at its recent session in Denver:
The manifest unrest which everywhere
appears in the nation demonstrates the dis
satisfaction of~the American people with the
present management of government and ar
CUES the necessity of the reform forces coming
together in united action .. the ballot box to
obtain proper legislation, whereby the right
OF the people in self-government may be had
for themselves and their posterity. Therefore
We, the popuists of the United States, having
this day, at the city of Denver, united forces,
with the distinct understanding that all past
differences as % policy shall be and now are
permanently settled, and experience having
demonstrated the futility of any attempt to
secure the enactment of our principles either
through the republican or democratic parties,
we believe the time is now at hand when the
united peoples party should declare itself
emphatically opposed to any utilization with
either OF these parties and unqualifiedly in
favor OF national political action.
Our fundamental principles are known to
all pOpulists and are nowhere better stated
than in that immortal document enunciated at
Omaha, July A. 1892. However for the benefit
of the uniformed we declare our adherence
to the demands for (a) money, whether
stamped on gold, silver or paper, to be coined
and issued exclusively by IT, government and
made full legal tender for all debts, both
public and private; tb} system OF transporta-
ton and the transmission of intelligence,
owned by the public and cperlted by the gov
eminent at the cost of service; (c) lani for
use rather THAI for speculation, and abolition
of alien ownership of land; (d) American ships
for American ,oreign commerce. without
cent of subsidy.
And as an open door FOR all economic re-
FORMS we urge the rule of the people through
the optional referendum an initiative and tho
recall Of derelict officials.
Confident in the justice of the principles
here set forth, firmly confident that their tri-
umph in government would be for the best
interests of the people, We call upon the
patriotic citizens of this country to join with
us in bringing about their enac' ent into law.
With these principles firmly established, equal
justice would prevail, special privileges would
be eliminated and ours would be, as patriots
everywhere desire government of the peo-
pie, for the people, by the people"
1t will be noticed that the committee not onl.
assumed to speak for the party, but assumes t.
De the party. 1t says: I'VE he popul;sts of tn,
United States, having this day at the city of Den
yer united forces" etc. The first question thai
arises is, What authority has a committee to de
tide, in advance Of delegate convention ant
without instructions from the voters, the policy
he party?
The committee declares that experience show
he futility of fusion and that "the time is nov
1t hand when the united peoples party should de
clare itself emphatically opposed to afiliatiol
with either of these (repu.lican or democratic
parties"
Such declaration would not be out of plac
coming from a committee of the middle-of-the
road populists for that party so declared in tn
last campaign, but the regular populis.4 favore
fusion in the last campaign and they have had NJ
opportunity to aak upon that question since. /