The San Francisco call., 1904-10-10
PRINCIPLES OF POPULISM.
Party Described as Jeffersonian to
the Very Core


the Very Core.
The Peoples party is Jefersonian to the
core. 1t has never emaSculated its creed
curry favor II has preferred to win its way into
minds and hearts by earnest advocacy Of fixed
principles. Its chief reliance has been on po-
iitical education. II assails the evils OF class
1t does not blindly seek to tear down. 1t seeks
70 REFORM to repair, to repovate to restore.
our Iorefatners. The class legislation which is
the bans OF our Government at this time OBJ
tanned the upper hand in our republic twice
before and was twice driven out. Jefferson
Cid 1t once, then jackson. Democracy in Jack
sons day paid off the national debt. overthrow
the national bank. revoked many Of the privi-
leges of favored classes and put the reins OF
power back into the hands Of the people. The
protective principle was struck down and the
prosperity Charles Dickens, who visited this
country previous to the Civil War. wrote back
to his home that a flaming sword in the air
would not excite more amazement than
beggar in the streets Of Boston, and he ex-
pressed his astonishment at the general pros
perlty OF the people. That was when genuine
Democracy was ruling the land and inspiring
its legislation. This prosperous condition con-
tlnued in the main. until the Civil War. That
in loss of life than in the legislation TO which
1t gave provocation and opportunity. National
banks gained foothold once more; a mountain
OF bonds arose; monstrous tariffs framed with
the view of enrching favored industries,
imposed; corporations seized the public lands;
the money power began that series of forays
upon the Government and upon the producing
classes which has transferred almost the whole
OF the wealth OF the country to those who
never bravey fought for the Government in
time Of war nor honestly served it in time Of
peace The grand armies Of industry win the
yearly victory over nature by toll, producing
the wealth which the captains of industry ap-
propriate to themselves by subtle chicanery.
The vastly greater part of the wealth of this
country is enjoyed by men who never pro-
duced dollar in their lives.
The People party makes no war upon
private ownership, upon honest wealth or Ie-
Ultimate profits. 1t simply combats the legis-
IaNNn wrrtta oh kVNN1A 1Aa frr7 .
pense of another, which gives special privileges
TO one class at the expense of another. which
discriminates against citizen or class of
citizens in favor of others In short, the Peo-
pies party declares it's hostility TO privilege
and demands legislation whose motto shall
be equal and exact justice to all, without
favors to any
Such rascality as that Of the copper trust
or the steel combine should either be made i'm
possible or the administration of law so in
vigorated that the criminals who steal millions
shall wear the ball and chain side by side
with the thief who stole pig.
We believe in the money Of the constitution.
We do not bend in superstitious reverence to
rency which the Government declares to be
le=al tender will be sound money long
fear that the Government will ever issue too
many paper dollars than we have that 1t will
issue too many bonds. A government must
govern, and the creation of money is a part
of the sovereign power. The Government must
decide how many soldiers shall come to the flag;
nust decide how many battleships shall hold
the ocean lists against the world in MALL 1t is
no more likely to make mistake by issuing
too much money than it is TO make a worse
mistake by calling too many breadwinners into
the military service
Rag baby!'' cries the editor: Rag baby!''
cries the fossil in the academy. Yet that
same editor and that academic fossil is
quick to approve when the Government makes
issue rag notes on the rag bonds. What chill
dren we are. after ALL Some go around
In mental swaddling clothes all the days Of
The Peoples party favors the public owner
ship of public utilities. In nearly every civil
lied country the Government owns the rail-
ways, the telegraphs and the telephones. The
last two should be a part of postofice
system, to which should be added the marcel
post, to free our people from the extortionate
charges of the express companies. The Peo-
pies party has always earnestly advocated the
graduated income tax. This would not only
throw the support Of the Government upon
the rtch where II should be, but would, IN a
huge, unnecessary and dangerous fortunes We
favor the eight-hour law and the abolition of
moral and physical conditions are almost certain
to destroy the child. We believe it to be a part
of mans natural liberty and equality to labor
for himself and not for a master, and that
the laws should be so framed that there
should be no monopoly OF the land for either
the living the dead. Recently we have
heard the insidious voice of those who tell us
his freedom" This pernicious and false state
ment comes from one Of those millionaire col
leSes where opinions are censored. Just as
books censored for the Carnegie libraries
''the God who gave US life gave US liberty at
the same time" He also announced as a
principle that The earth is given as a COM
mon stock for man to labor and live on. If
for the encouragement of industry we allow
it to be appropriated must take care that
other employment be provided to those ex-
cluded from the appropriation. II We do not,
the fundamental right to labor the earth
turns to the unemployed
To this doctrine heartily subscribe. can
not bring myself to believe that 1t was ever
Gods intention OF that II ever just for
any portion of the human race to deprive
other portions of that race Of the opportunity
Ito labor the earth" or. in lieu thereof, to
be provided with other liberty to work Idle
land which is permitted to work
idle hands which not allowed to work.
form indictment against any ruling class
which will result in verdict OF guilty be-
fore any impartial jury Of intelligent think
ers.
Mr.. jefferson further said, The earth
belongs in usufruct to the living: the dead
have neither right nor dominion over II"
One of the evils OF our system Is that the
living transmit a monopoly to their de-
scendants and thus the grip OF the dead Is