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i
THE
REFORMER
PCBUSHED EvKKY FlUDAY EvENINO AT
FORT GAIN EH, GA.
FORT GAINES GA., SEPT. 28,1894.
POPULIST TICKET.
For Governor:
JAMES K. HINES.
For {Secretary of State:
Dr. A. L. NANCE.
For Treasurer:*
C. M. JONES.
for ConTf.tr oiler General:
W. R. KEMP.
For Attorney General:
,J. A. H. M’HAFFY
For Commissioner Agriculture:
,T. B. BARRETT.
For Rejtrcsentatlve of Second Cong res.
sionul District:
W. K. SMITH.
For Representative of Eleventh Senato¬
rial District:
N. T. CROZ1KR.
For Representative Clay Comity:
HON. It. M. BROWN.
Vote for Hines
& Brown!
A CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN.
The efforts of the democratic editors
and speakers to descend to the level of
persona) vituperation in their opposition
and Antagonism to the populist guberna¬
torial nominee, Judge Jumes K. Hines,
are meeting with a righteous protest of
indignation from tho voters of the state
who have known Judge Hines either
(tcmotmlly or by reputation. Tlieso men
have chosen their ow n level for conduct¬
ing the campaign and tlioir attacks on
Judge I Hues reputation, his honor aud
integrity, will full fiat.
Judge Ilincs is above reproach. They
enu cast no reflections on the character
of that Christian gentleman. Judge
Jamc* K. Hines. Hardly a denial is
necessary in his behalf, and those who
Imre known him repudiate any state¬
ment* made derogatory to his character
without even consulting tho judge.
Judge Hines is esteemed by all Chris¬
tian people regardl"s* of denomination.
A man's reputation is not a thing to be
trifled with. For nine consecutive years
Jndgc Hines has been a member of the
board of trustees of Emory collego. For
seven years be was president of that au¬
gust body, composed of prominent
Methodists throughout this stato aud
Florida, aud ho resigned that position
when he accepted tho populist nomina¬
tion for governor.
As a church tneuil cr Judge Hines has
always been prominent in the councils
of methodism wherever ho has been.
Joining the church at Sandorsville, Ga.,
at tho age of 12 years, ho has ever
droved faithful to tho vows aud obliga¬
tions he then assumed. Iu 1884 he was
iunden stewart in tho Methodist church
at Haudersville, and siuco his removal to
Atlantn lie has occupied a like positiou
iu the First Methodist church, aud Ids
legal career is familiar to all, and, like
the rest of his life, is an open book. Af¬
ter his return from Harvard University,
where he went after four years at Em¬
ory, he settled in Hay an nail, where ho
was associated with Colouel Lester m
the practice of his profession. From
Savannah he went to Washington eouu
ty, where he rapidly forged his way to
the front of his profession aud made a
name for himself ns a distinguished and
able lawyer.
While living in Washington county he
was judge of liis circuit, aud made a
splendid record. This positiou he re
signed wheu lie removed to Atlanta sev¬
eral years ago.
Such in brief has been the past life of
tho man whom the democratic editors
are oudoavoriug to defeat by their stings
of poison. But the man rises supreme
iu the contest and despite the dirty in¬
sinuations, the eudeavor of these alleged
edit ora and democrats to trail iu the
mud of public derision a spotless char¬
acter, the day will eomo, aud that in
tho next October, when tho Christian
voters of this state, the men who honor
Integrity aud purity, will repudiate
Judgo Hines’ would-be trade cere and
tinder au avahuicli of ballots bury them.
Judge Hines’ public career is spot¬
less, and it was not until ho bccamo a
candidate for governor that any mau
dared bring charges against lus charac¬
ter, not ouo of which has the semblance
of truth,
Aa stated, for many years Judge
Hines was president of the board of
trustees, presiding iu that capacity oyer
a body composed of such men as:
BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
Bishop A. G. Huy good, president, Ox¬
ford, Ga.
Rev. Juo. B. McGeheo, D. D., vice
president, Macon, Ga.
Mr. TJ. G. Hardemau, secretary, Ox
tord, Ga.
Prof. H. H. 6totie, treasurer, Oxford,
U*.
Rev. W. A. Candler, D. D., financial
secretary, Oxford, Ga.
A Chapter from Government Science
“No Matter What the Medium of Exchange
—No Matter What the Fiat or the Au¬
thority of Lfew Determines i« Money, the
Great Question After AH is its Quantity."
The truth is the most enormous
power known to man, or ever can be
his, lies in money—in the increase
and decrease of its quantity It is
the tide of human affairs upon which
all things must rise or sink. It is
inevitable and cannot be resisted.
This power has been obtained
through the carelessness of the peo¬
ple, who have been and are now h Old
in ignorance for that very purpose.
Bodin, in 1557, said: “Mo-n have
so well obscured the tacts about
money that the great part of the
people do not see them at ail. The
moneyers do as the doctors do, who
talk Latin before women, and use
Greek characters, Arab words and
Latin abreviation, fearing that if the
people understand their receipts that
they would not haye much opinion
of them.”
\V lmt was true then is practiced
now. lake the financial reports of
congress—they edly that are written purpos*
so not one person in a
hundred can read them understand
ingly.
association, Money is the the great fiber instrument of social of
organism, the very
the vitalising force of in¬
dustry, tion, and protoplasm of civiliza¬
as essential to its exist¬
ence as oxygen is to animal life.
\S itl'ont. money civilization could
not have had a beginning; with a
diminishing supply, civilization must
languish and unless releived, finally
perish. The volume of money, the
increase of which keeps pace with
the increase of population, metes
out justice to both debtor and credi¬
tor, It keeps up the distinction be¬
tween a mortgage and a deed. Its
insures a moderato competence to
the money rather than colossal for¬
tunes to the few at the expense of
the many.
Under a decreasing volume of
money all productive enterprises are
discouraged the and stagnated, because
cost of producing commodities
today will not bo covered by the
prices Exchanges obtained for them tomorrow.
become sluggish, because
those who havj money will
net part with it for either property
or services, for the obvious reason
that money is increasing in volume
while everything else is declining in
price. However
great tho natural re¬
sources of a country may be, how¬
ever genial its climate, fertile its soil,
ingenious, enterprising and industri¬
ous its inhabitants, or free its insti¬
tutions, if tho volume of money is
shrill ging its ii habitants will bo
over whelmed wjth banekruptcy, its
industries will bo paralyzed and des¬
titution and distress will prevail. If
all the debts in this country had been
doubled by legislation, it would have
been a far less calamity to the debtor
and to the country than that caused
by the contraction of tho volume of
the money.
David Hume says: “In every
kingdom into which money begins
to flow in more abundance than
formerly, everything takes on a new
phase; labor and industry gain life;
the morchaut becomes more enter¬
prising, the manufacturer more dilli
gent and skillful, and the farmer fol¬
lows his plow with greater alacrity
and attention. The good policy of
the magistrate consists only in Ueei >
ing it, if possible, still increasing; be¬
cause by that means he keeps alive
increaso a spirit of industry of tho nation aud
the stock of labor in which
consists all real power and riches. A
nation whoso money decreases is
actually at that time weaker aud
more miserable than auother nation
which possesses no more money but
is on the iucreasiug hand
Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of
the Treasury ot tne United States,
in report Fobruary 12tb, 1820, says:
“All intelligent writers ou the cur¬
rency agree that when it is decreas¬
ing ia amount poverty and misery
must prevail.’’
Abundance more evidence like the
abovo can be produced to show that
the policy of our government since
the war, in contracting the cuneucy
is detrimental to the great masses of
all professions and beneficial only to
tho exploiting classes known the
money power. Yet we find our dear
(fid democratic party pledged in tneit*
state platform to still further con
tract the currency by increasing the
size of the silver dollar to double its
present size, therefore diminishing
the number of dollars to the extent
rge the ratio. They
say “ S3 of Parity means, at the
<— silver bullion, 32 to
1 or that the silver dollar should bo
made twice as large—which is a
a scheme, not only to defeat the peo¬
ple in their demand for more money,
but to actually strike down tho num¬
ber of silver dollars already coined
to one-half tho present number—
which if accomplished, will still fur¬
ther lower the the prices of labor
and tho products certainly of labor in this
country as as water runs
down hill.
Voters of Georgia ! Are you will¬
ing to to forgo one more link in the
chain to bind us into abject vassalism
aud slavery f If so, vote the demo¬
cratic ticket. If not, then vote the
Peoples’ party ticket, against and the thereby policy
enter your protest administration, which
the present
pursued longer will destroy onr
republic. Let the spirit of
fathers of 1776 rest upon you,
boldly assert your right at the
box ou tne 3rd of October.
This is our only hope. H N.
C.
Vote for Silver
& the P e o p 1 e s’
Party!
Watson’s Challenge to Clay.
It is not difficult to suggest a satisfac
tory reason for the refusal of Judge
Hines to meet and discuss the relative
merits of the populist and democratic
platforms with Mr. Atkinson, but it is
incomprehensible to the understanding
of a true democrat that Hon. Steve
Clay, chairman of the democratic state'
executive committee, should decline to
discuss, in joint debate, the issues of the
day with Hon. Thomas Watson, who oc¬
cupies to the populist party the same re¬
lation that Mr, Clay does to the demo¬
cratic party.
It is either an implied confession that
lie distrusts his ability to sustain an in¬
tellectual combat with Mr. Watson, or
that in his opinion the platform he is
com in issk ned to defend against ali an¬
tagonists is not invulnerable, but liable
to sustain damage from the assaults of
the man, in response to whose challenge
Chairman Clay ignobly droops the proud
democratic standard committed to his
keeping and cravcnly shows the white
feather.
We care not what view Mr. Clay may
choose to take of this matter, lie has no
right to place his party in a false and
discreditable position by shrinking ig
uomiuonsJy from a joint discussion w ith
Mr Watson when duty to the trust con
tided to his keeping demands that he
should seek rather tliun resist such an
opportunity to advance the cause of his
party. If Mr. Clay is unable to bear
the standard of the great democratic
host fearlessly and defiantly; if he feels
incapable of defending its principles at
all times and against its strongest and
most powerful oppouents, in joint dis¬
cussion before the people, lie should sur¬
render the trust he thus so obviously be¬
trays to some one who lias “a stomach
for the fight” aud overpowering faith in
tho potency of democratic principles and
ability to present them with clearness
and distinctness iu the face of the most
powerful advocates of the cause of third
party ism. There is no possible excuse
for this moral cowardice upon the part
ot a man who is entrusted with a com
mission in whose fulfillment he should
“assumea courage if he has it not.”—
Atlanta Gazette(Dem.)
Vote the Democratic ticket
and you vote for HARD TIMES !
What Are State Bonds!
Iu effect they create a mortgage upon
all the property in the State. They bear
interest and they pay no tax, and the in¬
terest paid to the Bondholder comes out
of the taxes of ether folks.
Has Georgia issued any bonds lately.
Yes, iu 1892 the dear old democratic
party issued $200,000 in bonds, thus put¬
ting a bran new mortgage upon all your
taxable property, Who bought the
bonds ?
That estimable gentleman, Mr. Gunby
Jordan whom Gov. Northen recently ap¬
pointed railroad commissioner.
What else is Mr. Jordan, besides be¬
ing a very lucky man?
1st. He is president of a national bank
and a railroad magnate of robust propor¬
tions.
2d. Ho had the use of some $300,000
of your tax money free of interest.
3d. He was tho fortunate client of the
Hon. W. A. Little, the then at¬
torney-general of Georgia.
4th. He enjoyed the Jeffersonian priv¬
ilege of stepping iuto the state treasur¬
er’s office any day he was short of cash
aud gettiug pocket change to the gentle
melody of $10,000 or $17,000 or $40,000,
out of your cash box.
5th. He could bay cotton oi l ands
whenever he felt like it, with yuiir mon
ey, and after turning a neat penny by
way of profit could return yotir money
when he felt like it, without payment of
interest.
6th. He could buy the entire issue of
the bonds of 1893, on which you must
pay him four and a half per cent inter¬
est, and he could pay for those bonds
if he felt like it, with your money on
which he paid yon no interest at all.
If you (km’t believe there is such a
thing as being born lucky you just light
a good fat pine knot and devote a few
minutes of your after supper leisure to
a solemn and awe-strnck contemplation
of the “Curious fortunes and wonderful
Career of Mr. Gunby Jordan, National
Banker, Railroad Commissioner, State
Bondholder, Railroad President, De¬
pository of State Taxes, and Cotton
Buyer with-State-money.”
If Mr. Jordan does not swallow the
whole state some fine morning it will be
ou account of thi prematuie collapse of
his digestive organs.
Go it, Jordan!—Daily Press.
Colored people, remember if
you vote with the Peoples’ party,
you vote with your friends.
Read for Yourselves.
The democrats are telling the will colored peo¬
ple that the slavery, peoples' party their down, put them
back iuto cut w»ges and
many Now. other colored things. people listen
:
Who held the negroes as slaves before the
war f
The democrats.
Who fought to keep the negroes as slaves?
The democrats.
Who has been in power since your cotton
and other products bring you nothing ?
The democrats.
Who has brought the finance of this coun¬
try down to where where you cannot get
anvthing for your labor?
The democrats.
Who look upon the negroes, as merchan¬
dise to be bought and traded at will for a
little The mean democrats. whiakeyt
Now, colored friends, democratic* study these things
von vote a ticket.
A BRUTAL ASSAUL T.
BY THE DEMOCRATS UPON MR. S- L.
BISHOP AT WAYCROSS.
Watckoss, Ga., Sept. 21.—Yesterday
a brutal attack was made upon Mr. S. L.
Bishop by democrats in this city.
It was all because Mr. Bishop is an en¬
thusiastic populist and is doing what he
can in a legitimate way for that party.
Mr. Bishop is one of the best and
most highly respected citizens of W are
county, and all good citizens denounce
the assault.
Yesterday as Mr. Bishop was passing
through a part of the city where demo¬
crats only reside, two men came from
opposite sides of the street toward him.
One of the meu passed over iu front
of Mr. Bishop and the other motioned
for him to stop. Mr. Bishop supposed
that the man was some one who wished
to speak to him on business, and stop¬
ped the spring wagon in which lie was
riding.
The mau was an entire stranger to
Mr. Bishop, and without a word he
stepped iuto the wagon by Mr. Bishop's
side, who still suspected no danger,
thinking only that the mau wanted to
ride.
No sooner had he got into the wagon
than the democratic bully accused Mr.
Bishop saying that all southern men
were poodle dogs, aud before he had
hardly spoken the words, without giving
Mr. Bishop any chance for reply he
struck him iu the face, and before Mr.
Bishop could recover from the blow, at
tempted to gouge out bis eyes with his
thumbs. Mr. Bishop recovered himself
threw the bully off of him. and both of
them got out of the wagon. Before Mr.
Bishop could get in and drive off the
bully was striking him again. Mr. Bish¬
op knowing that the euciry lind every
advantage of him, and being without
arms or friends to protect him, made no
attempt at resistance further than to get
out of tho way aud to keep from getting
hurt.
After the bully found that ho could
not make Mr. Ii. fight him or do any¬
thing to resent his assaults, lie permuted
him to get In his wagon and proceed.
There was, of course, the usual crowd
of democrats around to urge their cham¬
pion on.
This is oue of the most uuprovoked
and brutal assaults that ever blotted
Ware’s history. The man was an entire
stranger to Mr. Bishop and made tho at¬
tack purely because Air. Bishop is a
strong aud hard worker in the populist
cause.
Mr. Bishop is not seriously injured,
but is somewhat sore from thc brutal
treatment lie received.
No good people here endorse such
methods.
Don't Sell your vote, but be a
man aud vote with the Peoples’
Party!
COLORED VOTERS
DON’T BE BOUGHT.
Below we give a clipping from the
Peoples Party Advocate, published iu
Atlanta by a colored mau. He asks bis
race not to be bought in the comiug
election, but to be men and vote the
straight peoples’ party ticket. Here’s
what he says:
We are now, as we have always been,
trying to advise our people as to the best
course to take in the coming political
contest. It is our conscientious belief
that the colored meu of Georgia should
support the peoples’ party. We have
studied the principles of both parties,
compared them cavefnlly, and we do de¬
clare thut there is nothing for the Ne¬
groes in the democratic party but abuse,
suppression aud humiliation.
The Negroes of Georgia are called
npon to be men, men who can not be
bought and sold m the comiug election
like so many cattle. The time has come
when we must cast our vote for those
principles which we conscientiously be¬
lieve to be working for the best good of
all the the people of this commonwealth.
TOTE FAIR GENTLEMEN.
The following is from the Calhoun
Times, a democratic newspaper publish¬
ed in North Georgia, whose editor has
honor enough about him to tell the
truth, and not like some other editors
who pretend to be Christians, and only
publish a part:
Much adverse criticism of Judge
Hines is being indulged in by several of
onr exchanges because of a vote he cast
for a bill to be entitled “aa act for the
better control of farm labor,” while he
was a member of the house in 1884-5.
For this vote Jndge Hines is being
severely and mercilessly criticised by
editors who a short time ago were, and
indeed are to day apotheosizing the
shadows of men who did exactly what
Jndge Hines did—voted for that bill.
We want to tell onr brethren of the
press that Mr. Clay and Mr. Everett and
many other men in that same legislature,
voted for the “farm labor” bilL Tote
fair, gentlemen; be candid, tell the
whole troth. Don’t try to deceive. In
the future when boosting your favorite
yon may be confronted with your edito¬
rials about Judge Hines.
We want it understood that the above
bill was introduced by a full democratic
legislature.
Now is the time to pay for your
subscription.
STATE PLATFORM B
Of the Peoples’ Party—Read aud
Reflect.
Wo hereby renew our unqualified
endorsement of the national platform
in of the the Peoples’ State party, and we favor
of Georgia the following
reform:
1. The abolition of the present
convict lease system which prosti¬
tutes to the greed of private avarice
the State’s sovereign right to punish
her citizens for violation of law. We
believG the State herself should keep
possession of her prisoners and should
employ them upon the public roads
and not allow them brought in com¬
petition 2. We with honest free labor.
favor the furnishing of pri¬
mary school books by the State to
avoid the burdens put upon our peo¬
ple by the frequent changes of text¬
books. We also favor the payment
of the teachers monthly.
3. We favor the enactment of an
unperverted Australian ballot law to
be so framed as to allow illiterate or
blind voters to receive aid in the
preparation they of their ballots, when
election. so desire, from the managers of
4. We emphatically condemn the
practice, of late becoming so preva¬
lent, of public officers accepting free
passes from railroad corporations.
We intend this condemnation to ap¬
ply to the executive, legislative and
judicial branches of our national and
state government.
5. Bo ieving. as we do, that theso
eternal principles are necessary to
good government and to the preser¬
vation of our republican institutions:
sity and, believing that a supreme neces¬
now exists for a determined and
organized struggle against the cor¬
rupt despotism of centralized wealth,
this we hereby pledge ourselver anew to
sacred task, and we invite tho
earnest irrespective co-operation of all good citi
zens, of party; and upon
these united efforts in behalf of the
cause of constitutional liberty we
reverently invoke the blessings of
Almighty God.
C. II. Ellington,
Chairman P.atform Committee.
THE ONLY
Billiard Parlor
IN TOWN !
Mr. T. J. Smith
eral CordiaMy Public invites call his Friends and the Gen
to on him in the rear of J.
L. Hurst’s where he will use every effort to
make them while away their leisure time.
Very Respectfully, T. J. SMITH
NOTICE !
Tc My Many Fjuends and Customers:
I am still ou hand at my Old Stand,
ready Whiskies. to serve you to the Best Grades of
To those whom I have car¬
ried over during summer season, I must
say that my obligations are now due,
aud must lie met. I need what you owe
me and am compelled to have it. So,
please call and settle, as the demands
on me forces me to make this request of
you without delay. Respectfully,
aug 24 L. S. Cohen.
ZF’T^'^'SIOI-A.IKrS
D. F. GUNN,
PRACTICING PHYSICIAN,
ja?“Ofllce next to Wallerstein’s.
^ h& NO ucias IS SQUEAKING. THE BEST.
And other specialties for
Gentlemen, Ladies, Boys
mk and Misses are the
= 3 ? Best in the World.
See descriptive advertise¬
ment which appears in this
paper.
Take no Substitute.
Insist on having W. L.
DOUGLAS* SHOES,
Sf with name and price
stampod on bottom. Sold by
A. M. WALLERSTEIN.
Saloon!
J. L. HURST,
Hancock St., FORT GAINES, GA.
Encouraged by the prospects of good
crops, the Proprietor of this well
known and popular estab¬
lishment, has ordered,
and has on hand,
a large stock of
WHISKIES.
WILD-CAT CORN,
CHAMPAGNE RYE,
WINES OF ALL KINDS,
ICE-COLD BEER.
TOBACCO A CIGARS.
His friends and patrons are requested
to call. aug 3
PEOPLES’ PARTY PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE OMAHA fONFEKENCE OF LABORING
PEOPLE, JULY 4, 1892.
\ V.
£155&*E81S&SS&£Sn e a ?nciples^ ° f ^ P6 ° Ple ° f ^ C0Untry thc Zoning preamble and docla
ratlw of p r ’
mid mulst J of of o°n a nation n d Hon n n, brought Whi S f t* ul the ™ und verge U8 of b , est moral, justify political our oc-operation. and material We meet ruin in Cor- the
th? tne e?mine < rnune of of the bench. T he people box j tho are legislatures, demoralized. the congress, Most of and the touche* States eve* have
idSon 0 P l' d t0 ^5^° tho voters Ht ,he P o31ln S Places to prevent universal Jntim
£ silenced, or business ih ’ prostrated, T, ] e newspaper* our homes are largely covered subsidized with c rtgages, r muzzled, labor public impover¬ opinion
ished, and the lands m o
men ed A. concentrating in the hands of the capitalist*: Tho urban work
. . MtjriifJh k C , 'T nsht of organization for self-protection; Imported pauperized
the ‘ 1 ',K Uge8 : a hirel, "8 standing aimy, unrecognized by our laws,
U n* established to shoot | them down, , and they are rapidly degenerating into European
conditions. The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal
fortune for a few, unprecedented in the history of mankind, and Hie possessors of
XZ despise the republic and endanger liberty. From the same prolific
i mental injustice we breed the two great classes—trumps and million
aires. -
Tho national power to create money is appropriated to enrich bondholders. A
vast public ... debt , w payable in
bou ^ orehy addin millions legal tender currency has been funded Into gold-bear!nr S
™ I HE T K to the burdens of the people.
OLD PAR l IF8 ARRAIGNED.—Silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history, has boon demonetized to add to the purchasing noVvor of
gold by decreasing the value of all forms of property, as well as human labor, and
the supply of currency ispnrposedly abridged to fatten usurers, bankrupt enterprises
and enslave industry. A vast conspiracy against mankind has been organized o two
continents and Is rapidly taking i
at it forebodes terriblo possession of the world. If not mot and overthrown
once social convulsions, tho destruction of civilization, or the
establishment of an absolute despotism.
We have witnessed for more than a century the struggles of tho two great polit¬
ical parties foi power and plunder, while grievous wrongs have been inflicted upon
the people. We charge that the controlling influences dominating bot h these par¬
ties have permitted the existing dreadful conditions to develop without sorious effort
to prevent or restrain them. Neither do they now promise us any substantial re¬
form. They have agreed togothoi to ignore in tho coming campaign every issue but
one. ^ They propose to drown the outcries of plundered pooplo with tho
sham battle the tariff, that capitalists, uproar of a
over so corporations, national banks, rings
trusts, watered stock, the demonetization of silver and tho oppressions of the usurers
may be ail be lost sight of. They propose to snerittce our homes, wives and children
on the altar of Mammon; to destroy the multitude in order to secure corruption funds
from the millionaires.
Assembled on tho anniversary of the birthday of tho nation, and filled with the
spirit of tho grund generation who established onr independence, wo seek to restore
the government of the republic to the hands of “tho plain people,” with which c’a«s
it originated.
THE WAR IS OVER.—Wo assert our purposos to bo identical with the purpose*
of the national constitution—“To form a more perfect union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote tho general wel
farp and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.” VVo deck re
that this republic can only endure as a free government while built upon the love oi
the wholo people for each other and for the nation; that it cannot be pinned together
by bayonets; that the civil war is over, and that every passion and resentment which
grow out of it must die with it, and that wo must be iu fact, as wo are in name one
united brotherhood of freemen.
Our country finds itself confronted by conditions for which there is no precedent in
the history of the world—our annual agricultural productions amount to billions of
dollars in value, which must within a few weeks or months bo exchanged for billions
of dollars of commodities comsumed in their production; the existing currency sup¬
ply is wholly inadequate to make this exchange; the results are falling prices, the for¬
mation of combines and rings and the impoverishment of the producing classes. We
pledge ourselves that if given power we will labor to correct these evils by wise and
reasonable legislation in accordance with the terms of our platform.
We believo that the powers of tho government—in other words, of the people—
should be expanded (as in the case of tho postal service) as rapidly and as far as
the good sense of an intelligent people and tho teachings of experience shall justify,
to the end that oppression, injustice and poverty shall eventually cease In the land.
THREEFOLD DECLARATION.—While our sympathies as a party of reform
are naturally upon the side of every proposition which will tend to make men intelli¬
gent, virtuous and temperate, wo nevertheless regard these questions, important as
they are, as secondary to the great issues now pi easing for solution, and upon which
not only our individual prosperity but the very existence of free institutions depend;
and we ask ail men first help us to determine whether we are to have a republic to
administer before wo differ as to tho conditions upon which it is to be administered,
believing that the forces of reform this day organized willnovor cease to move for¬
ward until every wrorg is remedied and equal rights and equal privileges securely
established for all the men and women of the country. Wo declare therefore:
1. That the union of the labor forces of the United States this day consuraated,
shall be permanent and perpetual. May its spirit enter into all hearts for the salva¬
tion of the republic and the uplifting of mankind.
2. Wealth belongs to him who creates it, and every dollar taken from industry
without an equivolent is robbery. ‘If any will not work, neither shall he oat.” The
interests of rural aud civic labor are the same; their enemies are identical.
3. We believe that the time has come when the railroad corporations will cither
own the people or the people must own them, and should the government enter upon
the work of owning and conti oiling any or all railroads we should favor an amend¬
ment to the constitution by which all persons engaged in the government servico
shall be placed under a civil service regulation of tho most rigid character, so as to
prevent tho increase of the power of national administration by tho use of such addi¬
tional government employes.
The Planks of the Platform.
1. We demand a national currency, safe, souud, and flexiblo, issued by the gen¬
eral government only, a full legal tender for all debts, public and private, and that
without the use of banking corporations; a just, equitable and efficient means of dis¬
tribution. direct to the people, at a tax not exceeding 2 percent., be provided, as set
forth in thejsubtreasury plan of the Farmers’ Alliance, or some better system; also by
payments in discharge of its obligations for public improvements.
a. We demand free and unlimited coinage of silvor aud gold at tho present ratio
of 16 to 1.
b. We demand that the amount of circulating medium be speedily increased to
not less than $50 capita.
c. We demand a graduated income tax.
d. Wo believe the money of the country should be kept as much as possible in
1 he hands of the people, and hence we demand that all State and national revenue
shall be limited to the necessary expenses of the government, economically and
honestly administered.
c. We demand that postal savings banks bo established by the government for
safe deposit of the earnings of the people and to facilitate exchange.
2. Transportation being a means of change and a public necessity, tho govern¬
ment should own and operate the railroads in the interest of tho people.
a. The telegraph and telephone, like the postoffice system, boing a necessity for
the transportation of news should be owned and operated by tho government in tho
interest of the people.
3. The land, including all the national resources of wealth, is the heritage of all
the people, and should not be monopolized for speculative purposes, and alien own¬
ership of land should be prohibited. All land now held by railroads and other cor¬
porations in excess of their actual needs, and all lands now owned by aliens, should
be reclaimed by the government and held for actual settlers only.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PLATFORM.—Whereas other questions have been
presented for our consideration, we hereby submit the following, not as a part of tho
platform of the Peoples’ party, but as resolutions expressive ot the sentiment of this
convention:
1. Resolved, That we demand a free ballot and a lair count In ail elections and
pledge ourselves to secure It to every legal voter without Federal intervention
through the adoption by the States of the unperverted Australian or secret ballot
system.
2. Resolved, That the revenue derived from a graduated income tax should be
applied to a reduction of the burden <3f taxation now resting upon the domestic indus¬
tries of the country.
3. Resolved, That we pledge our support to fair and liberal pensions to ex-Union
soldiers and sailors.
4. Resolved, That we condemn the fallacy of protecting American labor under
the present system, which opens our ports to the pauper and criminal classes of tho
world, and crowds out our wage earners; aud we denounce the present ineffective
laws against contract labor, and demand the further restri'jtion of undesirable immi¬
gration.
5. Resolved, That we cordially sympathize with the efforts of organized working¬
men to shorten the hours of labor and demand a rigid enforcement of the exist In/
eight-hour work, and ’
law on government ask that a penalty clause be add. tv •*.
said iaw.
6. Resolved, That we regard the maintenance of a large standing army -A :
naries, known as the Pinkerton system as a menace to our liberties, and wo icmaad
its abolition 8 ; and we condemn the recent invasion of the territory of Wyoming by
the hiered assassins ot plutocracy, assisted by Federal officials.
7. Resolved, That we commend to the favorable consideration of the people und
the reform press the legislative system known as the initiative and referendum.
8. Resolved, That we favor a constitutional provision limiting the office of Pres¬
ident and Vice-President to one term, and providing for the election of Senators of
the United States by a direct vote of the people.
9. Resolved, That we oppose any sudsidy or national aid to any private corpora¬
tion for any purpose.
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