People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1896 — POPULISM MEANS IT. [ARTICLE]

POPULISM MEANS IT.

THREE VITAL QUESTIONS THAT DEMAND SOLUTION. Ob Their Proper Solution Depends the Perpetuity of the Nation —The Populist Party the Only Party That Stands for the Best Interests of All the People. Many unthinking persons have but little idea of the true meaning and objects of Populism. There are three vital questions, upon the correct solution of which depends the perpetuation of the nation, the security of our institutions and the happiness of our people. These are money, land and transportation. Only one of the three great national parties have taken a decided, positive stand upon these three burning, living issues, and that one is the People’s party. Now for the benefit and instruction of those who seek for knowledge. the unthinking, and even the prejudiced, we will enumerate some of the objects of this rising young giant, the new party of the “great plain peo.ple.” Populism means the complete annihilation of the interest bearing bond system, whether national, state, county, municipal, township or school. Populism means that wealth, which demands the greater protection, shall bear the greater burden of taxation, instead of compelling the poor man to pay all the taxes and exempting the rich. Populism means equality before the law, protection to voters, and honest elections. It means fair, but moderate salaries, fidelity to trust, and disfranchisement for malfeasance in office. Populism means that every man and woman who desires to work shall have the opportunity of doing so, and at fair living wages, according to ability. It means that no one man, corporation or company of men shall be permitted by class laws to accumulate such vast wealth at the expense of those who toil incessantly for a mere subsistence. Populism means the repeal of the national bank act, and the issue by the general government, On its own credit, the credit of the whole people, of all money used. It means that the volume of currency shall be, limited to so much per capita, and shall be increased only as the population and business increases. Populism means a postal savings bank, and the closing forever of these present swindling concerns called state and national banks. Populism means the restoration of our convenient fractional paper currency, out of which we were mfeanly swindled by our modern financial brigands. Populism means absolute death to the bank system of inflation and con- , traction, so long practiced, to the disturbance and ruin of business, and starvation of the laboring people. It means such an adjustment of our financial systems as will make a general panic impossible. Populism means that no alien shall own land .in the United States. It means that no landed monopoly or system of tenantry, serfdom such as exists abroad, shall exist in the United States, but that there shall be a limited ownership of land. Populism means protection to labor as well a& capital, in our home industries, and that none- but American citizens shall be employed in our manufactories. Populism means the government control of railroads, telegraphs and telephones, and no more giving of subsidies, lands, or special privileges, or franchises, to grasping individuals or corporations. , It means a vigorous prosecution of public improvements, as roads, canals, etc., but in no case to create an interest bonded debt, to lend its credit, or to enter into partnership with any individual for such purposes. Populism means simple laws, and arbitration to be substituted as far as practical for bur expensive courts. It means that every citizen is a soldier, ready at call to defend his country’s flag. A large standing army and an expensive navy belong more to a monarchy than to a republic, to Paganism rather than to Christianity.— Reformer, Walla Walla, Wash.