Summary of the Platform of the Populist Party as of July 4th, 1892:
In the Preamble, the Populists give an inflamed introduction to their beliefs, primarily emphasizing how they pledge to correct two primary evils: the broad degeneration of society to build up the few wealthy bond-holders, and the faults of a solely gold-based currency.
In their official platform, they lay out their more specific goals if they were to be elected:
That labor unions will be permanently supported,
That wealth belongs to the laborer who earned it,
That the government will start managing railroads,
And that any land held unnecessarily by railroads or by aliens be reclaimed for use by legitimate settlers.
Financial Aspirations include:
Demands for the unlimited coinage of silver in addition to gold; for a graduated income tax; that money remain in public circulation, with the government taking only what it needs; and that savings banks be established by the government for public deposits.
They also make a list of resolves, including to support ex-Union soldier pensions, to sympathize with the workingman for shorter hours, to provide for the direct election of senators, and to support the income tax to reduce tax strains on domestic industries, etc...
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