Who was a populist and a democratic presidential nominee in 1896?

Answer 1

The populists were also known as "the people's party." The party formed mainly because owners of small farms all shared similar grievances with the government and the railroad trusts. Railroads often forced farmers to sell their lands--and also, income taxes were set, and the gold standard for currency greatly reduced the prices of crops.

William Jennings Brian is largely regarded as the icon of the populist party, and is known particularly because of his "cross of gold" speech, in which he condemned the government for "impaling [the common man, or farmer] on a cross of gold" (which referred to the gold standard).

The Omaha Platform of 1892 called for these main things:

The perpetuation of unions and their freedom

People cannot be forced to give up money in unfair taxes, sales, etc. by abusive authority

Railroad employees and owners be placed under a civil-service regulation so they could not abuse their position (the railroad was a huge trust at that time especially and was not regulated by the government, state or federal, in the slightest)

FREE AND UNLIMITED COINAGE OF SILVER

Government regulation of transportation (meaning, mainly, the railroad)

Secret ballot and "fair count" for voting

Graduated income tax

Pensions to ex-Union sailors and soldiers

Closed ports (no immigrants, no emmigrants)

Enforcement of maximum hour days during the work week

The abolition of "standing armies" of mercenaries (Pinkertons)

Limit the term of the president and vice-president to one term only and direct election of senators

Complete and unlimited freedom of the press

That the government not grant special favors to powerful, private corporations

And that the nation sympathise with the people rather than the power figures (specifically sympathise with the Knights of Labor rather than "with the tyrannical combine of clothing manufacturers of Rochester")

Most of these ideals were adopted by the Progressives which would come after the demise of the People's Party.

If you want to see the speech made at the Omaha Platform, here's a good link: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5361/

Answer 2

grangers