Evidence 1: “The Populist Party proposes as the only means to the desired end to utilize the power of the combined whole, to bring the power of the social mass to bear upon the rebellious individuals who thus menace the peace and safety of the state. It says that the subjects of those monopolies and trusts are public in their nature, and that the powers exercised through them are in reality the functions and agencies of government itself.”— Document 17.1: Frank Doster, Labor Day Speech

Evidence 2: “Now, suppose that the colored man were educated upon these questions just as the whites have been; suppose he were shown that his poverty and distress came from the same sources as ours; suppose we should convince him that our platform principles assure him an escape from the ills he now suffers, and guarantee him the fair measure of prosperity his labor entitles him to receive,—would he not act just as the white Democrat who joined us did?”—Document 7.3: Thomas E. Watson, The Negro Question in the South

Evidence 3: The cartoon’s depiction of the Democratic Party and Republican Party as tree roots in Document 17.4: The People’s Party Tree

Evidence 4: “On the 4th of March, 1895, a few Democrats, most of them members of Congress, issued an address to the Democrats of the nation asserting that the money question was the paramount issue of the hour; asserting also the right of a majority of the Democratic Party to control the position of the party on this paramount issue; concluding with the request that all believers in free coinage of silver in the Democratic Party should organize and take charge of and control the policy of the Democratic Party.”—Document 17.5: William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold Speech

Evidence 1: “[The Populist Party] says that the subjects of those monopolies and trusts are public in their nature, and that the powers exercised through them are in reality the functions and agencies of government itself. It would have the government, that is, the people, assert their rightful dominion over the same.”—Document 17.1: Frank Doster, Labor Day Speech

Evidence 2: “We want protection at the ballot box, so that the laboring man may have an equal showing, and the various labor organizations to secure their just rights, we will join hand with them irrespective of party, ‘and those fellows will have to walk.’ We are aware of the fact that the laboring colored man’s interests and the laboring white man’s interests are one and the same. Especially is this true at the South. Anything that can be brought about to benefit the workingman, will also benefit the Negro more than any other legislation that can be enacted.”—Document 17.2: Reverend J. L. Moore, The Colored Farmers’ Alliance

Evidence 3: The cartoonist’s depiction of the People’s Party tree in document 17.4: The People’s Party Tree

Evidence 4: “If they dare to come out in and in the open defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”—Document 17.5: William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold Speech

Evidence 1: “Against the tyrannical exercise of this power the People’s Party in behalf of the laborers of the land protests. The failure to adapt the legislation of the country to the strange conditions which this new life has forced upon us is the cause in greater part of our industrial ills.”—Document 17.1: Frank Doster, Labor Day Speech

Evidence 2: “The action of the Alliance in this reminds me of the man who first put his hand in the lion’s mouth and the lion finally bit it off; and then he changed to make the matter better and put his head in the lion’s mouth, and therefore lost his head. Now the farmers and laboring men know in the manner they were standing before they organized; they lost their hands, so to speak; now organized in one body or head, if they give themselves over to the same power that took their hand, it will likewise take their head.”—Document 17.2: Reverend J. L. Moore, The Colored Farmers’ Alliance

Evidence 3: “Gratitude may fail; so may sympathy and friendship and generosity and patriotism; but in the long run, self-interest always controls. Let it once appear plainly that it is to the interest of a colored man to vote with the white man, and he will do it. Let it plainly appear that it is to the interest of the white man that the vote of the Negro should supplement his own, and the question of having that ballot freely cast and fairly counted, becomes vital to the white man. He will see that it is done.”—Document 17.3: Thomas E. Watson, The Negro Question in the South

Evidence 4: “Now, my friends, let me come to the great paramount issue. If they ask us here why it is we say more on the money question than we say upon the tariff question, I reply that if protection has slain its thousands the gold standard has slain its tens of thousands. If they ask us why we did not embody all these things in our platform which we believe, we reply to them that when we have restored the money of the Constitution, all other necessary reforms will be possible, and that until that is done there is no reform that can be accomplished.”—Document 17.5: William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold Speech