The Labor enquirer., 1886-07-03
Let the Workers Who Wish 1t
Endorse the Following
Declaration.
A Burning, Cutting Arraignment
of the Usurpers of Our
Rights.
Read What They Have Done With the
Trusts Confided to Them by the
Patriots Of 1875.
Editor Labor Enquirer.

ton Of Independence has been adopted and
will be promulgated by the Federated
Trades of the Pacific coast" July4, 1886.
suggest that you print it entire in your next
issue so that it may go before all of the
working people of the republic for reading
and consideration upon the same day. Y.
THE AMERICAN wAGE-woRKER's DEC
LARATIoN OF INDEPENDENCE.
"The Tools belong to the ToiLers: the Produce TO
the Producers, and Spectators must CO.,
When in the course of human events it be-
comes necessary for a people to dissolve the
political bands which either have connected
them with an alien government or which
have subjected them to the unjust dOmina-
ton of special class, or whenever any gov
eminent shall have become destructive of the
proper ends of government and its people
are deSirOuS of altering or aboliShing the
same, a decent respect to the opinions of
mankind requires that they should declare
the causes that impol them to the course pur-
sued.
w g uOlu IuGSt LluGllS W Dc Sol1-tfluellI .
that all men are created free and with equal
rights; that they are endowed by their crea-
tor with certain inalenable rights, that
among these are Life and the means of liY-
ing, Liberty and the conditions essential to
Liberty, Justice and the weapons for its en-
fOrcement, an with these the right to the
Pursuit of Happiness in all ways not incon-
,iStpnt with the equal rights of other men,
That to secure these II hts and absolutely
for no other purpose are governments inSti-
tuted among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed. That
whenever any form of government becomes
destructive of these ends it is not only the
right but the duty of the People to alter or
abolish it, and to institute new government
laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness. Prudence indeed,
will dictate, that governments long eStab-
lished, should not. be changed for light and
transient causes and accordingly all expert
ence hath shown, that mankind are more dis
posed to suffer, while evils are sutferable, than
to right themselves, by abolishing the forms
to which they are accustomed. But, when
a long train of abuses and uSurpatiOnS, purSu-
ing invariably the same object, evinceS de-
sign to reduce the people under absolute
despOtism, it is their rightit Is their duty, to
throw off such government and to provide
new guards for their future security,
-
people of these United States.
And such is now the necessity which con-
strains them to take this first step towards
tire alteration of the present system under
which they are governed.
THE history of the MillOnaires who con-
trul the present government at Washington
and their aristOcratic and mOnopOlistic fol-
lowers in the states and territories is a his
tory Of repeated injuries and uSurpatiOnS, all
having in direct object the establishment of
an absolute tyranny over the people of this
republic.
To prove this let facts be submitted to a
candid world:
These MilliOnaireS, MOnOpOliStS and AriS-
tOcrats have acquired immense fortunes by a
colossal public and private corruption, have
retained them by the purchase of our legis-
atures and judiciary, have evaded regula-
tiOn or taxation thereof by fraud and chican-
cry and do now maintain their Infamous EN-
nence by the control of large bodies of
armed hir6lingS maSQueradng as officials of
the law.
Of
through the means of their wealth, they
have enlisted as advisers the most tricky and
subtle intellects of the nation who control
for them the nominations of the two great
parties and the elections following. They
have violated Just election laws, bribed cleo
ton officers, corrupted voters, intimidated
electors, stuffed ballot boxes, forged returns,
violated pledges, sold public offices at pr-
yate auction and so lied to and deceived the
people that they have made the name of
Uffice-hOlder to stink in the nOStrilS of all
honest men.
Through their purchased legislatures they
have taxed the producers and middle class to
the verge of ruin, have clogged the wheels
of industry, have created an enormous mn
taxed bonded debt which forces the people
to an exhaustive tribute, have voted away
the lands, the mines, the coal, the timber
and the other natural resources which
should be the heritage of the people, have
created intangible, irresponsible corpora
tonS and endowed them with more than the
rights of free men, have given up to them
our railways, telegraphs, water supply and
the large public works which Of right should
be operated by and for the people.
They have secured the control of the judi
riary and removed it from responsibility to
the people. BY it they have annuhed and
abrOgated the laws passed by the people,
have undermined our most sacred lnStltu-
tlOnS In the name of Order they have IN
yited Anarchy; and with the dagger of the
Law they have stabbed Justice to the heart
They have given to corporations the rights OF
persons. They have made precedent and
pleading serve as substitutes for truth and
right. They have prevented the wealthy
from being taxed and have eYicted the poor
They have permitted their decisions to De
hawked for sale in the saloons OF pOlltlcal
bosses. They have maintained in perpet-
ual Office by despicable chicanery the ma
chinery of police. They have enforced upon
the agricultural producer the, tyrannous doc
trines of aristocracy regarding the
right to the use of water, game
and land and have curtailed the rights
of the city toilers to meet and discuss their