Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-01-25
PLATFORM OF THE S. l.. P.
As Adopted by the Chicago COnven
ton, October IL, 1889.

The Socialist Labor Party of the
United States, in convention assembled,
reasserts the inalienable right of all
men to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
With the founders of the Ameri-
can republic we hold that the pur-
pose of government is to secure ev-
cry citizen in the enjoyment of this
right; but in the light of our social con-
ditions we hold, furthermore, that no
such right can be exercised under a sys-
tenn of economic inequality, essentially
destructive of life, of liberty, and of
happiness.
With the founders of this repub-
lie we hold that the true theory of
politics is that the machinery of gov
eminent must be owned and controlled
by the whole people; but in the light of
our industrial development we hold,
furthermore, that the true theory of
economics is that the machinery of
production must likewise belong to the
people in common.
To the obvious fact that our despotic
system of economics is the direct oppo-
site of our democratic system of poli.
tics, can plainly be traced the existence
of privileged class, the corruption of
government by that class, the alienation
of public property, public franchises
and public functions to that class, and
the abiect dependence of the mightiest
of nations upon that class.
Again, through the perversion of de-
mocracy to the ends of plutocracy, labor
is robbed of the wealth which it alone
produces, is denied the means of self
employment, and, by compulsory idle
ness in wage-slavery, is even deprived
of the necessaries of life.
Human power and natural forces are
thus wasted, that the plutocracy may
rule.
Ignorance and misery with all their
concomitant evils are perpetuated, that
the people may be kept in bondage.
Science and invention are diverted
from their humane purpose to the en-
slavement of women and children.
Against such system the S. l.. p. once
more enters its protest. Once more it re-
iterates its fundamental declaration that
private property in the natural sources
of production and in the instruments of
labor is the obvious cause of all Geo.
nomic servitude and political depend
ence; and
Whereas, the time is fast coming W hen,
in the natural course of social evolu-
ton, this system, through the destruc.
tive action of it's failures and crises on
the one hand, and the constructive ten
denotes of its trusts and other capital.
istic combinations on the other hand,
shall have worked out its own down
fall; therefore, be it
Resolved, that we call upon the peo-
pie to organize with view to the sub
stitution of the cooperative common
wealth for the present state of plan.
less production, industrial war and so.
cial disorder; commonwealth in which
every worker shall have the free exer-
else and full benefit of his faculties,
multiplied by all the modern factors of
civilization.
We call upon them to unite with us
in mighty effort to gain by all prac-
ticable means the political power.
In the meantime, and witt view to
immediate improvement IN the condi.
ton of Labor, we present the following
"Demands":
SOCIAL DKAANDs.
/. Reduction of the hours of labor In
proportion to the progress Of production.