Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-10-14
lNTER-pEPENpENcE.

eoAns NeD., SaluSeo the Public with Brave
and Timely WOrds-A Declaration of In
ter-dependence.
We hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent-that all men created have a right
to live and to share equally the alum
dant natural provisions for a happy ex-
istence; that the earth is theirs by
common inheritance, for use only, and
not for speculation; that because 1t is
the inexhaustible source of values, no
equal value can be offered for it, or a
part of 1t. no just title of absolute own
ership acquired in it, and that it must
belong without possible alienation of
title to all individuals of all genera
tions; we hold that the individuals of
the race are inter-dependent, each
needing all and having the power to
serve all; that each individual differs
in his wants and capabilities from all
others, differs not simply in degree, and
that he is as much needed by the body
polite as is each member of the human
body to constitute a perfect whole;
we hold that self interest. the
good of the individual, is SO bound up
with society interests that it cannot be
preserved apart. that individuals can
not look out for their own interests
only, as at present, without insecurity
and immense loss; we hold that there
can be no clashing of interests between
members of a healthful, properly or
ganized society. and that in proportion
to its number and organic unity will
be the measure of individual benefits,
enjoyments and service; we hold that
each member of society should be
equally nourished, equally exercised,
and receive equal honor for equal ex-
ertion; that these are the truths and
principles of social science, the basis
and lines of harmony on which and
according to which the society of the
future must be built must grow, is
evident.
But to obtain possession of and secure
to each his natural inheritance, his
place to work and just reward, his in
dustrial freedom and equal rights, is
beyond the power of the individual; to
secure these rights governments are in
stituted among men, and they must be
adapted to the needs of the people.
We have political freedom, and with an
intelligent use of the ballot can obtain
industrial freedom.
In the industrial and commercial
world it is leach for himself" with dis
cord, clashing, chaos, waste-pull-hau
ing in exchange, and planlessness in
production. Save in the work of the
government. there is no organized work
except for selfish ends. The inter-de-
pendent individuals are engaged in
social war, each seeking gain at others
cost each trying in contract and ex-
change to get more value than he gives.
Short-sighted self-interest has made
enemies of natural friends, as if the eve
should fall out with the hand, the brain
with the stomach, the body with the
limbs, the heart with the head, and
each member should try to get more
than Its share of blood, expecting to be
benefited by congestion, and by weak
ening and dwarhng other members
Organizations for selfish ends to prev
upon individuals must be outlawed, and
an organization of all for all, meeting
the needs of all, must be evolved from
our present government In the strug-
gle, which in all the past has been per-
mitted between individuals, the strong
est have prevailed. They have con-
quered, enslaved, appropriated, and
demand perpetual tribute. Capital has
been made king over industry and
promises to live forever
The history of capital Is the history
of cold-blooded conquest usurpation
and tyranny. It has thrust Justice
aside and might has been made the
arbiter in all it's business transactions.
The people have been robbed of the
means of subsistence, their lands given
to railroad corporations, their coal,
iron, lead, gold, silver, and oil fields
the common stores-fenced in for the
few. appropriated, impoverished, dis
possessed of the means of subsistence.
or wage slaves from birth, millions
have been forced, with starvation
pressing upon them, to beg for place
to work, to compete for It, and so
wages have been forced down to the
lowest living point. The acreage scaqe
Of the yorker IN America is less than halt
the UGtue Of his product. Capital protect
ed at the mines mouth, at the factory s
door, and in the gates of commerce has
despotic power and Yields it. In 1850
there was one millionaire among us.
| now there are six thousand millionaires
and multi-millionaires. Thirtv-one
thousand people, where all were sup
| posed to be free, have secured legal
claim to $50. $50, 600, 900, over half of the
wealth of the country, and by forcing
the rest to produce for them interest
and dividends, despotic profits, they are
fast becoming richer, whilst poverty
and pauperism by the same cause con-
tinue to increase. Allowing capital its
own way it has power, and the law of
its private employment is, to absorb
the product of labor with steadily in
creasing rapidity.
The Industrial Alliance Monthly. as
its name indicates, believes In an alliance
of the industrial forces, not simply of
the agricultural and mechanical diyi-
sions, but political alliance of all use
tm members OF society who believe
each man should have place to work
and the full value of his labor We are
being ruled by the money power, the
monopolists, the big corporations and
trusts They stand as giants between
us, and demand, without labor, more
than half OF all that is produced. Thew
own the means of transportation, and
so have power to fix the prices of all
| products and control commerce. They
possess the mines, the foundries, the
factories, the elevators, the engine and
machine works, the packing houses,
the peneries and the money that men
must borrow They can force the lions
share from every wage worker and til.
Ter of the soil They make prices tc
all producers low. and to consumers
high. They have had power to prey
upon and enslave us because we have
been divided
Our interests are one. Our freedom
can be secured only by political and
industrial organization, agitation and
education. We are out of work, OF
struggling in poverty, anxious and
overburdened, because we were foolish
enough to think ourselves free and
each able to look out for himself The
| united alone are free: they alone can