The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-03
an Address to the PEOPLE.

An Address TO the People.
The national committee TT the peoples par
ty OF ftse Emitted States. acting In injunction
with the following: Z. H. Van Wyck. of Ne
braska:C w. McCune, of Texas; N. J. Branch.
Of Georgia: J. H. Powers of Nebraska: X. N.
HUMPHREYS, of Texas: L. d. Laurent, Of Louis
Jana: Marion Cannon. Of California: r. r. Ma
guirc, of New York: J. II. Willcts. OF Kmnsas:
l.. l.. Polk, of North Cnrolina; Pierce Hackctt,
Of Missouri; N. N. Garnet. of Illinois: John
Seitz, of Onto: Mary f. Lease, OF kanssss;
Anna Dcbbs, ST Texas; A. p. Passcn. of Flor
lila. and Ben TerriNs of Texas. representatives
Of Y certain meeting of members OF the var
io,ls labor organizations Of this country held
In the city of st. Louis, Mo-, OH The 24tls day
Of February, 1892. respectfully submit to the
people of the United States the following pre-
amhle and platform of the conference of said
labor organizations of our nation held on the
I'D, y aud 9th days of February, isks, In the
city of st. Louis
This, the FIRST great labor conference of the
United States. and of the world, representing
all divisions of urban and rural organized In
d,istry, assembled In National Congress, In.
volxin9 upon its action the blessing and pro-
lection of Almighty God, puts forth, to and
for the producers of the nation, this dnclura-
ton of union and independence.
The conditions which surround us hest JUS
tify our cooperation.
We meet In the midst of a nation brought to
the verge Of moral, political and material
ruin. Corruption dominates the hallot-bOx'
the legislatures. the Congress and touches
even the erIninc of the bench. The people
are dcmOralizcd. Many of the States have
been compelled to isolate the voters ut the
polling places in order to prevent universal
intimidation bribery. The newspapers are
subsidized or ,nuzzled, public opinion silenccti
business prost rated. our homes covered with
mortgages. labor impoverished and the land
! concentrating in the hands of capitalists.
The urban workmen'are denied the right Of
| Organization for sclfprotection; imported
pauperizcd labor beats down their wages: u
htreling standing army, unrccOgnized by our
laws, is established to shoot them down, and
they are rapidly degencrattng to European
conditions. The fruits OF the toll Of millions
are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes.
unpresentc,i in the histOry4 OF the world.
while their rosses>ors despisc the republic
and endnnger liberty. From'thc same proii
| fic womb of governmental injustice We breed
aires. The national power to create money
II appropriated to enrich bond holders; silver
which has been accepted MS coin since thu
dawn of history. had been dcmonetized Il
add to the purchasing power of gold by dc
creasing the value of all forms of property a.
well rs human labor; and the supply of cur
rcncy is purpously abridged to fattcn usurers
bankrupt enterprise and cnslave industry. 4
gunizcd on two continents and is taking pos
session of the world. 1t not met and over
thrown ut once il for',odrs terrible socia! con
of an absolute despotism.
In this crisis of human affairs. the intelli
gent working ptbple and producers of tn,
United States have come together. in the nam,
of peace, order and society. to defend li!erty
prosperity and justice.
We declare an union and Independence. W
assert our purpose to vote with the politic,
organization which represents our principles
We charge that the controlling influence
dominating the old political parties have I.
lowed the existing dreadful conditions to dc
velop without serious effort to restrain q
prevent them. Neither do they now intend 4
accomplish REFORM They have agreed t.
gether to ignore. In the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose to droMl
, rour ot N sham battlc over the tariff. thu
corporations. national banks. rings. trnst.
wntere0 stocks the decentralization Of sill
: yer, and the expressions of Insurers. NAV a
be lost sight Of. They propose to sacrifice OF,
homes and children upon the alter of NAM
mon. to destroy the hopes OF the multitude i
order to secure corruption funds from tn
lords of r!.in.!cr. We assert that Il politics
organization. representing the political prir
=. the grievances OF which complain.
Assembled on the anniversary OF the Dirt
of the iilustriOus man who led the first gres
. revolt on this continent against oppression
filed with the sentiments which actuntcsi thu
: grand generation. We seek to restore the go,
crnnent of the Republic to the hands of til
: ''plain people with whom 1t oriyinateti. Gu
+ door stands open to all points Of the compass
|. We ask all honest men to join with and help "a
In order to restrain the extortionS of nGGrs
:, grated capital to drive the money changer
u out Of the temple. Ito form u more perfes
union. establish Justice insure domestic tral
- guilty. provide for the common defense pr
: mote the general welfare and secure the bics
j, in1s of liberty for ourselves and our poster
ty.'' we do ordain and establish the +, liowi,l
: platform of principles:
We DECLARE the union of tho labor forces
= the United States. this day accomplished pc
n mai'ens and perpetual. May Its spirit ente
t lie and tho uplifting Of mankind.
r Wealth belongs to him who creates it. Ever
y dollar taken from industry. without am clui
CIR shall he eat The interests of rural IN
urban labor IRE the same: their enemies III
Identical.
" We recommend u national currency. sal
[ and sound and flexible. tssuctl by tho xcner
4 government only. full legal tender for d
- debts. public and private. and that withO,
able and efficient means of circnlatfs,n. dire
e 10 the people. Mt tax not to Xces~i Fcr cen
n as set fourth in this Sub-trakury plan Of Il
Farmers Alliance, or some better syst~r
II Also by payments in discharge Of it, Oblig
, tions for public improvements.
= We demand the free and unlimited COMA:
= Of silver. We demand that the amount OF II
, circulating medium I've speedily increased
l. NOT less than 81, per capita.
We ticinMnd Il graduated income tax. We b
. lieve tn IT the money Of the country should
l. kept rs much rs possible in the hands of Il
a people, and hence We demand that all nation
> cssary expenses of the government, econOm
cally and honestly administered.
tablshcd BY the government for the safe d
., post Of the earnings OF the people and
II facilitate exchange
- tender notes and pay the union soldier Il
Il difference bet wccn the price of the dcprecia
i, cd money in which nc was paid and gold.
The land including all the natural resourc
\ should not he monopolizcei for speculate
= purposes and alien ownership of land shou
Ne he prohibited. All land now held by rMf:r0a
ani other corporations in excess Of their a
e tuml needs and all lands now owned by alic
Il should be reclaimed by the government \,
~ held for actual settlers only.
F. Transportation bG.inH u means Of cxchanl
No and a public necessity. the government sho,i
. own and operate the railroads in the intcr,.s
~ Of the people.
: The telegraph and telephone. like the pc.
IT. Office system, being II necessity for the tran
H. mission of news. should be opened and ols.I
- ted by the government IN the interest OF Il
III people.
~ Resolved, That we hail this conference
~ the consumation of a perfect union OF hear
is and hands 1T nil sections of our GNmms
country. The men who wore the gray and &
s. blue meet here to cxtinguish the last emOul
cring embers of civil war In the tears OF Joy
united und happy people. and We agree
. curry the Stars and Stripes forward forever
the highest point Of national greatness.
VIC urge that all citizens who support the