The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-10-25
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the C~Onfederated In
dustrial Organizations at St.
Louis, Mo-, Feb.
22-24, 1892.



PREAMBLE.
This, the first great labor conference of the
United States and of the world, representing all
divisions of urban and rural organized industry,
assembled in national congress, invoking upon
its action the blessings and protection of Al
mighty God, puts fOrtl to and for the producers
of the nation this declaration of union and in
Dependence. The conditions which surround
us best Justify our co operation. We meet IN
the midst OF a nation DfoGgRG TO C4S v9[gS VI
dominates the ballot-bOX, the legislature: the
Congress, and touches even the ermlne OF the
bench. The people are demoraIlzed; Many OF
Il g States have been compelled 10 isolate the
voters at Il e polling. places in order to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery. Inc news
PAPERS are subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silenced business Frustrated, our homes covered
with mortgages, labor Impoverished, and the
The urban wOrkmen are denied the rlgII OF
organization for seIf-prOtect1On; imported pau
perized labor beats down their wages; a h1re-
finU standing army, unrecogniZed by our laws,
is established to shoot them down; and they are
RAPIDLY degenerating to European conditions
| fhe fruits of the toll of millions are boldly
stolen TO builC up colossal fortunes, unprece-
denied in the history OF the world, WINE theH
possessors despise the republic and endanger
| liberty. From the same pro1hc womb or gov
ernmental injustice breed the two great classes
/ -paupers and milliOnaires. The national power
to create money is appropriated to enrich bond
/ olders; silver, which has been accepted as coin
| since the dawn of history, has been dem0netlZed
to add to the pqrcl astpg power of gold b. de-
creasing the value of all forms of property, as
well as human lanor, and the supply of currency
Is purposely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise. and enslave industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
on two continents. and is taking possession of
II g world. If not met and overthrown at once,
it forbodes terrible social cOnvulsions the de-
structiOn of civilization, or the establishment OF
an absolute despOtism.
In this crisis Of human affairs the, intelligent
To[Ring people oIe 4 4ooggether in the name OF p ~
oSdos, and society to defend liberty, prosperity
and justice. y
We declare our union and independence. We
assert our purpose to support the pohtlcal or
We charge that the cOntro ing influence DOM
mating the old political parties have allOweo the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. tt ey
have agreed together TO ignore, in the coming
| to drown the %Outcries of a plundered people with
the uprOar of a sham battle over the tariff; so
that corporations, national banks, rings, trusts,
"watered stock" the characterization of silver,
and the oppression of usurers, may all be lost
sight of. They propose to sacrifice our homes
1 and children upon the altar OF mammon; to de-
stroy the hopes OF the multitude in order to
secure corruption funds from the great lords of
We assert Il at a political organization, repre-
senting the political principles herein stated, is
necessary to redress the grievances of which we
Assembled on the anniversary of the birth of
the ilustrions man who led the first revolution
on this continent against oppression, filled with
the sentimen which actuated tnat grand gen.
GRAFTON, we seek to restore the government of
Il g hands OF the plain people," with whom it
originated. Our doors are open to all points of
the, ompass We ask all honest men to join
with and help US.
In order to restrain the eXtortions of aggregate
capital, to drive the money changers out of the
temple to form a perfect union. establish Justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our pOsterity we d, Ordain and establish the
following platform of principles:
First-We declare the union of the labor forces
of the United States this day accomplished per-
manent and perpetual. May it's spirit enter into
all heartso the republic and the uplifting of
mankind.
Second-Wealth belongs to him who created
it. Every dollar taken from industrY" without
an equivalent is robbery. If anyone will not
rural and urban labor are the same, their ene-
mics are identical.