The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-21
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the Confederated In
dustrial Organizations at St.
Louis, Mo-, Feb.
1924, 1902,
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE.
This, the first great labor conference of tn q
United States and of the world, representing all
divisions of urban and rural uStry,
it's action the blessings and protection Of Al
mighty God, puts forth to and for the producers
of the nation this declaration of union and in
dependence. The conditions which surround
US best justify our cooperation. We meet in
the midst of a nation brought to the verge of
moral, political, and material ruin. Corruption
dominates the ballOt-bOX, the legislature, the
Congress, and touches even the ermine of the
bench. The people are demOraliZed. Many of
tt e States have been compelled to isolate the
voters at tt e polling places in order to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery. The news
papers are subsidized or muzZled, public opinion
silenced business FRUSTRATED, our homes covered
land concentrating in the hands of capitalists.
The urban wOrkmen are denied the right of
organization for self prOtectiOn; imported pau
ling standing army, unrecognizedb by our laws,
is established tOshOOt them down AID they are
rapidly degeneratlng to European conditions.
The fruits of the toll of millions are boldly
stolen to buil6 up colossal fortunes, unprece-
dented in the history of the world, while their
pOssessOrs despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of 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 demOnetiZed
to add to the pQrcl astng power Of gold By de-
creasing the value of all forms of property, as
well as human labor, and the supply of currency
is purpOsely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise, and~ensRve industry. A vast
1 conspiracy against mdnkIuT n6S DGGn OTSdllLGu
on two continents. and is taking possession of
Il e world. If not met and OvefthroWRAat once,
it fOrbOdes terrible social COnVulSionsAthe dep
s%truction of civilization, or the establishment of
an absolute despotism. d
In this CRISIS of human affairs the intelli MT
working people and producers of the Unifed
States / ave come together inShe nance Of ce,
order, and society to defend Befity
and justice.
We declare our union and independence. We
assert our purpose to support the. political or
ganiZatiOn WI iCl represents our principles.
We charge that the COntrO ing influence dom
mating the old political parties have allOwe' the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. Tfey
have agreed together to ignore, in the coming
campaign, every issue but one. They propose
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
and children upon the altar of mammOn to de-
strOy the hopes o. the multitude in order to
secure corruption funds from the great lorGs of
We assert Il at a political organization, repre-
senting the political principles herein stated, is
necessary to redress tie grievances OF which we
complain.
Assembled on the anniversary of the birth Of
the illustriOnS man who led the first revolution
on this continent, against oppression, filled with
the sentiment which aCtuated that grand gen
Grafton, We seek to restore the government of
II e hands of the plain people, with whom it
originated. Our doors are open to all points of
the. compass. We ask all honest men to join
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 p%osterity we dc 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 hearts of the republic and tie uplifting of
mankind.
SecOnd-We0lth belongs to him who created
it. Every dollar taken from industry without
an equivalent is robbery. If anyone will not
work, neither shall he eat. The interests of
rural and urban labor are the same, their enc
mics are identical.