People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-04-28
SECOND DECLARATION OF AMERI-
CAN INDEPENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the COnfederated
Industrial Organizations at st.
Louis, Feb. 1924, 1892.
Preamble,


This, the first great labor conference of the
United States and of the world representing
all divisions of urban and rural organized in
dustry, assembled in national congress, invok-
ing upon its action the blessing and protection
of Almighty God, puts forth to and for the pro-
ducers of the nation this declaration Of union
and independence. The conditions which sur
round US best justify our cooperation. We
meet in the midst of nation brought to the
verge of moral, political and material ruin.
Corruption dominates the ballot box. the legis-
latures, congress-, and touches even the ernine
Of the bench. The people are demoraliZed
Many of the states have been compelled to iso-
Late the voters at the polling places in order to
prevent universal intimidation or bribery. The
newspapers are subsidized or muZZled, public
opinion silenced, business Frustrated, our
homes covered with mortgages, labor impOver-
ished and the land concentrating in the hands
of capitalists. The urban workmen are denied
the right of organization for self protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down their
wages; hireling standing army, unrecognized
by our laws, is established to shoot them down,
and they are rapidly degenerating to European
conditions.
The fruits of the toll Of millions are boldly
stolen to build 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 en-
rich bOndholders; silver, which has been ac-
eepted as coin since the dawn OF history, has
been demonetized to add to the purchasing
power Of gold by decreasing the value of all
forms of property, as well as human labor, and
the supply Of currency is purposely abridged
to fatten usurers, bankrupt enterprise and en-
slave industry. A vast conspiracy against man
kind has been organized on two continents,
nd iG To of no
met and overthrow at once it forbodes terri
BILE social commissions, the destruction of civil
cation, or the establishment of an absolute
despotism.
In this crisis Of human affairs the intelligent
working people and producers of the United
States have come together in the name Of
peace, order and society to defend liberty, pros
perity and justice.
We declare our union and independence.
We assert our purpose to support the political
organization which represents our principles
We charge that the controlling influence
dominating the old political parties have al
lowed the existing dreadful conditions to de-
velop without serious effort to restrain or pre-
vent them. They have agreed together to
ignore, in the coming campaign, every issue
but one. They propose to drown the outcries
of plundered people with the uprOar of
sham battle over the tariff; SO that corpora
tons, national banks, rings, trusts, "Watered
stock" the decentralization of silver, and the
oppression of usurers, may all be lost sight Of.
They propose to sacrifice our homes and chill
dren upon the altar of mammon; to destroy the
hopes OF the multitude in order to secure cor
ruption funds from the great lords of plumber.
We assert that political organization, repre-
senting the political principles herein stated,
is necessary to redress the grievances of which
we complain.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth Of
the illuStrieus man who led the first great revo-
luton on this continent against oppression,
filed with the sentiments which actuated that
grand generation, we seek to restore the gov
eminent of the republic to the 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 with and help us.
In order to restrain the eXtOrtions of aggre-
gate capital, to drive the money changers out
of the temple, to form perfect union, estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro-
vide for the common defense, promote the gen.
eral welfare and secure the blessings of liberty
for ourselves and our posterity we do ordain
and establish the following platform of prin-
ciples:
First-We declare the union Of the labor
forces Of the United States this day accom-
plished permanent and perpetual. May its
spirit enter into all hearts for the salvation of
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 any one will not
work, neither shall he eat. The interests of
rural and urban labor are the same their enc
mics are Identical