The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-08-16
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the Confederated In
dustrial Organizations at St.
Louis, Mo-, Feb.
1924, 1892.
pREAMRLE.

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
it's action the blessings and protection of AL
of the nation this declaration of union and in
dependence. The conditions which surround
u best justify our co, operation. 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 erm1ne 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
with mortgages, labor impoverished, and the
land concentrating in the hands of capitalists:
The urban wOrkmen are denied the right OF
organization for Self-prOtectiOn; imported pau
perized labor beats down their wages; a hire
ling standing army, unrecOgnlZed 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 builG 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
cTeasinG the value of ali forms of property. as
well as human labor, and the supply of currency
is purpOsely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rUpt enterprise, and enslaye industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
on two continents, and is taking possession or
IL world. If not met and OVerthrOwn at once,
it fOrbOdes terrible social commissions the de-
s%tructiOn of civilization, or the establishment of
an absolute despOtism.
In this crisis of human affairs the intelligent
working people and producers of the United
States / ave come together in the name of peace,
order, and society to defend liberty, prosperity
and justice.
We declare our union and independence. We
assert our purpose to support the political or
ganiZatiOn which represents our principles.
We charge that the controlling influence dom
mating the old political parties have allowed the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. They
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 demonstration 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-
ecUre 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 ilustriOus man who led the first revolution
on this continent against oppression, filled with
the sentimen' which actuated that grand gen
Grafton, we seek to restore the government of
Il 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
with and help Us.
In order to restrain the extortions of aggregate
capital. to drive the money changers out of the
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 d, Ordain and establish the
following platform of principles:
First-We declare the union of the labor forces
of the United States this-d day accomplished per-
manent,and perpetual. May its spirit enterinto
all h~earts-ef the republic and the uplifting of
mankind.
FL SecOnd-Wealth belongs to him who created
it. Every dollar tai Ell 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.