The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-10-11
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.


PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the C~onfederated In
dustrial Organizations at st.
Louis, Mo, Feb.
1924, 1892.
PREAMBLE.
This, the first great labor conference of the
United States and of the world, representing all
o1 vdsP : a. IL noIionnI oo11rn1s inTOking mon
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
MS best justify our co operation. We meet in
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 States have been compelled to isolate the
voters at Il e polling places in order to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery. The news
papers are subsidized or muzZled, public opinion
e1!enced business Pr0strated' our homes covered
land concentrating in the hands of capitalists.
The urban wOrkmen are denied the right of
organization for seIf-prOtectiOn; imported pau
periZed labor beats down their wages; a hire
hing 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 builC up colossal fortunes, unprece-
denied in the history of the world. while their
pOssessOrs despise the republic and endanger
nD6Fty. From the same pTOllnC WOMB or gov
ernmental injustice breed the two great classes
-paupers and milliOnaireS. The national power
20 create money is Appropriated to enrich bond
since the dawn of history, has been demOnetized
70 a9G 70 me P aIT "a Ssang fP power OF OF g gpoDap pk De
well as human labOr, and the supply Of currency
rs purpOsely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise, and enslave industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
en- two continents. and is taking possession of
tie world. If not met and overthrow at once,
1t fOrbodes terrible social commissions the de-
S%tructiOn of civilization, or the establishment of
an absolute despOrism.
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
Eanization WI icl represents our principles.
We charge that the cOntrO ing influence dom
mating the OLD political parties have aIlOwen the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. Tt ey
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
Shat corporations, national banks, rings, trusts,
"watered stock, the demOnetizatiOn 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 Q the multitude in, order to
secure corruption funds from the great lOrus of
plgnder:
Bent1ng the political principles herein stated, Is
complain.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth of
the illustriODs man who led the first revolution
an this continent against oppression, filed with
the sentimen 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
with and help us.
In order to restrain the extortions of aggregate
capital, to drive the money changers out of the
temple tOfOrm a perfect union, establish Justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
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 tbe Qn1ted States this day accomplished per-
all hearts OF the republic and the uplifting of
second-wealth belongs to him who created
1t. 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.
PLATFORM.
FINANCE.
F1rst-We demand a national currency safe,
sound and flexible, issued by the General Gov
eminent only, a full legal tender for ali debts,
banking corporations a just. and EQUITABLE and
efficient II cans of distribution direct to the peO-
as set forth in the Subj reasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance. or some better system: also.
by Payments in discl arge of its obligations for
a. We demand free and unlimited coinage of
i've
b. We demand that the amount of circulating
medlum De speedily increased to not less than
$50 PEI capita.
c. We demand a graduated income tar.
9. M9 OeIlete mat the money of the country
of the people, and hence we demand ali nationaI
and State revenue shall be limited to n 8 nscaS
Rary expenses of the government e~conomicsIIv
and honestly administered.
G. We demand that postal savings banks he
established by the government for the safe de-
post of the earnings of the people and to faciIi-
tate exchange.
Second-The land, including all the natural
resources OF, wealth, is the heritage of all the
people and should not be mOnOpOiZed for specu-
latlVe- purposes and alien ownership of land
should De prohibited. All land now held by
railroads and other CORPORATIONS in excess Of
their actual needs. and all lands now owned by
alienk, should be reclaimed bV the Government
and held for actual settlers only.
TRANSPORTATION.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. being q. means of ex.
change and a public necessity. the poVernment
should oVn and operate the railroads in the in.
terest If the people.
q. The telegraph and telephone, like the post.
Office system, being a necessity for Transmission
Of news. should be owned and operated by the
government in the interest of the people.
Impaired digestion repaired By Beecham'l
Pills.