The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-03-04
ALLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
The 81. Louis Convention an En-.
thusRstic One.
"A Platform, With Many Strong Fea.
lures, and Denouncing Both
Old P,rties, Adopted.

anu Labor Congress- passed off with won
derful enthusiasm. The second morning
Ben Terrell of Texas, Paul Vandevort OF
Nebraska, and Thomas Wadsworth of
Indiana, had spoken appealiugly for non.
sectionaIism, tie old veterans all over
the hall claspcd hands and cheered for
the restored Union. When the enthusi.
asm had subsidized Delegate Branch, OF
Georgia, cast a fire. brand into the gath
ering In the shape of a resolution protest
p1nG- AGAINST tha- -cnnd itisa 4x..iho cnna-
mon people OF this country, And holding
the Republican aud Democratic parties
responsible for tho conditions. There
was spirited debate, but the resolution
was adopted by vote of 41O to 139.
Later it was declared to have been irreg.
utarly proposed aud was ordered strick-
en- from the minutes until after the report
OF the committee ON platform was heard.
Ihcn there was n tremendous row over
the eligibility Of n colorcd delegate from
georgia, which was guieted only the en-
trance OF the committee on platform,
which reported as follows:
''Ihis, the first great labor conference
OF the United States and of the world,
representing all divisions of urban and
rural organizations and industry, Assem-.
blcd in national congress, invoking upou
Its action the blessing aud protection of
Almighty God, puts forth TO and for the
producers Of the nation this declaration
Of unison and independence.
''Tbe conditions which surround us
best Justify our corporation. We meet
in the midst of a ration b-,ought to the
verge of moral, political and material
ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot
box, the Legislatures, the Congress, and
touches even the crmino of the bench,
The people arc demoralizcd. Many of
the States arc compelled to isolate tho
voters at the polling places, in order to
prevent universal intimidation or bribery.
The newspapers are subsidized or mug
zlcd, public opinion slcnced, business
prosiratcd our homes covered with mort
cages, labor impoverished, and the land
concentrating in the hands Of capitalists
The urban workmcn ure denied the
right of organization for self protection,
imported paupcrizcd labor beats down
their wages; II hircling standing army,
unrecognized by our laws, is established
to shoot them down and they ars rapidly
degencrating to European conditions.
The fruits of the tolls of millions arc
boldly used to build up colossal fortunes
unprecedented in tho history of the
world, while their possessors despise the
.ssells s,sa y = aps : danger % ihsrty. From
.ins Il i,ssins satns pr pEatuz .1.; @
pers and ,niliionaires. TIC nat ionsk
power to create money is appropriated to
enrich bond holders; silver, which has
been accepted as coin since tho day dawn
of history has been demoralized to en-
large the purchasing power of gold by
decreasing the value of all forms Of prop
crty as we'll ss human labor, and the SUP.
ply of currency is purposely abridged to
fattcn usurcrs, bankrupt enterprise and
enslavc Industry. A vast conspiracy
against mankind has been organized on
two continents and is taking posscssionsof
the world. II not met and ovcrthrown
at once, it forcbodcs terrible social con.
vulsions, the destruction of civilization
or the establishment of an absolute dcs
potism.
'In this crisis of human affairs, the in
telligcnt working people and producers
of the United States, have 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 vote with that
organization who represcIits our primer
pies.
eve charge that The controlling influ
ences dominating the old political parties
have allowed thc existing dreadful con.
ditions to develop without serious effort
to restrain or prevent them. Neither do
they now intend TO accomplish reform
They have agreed together to ignore, in
the coming campaign, every issue but
one. They propose to drown the out
cries of plundcycd people with the up
roar of sham battle over the tariff; so
that corporations, national banks. rings,
trusts, 'watercd stocks the dcmonctiza.
tion of silver and the expressions of usury
may be lost sight Of. They propose to
sacrifice our home and children upon the
altar OF mammon, to destroy the hopes
OF the multitude III order 10 secure cor
ruption funds from the great lords of
plumber.
"We assert that a political organiza-
tioD, representing the principles herein
stated, is necessary % redress the griev-
ances of which we complain. Assembled
Cn the anniversary OF The birth OF the IL
lustrious man who led the fist great re-
volt OH this continent against oppression,
filled with sentiment which actiatcd that
grand generation, we seek to restore the
government Of the rcpublic to the hands
of the plain people, with VIII m it origi.
mated. Our door stands open to all
points of the compass. We ask all hon
est men to join with AID help US
SIN order 90 restrain the cXtortions of
aggregated capital, 20 dive the money
changers out Of the temple, to form q
perfect union and establish justice, ms ure
domestic tranquility. provide for the
common defense, promote the general
welfare and secure the blessings Of liber-
ty for ourselves and our postcrity, we do
ordain and establish the following plat.
form Of principles;
"First. We demand national cur
rency, safe, sound and flexible, issued by
the general government, only full legal
tender for all dcGts,-. public and private.
and that without the use Of banking cor
porations; just, equitable and efficient
means Of distribution, direct to the peo
| pie, aud not to exceed 90 per cent,
| to be provided as set forth in the sub
| Treasury plan of the Farmers Alliance