The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-24
A. Address to the People.

tuIS, tue HIst!RFCut WUOT COnIeETuCc OF the /
United States, and Of the world. representing
all divisions OF urban and rural organized in
iustry, assembled In National Congress, In
voking upon It's action the blessing aud pro.
lection of Almighty God, puts forth, to and ,
for the producers of the nation, this tlacla:a- |
ton of union and independence.
The conditions which surround us best JUS !
tify our cooperation.
We meet II, the midst of nation brought to-
the verge of moral, political and material
ruin. Corruption dominates the bHllOt-box,
the legislatures, the Congress and touches
even the ermine of the bench. The people
are dcmoralized. Many of tho States have
been compelled to isolatc the voters ut the
polling plmccs in order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
subsidized or nluzzlst,. public opinion rilenced
business prostrated, our homes covered with
mortgages, labor impoverished. and the land
concentrating I'm the hands of capitalists.
The urban worknen.are denied the right OF
organization for self-prOtection; imported
pauperiEed labor beats down their wages;
hireltus standing army, unrccognizcd by our
laws. 10 established to shoot them down, and
they are rapidly dcgenerating to European
conditions. The fruits Of the toll of millions
arc boldly stolen to build up colossal 70, tunes,
unprescnted in the history of the world.
while their pOsscsSOrS dcspise the republic
and cndnnEcr liberty. From the same prOii-
f1c womb of governmental injustice VIC breed
the two great classcs-pnupers and million
aires. The national power to create money
Is appropriated to enrich ond-hoidcrs; silver,
which has been accepted ~ coin since the
dawn Of history, had been demonctized to
add to the purchasing power OF gold BY de-
creasing the value of all forms of property as
well rs human labor: and the supply of cur
rcncy Is pnrpously abridged to fattcn usurcrs.
| bankrupt enterprise and cnslnvp Industry. A
vast conspiracy against mankinti has been Or
gan!zcd on two continents and is taking pos
session of the world. II not met and over.
thrown at once it forboics terrible social con-
| vulsions, the destruction. the establishment
OF an absolute despotism.
| In this crisis Of human affairs the intclli.
gent 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.
VIC declare an union an:! independence VIC
assert our purpose to vote with the political
organization which represents our principles
We charge that the controlling influences
| dominating the old political parties have al
lowed the existing dreadful conditions To de-
| velOp without serious effort to rest rain or
prevent them. Neither do they now intend to
| accomplish reform. They have agreed to-
| gethcr 30 ignore, in the coming mpnign.
every issue hut enc. They propose to drown
the outcries OF a plundrc'f people with the up
roar OF II sham battle over the .sri.. so that
| corporations, nations! hanks. rings, trusts,
| ''wntcrcG stocks. the decentralization OF sill
be lost sight Of They propose. :" sacrifice our
homes and children upon tho alter of Mann.
mon: to destroy the hopes Of the multitude IN
lords Of p,,nder. We asssrt that p"lii icsl
orRanizatsnn. representing the political prin
ctpies herein stated: f. necessary to redress
tho grievances of which we COMPLAIN.
| Assembled an the anniversary of the birth
OF the flustrioiIs man who led the first great
| revolt on ihis continent against oppression
filled with the sentiments which uct l. u. cd
| grand generation We acck TO restore. The gov
ernmcnt OF the Republic 70 the hands of .he
door stands open to nil points Of the com yass
We ask all honest men to Join with and help us
In ordor 10 restrain the extortions of aggre
grated capital. re drive the money chang or,
out of the temple. Ito form more perfect
union. establish justice. insure tiomrstic tran
guilty: provide for the common defense. pro
| mote the general welfare and secure the bless
inRs OF liberty for ourselves and our pos,cri
ty." we do ortiain and establish the fellow In.
platform OF principles:
We declare the union of the labor forces o.
the Emitted States. this day accomplished. per
mancnt and perpetual. May its spirit CEte
into nll hearts for the salvation OF tho Rc,,uh
lie and she uplifting of mankind.
Wealth belongs to him vino creates it, Ever,
dollar taken from industry. without an equiv
aIent. Is robbery. IF any will not work. Meth
er shall he cat Til" interests OF rural an,
ufhhn labor are the sumo; their enemies ar,
identical.
We recommend n national currency. snf
and sound and flexible. issued by the genera
government only. fun legal tender for al
debts. Pablo md privste. and fhnt withou
the u-c OF l,"nking corporations. q just. ,luit
able and efIctcnt means of circulation, GtreS.
to the people. ut u tax not to coed pcr 0, mt
as set fourth In this su!'-treas;lrv plan of tn
Farmers. Alliance: or some hctser system
| tianS for public Improvements.
J We demMnsi tho free and unlimited coinag
~ silver. We demand that the amount of til
circulating medium be speedily Increased I,
not less than ~, per c".'ita.
! Wcdcmend graduated income tax. W. he
,iev.' IN M, money Gi .G y, , ,h h should y
| people, and hence demand that all nntiOni;
ard state revenues shall be limited to the n.c
es<ary expenses of the government. 0a.onolni
cally and honestly administered
We demand thar postal savings hunks DC Is
tablished by the government for the safe dc
lnsit Of the earnings OF the people end I,
facilitate exchange.
We demand that the government issue lcgn
: tender notes and pay the union soldier th
difference between the plioc OF the dcprecint
cd money in which he wis rNfu ana geld.
The land including all the natural resource
, of wealth il the heritage Of all the people an
, should not bc monopOlizcd for speculative
, purposes ami alien ownership of land shoul
he prohibited. All land now held Ivy railroad
: : and other corporation IN excess OF their &c
tunl needs AMI al! lands now owned b: alien
should bc reclaimed ny the government an
held for actual settlers only.
Transportation being n means of Cxehang
and public necessity. the government shsul
. own aud operate the railroads in the interest
OF tho people.
!. The telegraph and telephone. like the post
Office system, being II necessity for the trans
miests'n of news. should tie opened and Opcrs
ted Oy the government in the interest OF tn