The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-09-20
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the Confederated In
dustria1 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
divisions of urban and rural organized industry,
assembled in national congress, invoking upon
it's action the blessings and protection OF Al
mighty Godn Ppts forti to ana TOT the Produee T
dependence. The conditions which surround
as 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, Nthe
Congress, and touches even the ermine of the
bench. The people are demOralized. Many of
IL e 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
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, unrecogn1zed by our laws,
rapidly degenerating to European conditions:
The fruits of the toll of millions are boldly
stolen to buil6 up colossal fortunes, unpreCe-
denied 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
folders; silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history, has been demOnetized
c co asG % the Bee vPa qGei Of aSs ali forms R&Msr Of Q gg G5T It u as
well as human labor, and the supply of currency
rUpt enterprise, and enslave industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
on two continents. and is taking possession of
Il e world. If not met and overthrow at once,
it fOrbOdes terrible social commissions the de-
structiOn of civilization, or the establishment of
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
We declare our union and Independence. We
assert our purpose to support the political Or
ganizatiOn WI icl represents our principles.
We charge that the cOntrOlingi influence dom
4nnfSUn tho old nrIifi0o1 nor@ioc h vo oI1ourod 4ho
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. They
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 characterization 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 OF the multitude In order to
secure corruption funds from the great lords of
plumber.
senting the political principles herein stated, is
complain.
Assembled on the anniversary of the birth of
the Hustrions man who led the first revolution
on this continent against oppression, filed with
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
with and help Us.
In order to restrain the extortions of aggregate
capital, to drive the money changers out of the
temple. to form a perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our p~osterity we dc ordain and establish the
following platform of principles:
F1rst-We declare the union of the labor forces
OF the United States this day accomplished per-
manent and perpetual. May its spirit enter into
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
rural and urban labor are the same, their enc
mics are identical.
PLATFORM.
NANCE.
E1rSt-We demand q national currency safe,
sound and flexible, issued by the General Gov
eminent only, a full legal tender for all debts,
banking corporations a just, and equitable and
efficient n cans of distribution direct to the peo-
as set forth in the Sub-Treasury 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
b, We demand that the amount of circulating
med1um be speedily increased to not less than
c. We demand a graduated income tax.
. we Deneve mat the money Of the country
of the people, and hence we demand ali national
and State revenue shall be limited to I'll 3 neces-
and honestly administered.
e.. We demand that postal savings banks be
esIaDnsn5d Dy bne gOESrnhenC ~ Inc SAFE Qe-
tate exchange.
Lar
~Second-The land, including all the natural
resources of wealth.. is the heritage of all the
people and should not be mOnOpOlized for specu-
lative purposes, and alien ownership or land
should be prohibited. All land now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess OF
their actual needs, and all lands now owned by
aliens, should be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only.
-ANSPORTATIo
beinR a means or 6X-
change and a public necessity, the government
should own and operate the railroads in the in
terest of the people.
e The telegraph and telephone, like the post
once system, being 8 necessity for transmission
CT news, should be owned and operated by the
government in the interest of the people.
Beecham's Pulls sell well because they cure.