The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-17
An Address to the People.

An Address to the People.
This, the iirss,srest labor conference Of the
United States, and Of tho world, representing
all divisions Of urban and rural organised in.
dustry. assembled In National Congress. In
voklng upon its action the blessing and pro-
lection Of Almighty God. puts forth. to and
for tho producers Of the nation. this daciara-
ton Of union and Independence.
The conditions which surround us best jus.
tifv our cooperation.
We meet In the midst Of nation brought to
the verge Of moral political and material
ruin. Corruption dominates the ballut-box,
the legislatures. the Congress and touches
even the erubne OF the bench. The people
are demoraiiscd. Many Of the States have
been compelled to isolate the voters 1t the
polling places In order to prevent universal
Intimidation or bribery. The newspaper are
subsidized or muzsloi, public opiu3ou sflcncesl
business prostrat0d, our homes covered with
mortgages, labor Impoverished. AMI the lssi
concentrating in the hands of capitalists.
The urban workmenssafe denied the right Of
organization for self.prOtection; imported
pauperixed labor beats down their wares: q
htreling standing army, unrccognized ~ our
laws, 10 established to shoot them down, am,
they are rapidly doHencrating to European
conditions. The fruits Of the toll or millions
arc bDldly stolen to build up COLOSSAL fortunes,
unpresented In the history Of the world.
while their p<ssessOrs despise the republic
and endanger liberty. From the same proli.
nc womb Of governmental injustice We breot,
the two great Classes-paupcrs and million
aires. The national power to create money
Is appropriated to Zurich bond holders; silver
which has been accepted rs coin since the
dawn Of history, had been ,icmOnctizod to
add to the purchaaing power Of gold by dc
cresstng the value of all forms Of property q,
well ~ human lskOr; aud the supply Of cur
rency IL purpously at11tsees to fatten usurers
bankrupt enterprise and eilslnve tn,sustry. A
vast conspiracy against mankind has been or
gained on two continents and Is taking DOS
session of the world. II not met and over
thrown ut once II fOrl,Odcs terrible social con
vulsions, the destruction or the estsblishmen,
Of an absolute slespotiam.
In this crisia of human affairs, the intclli
gent working people and producers Of tn,
United States have cOme together In the name
Of peace, order and society, to defend liberty
prosperity and justice.
We declare an union and independence. ",
assert our purpose to vote with the r,olitica
organization which represents our principles
We charge that the controlling influence
dominating the old political parti.s have al
lowed the existing dreadful conditions to de
vcIOp without serious effort to restrain q
prevent them. Neither do they now intend I,
accomplish reform. They have agreed to
every issue but one. They propose to drOw.
the Outcries Of . pluDdrcd people with the IN
| roar OF . sham battle over the tariff, - tina
hAv,k 4.
'watercd stocks" the decentralization OF sill
yer. and the expressions of Insurers. may al
be lost sight Of; They prOI4se to sacrifice on
| mon: to destroy the hopes Of the multitude II
order to secure corruption funds from TN
lords Of plumber. We assert that u pOlitioa
cipicS herein stated. II necessary to rc0rcs
| the grievances OF which we complain.
| Assembled TN the anniversary Of the brit
| OF the illustriOus man who led the first 9res
! revolt on this continent against Oppression
filled with the sentiments which nctu.t~t tina
grand generation. We seek to- restore the ys,s
''pIain people. with whom II originated. Gu
door stands open to all points Of the compass.
We nsk all honest men to join with snd help "a,
In order to restrain the extOrttOnS OF axgr1
grated capital. to drive the money changer
out Of the temple. Ito form \ more perfcc
union. establish justice. insure d0me.st1c trar
mote the general welfare and securt. the 6ieT:
inGs Of liberty for ourselves and our poster
ana e8vQNI1Sn
| platform OF principles:
We declare the union Of the labor forces q
the United States. thi. day accomplished. pei
into ali hearts fcr the s.,sssion Of Tie he%"l
lie and the uplifting of mankind.
Wealth belongs to him who creates 1t. Ever
nien.. "a robbery. ::if any viii not work nett,
cr shall he cat" The interests of rurai an
urban labor are the same; their enemies ~
identical.
I
and sound and flexible. ixsued BY the 4enerl
government only, full legal tender for q
debts. public and private, and that withO,
the usc Ut banking corporations. just, equi
able and efficient means OF ctrc, Ia tts,n dire,
to the people. 1T a tax not to exceed per cen
a. set fourth in this sub-treasury plan OF II
Farmers Alliance. or some better system
Also by payments iI discharge Of II. ohlig
lions for public improvements.
We demand the free and unlimited coinas
II silver. We demand that the amount of Il
circulating medium be speedily increased
not less than ~ per capita.
~edcmsnd q graduated income tax. Web
itevc tn 1t the money 81 the country should
kept ~ much us possible In the hands Of ii
people, and hence We demand that all nation
aid state revenues shall be limited to the NJ,
cs.nry expenses Of the government, ecOnou
We demand thar postal ssviuge banks he g
tablished by the government for the safe Il
posit Of the earnings of the people and
facilitate exchange.
|
tender notes and pny the union soldier Il
difference between the price Of the deprcciN
ed money in which he was paid ana gold.
The land including all the natural rs-ourc
of wealth Il the heritage Of all the people ~
should rot be MonolNNlizcd for sl,s culxsi,
purposes and alien ownership OF land shou
he prohibited. All land now held by r1i:rOa
and other corporations in excess Of their q
tual needs and all lands now owned by aliel
should he reclaimed ny the government a
held for actual settlers only.
Transportation bring . means Of exchan,
and public necessity. the government shoi
own and operate the rNilrlAds in the Intcres
OF the people.
The telegraph and telephone. like the 20.
Oficc system. heing u necessity for the tran
mission Of news. should bc opened and cpcr
ted by the government in tho interest Of Il
peHplc.
Resolved. That We hail this conference
the cOnsumAtiOn Of perfect union of hear
and hands OF all sections OF our CONNIE
country. The men who wore the gray and Il
blue moot hereto extinguish the last smOul
erinY embers Of civil wHr in the tears Of Joy
q united and happy people. and we agree
carry the Stars and Stripes forward forever
, the highest pOint Of national greatness.
irVr NHYVN a nNNT M 4 NJ