The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-05-28
A sTA1EsnAMlIkE PAPER.
The st. Louis Convention's Address
- to the Public.

This, the first great labor confer
ence of the United States and of the
world, representing all divisions OF
urban and rural organized industry,
assembled in national congress, in
voking upon its action the blessing
and protection of Almighty God,
puts forth to and for the producers
of the nation this declaration of
union and independence.
The conditions which surround
us best justify our cooperation. We
meet in the midst of nation
brought to the verge of moral, polit-
ical and material ruin. Corruption
dominates the ballot box, the Legis-
islatures, the Congress and touches
even the ermine of the Bench. The
people are demoralized. Many of
the states have been compelled to
isolate the voters at the polling
places in order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery.
The newspapers are subsidized
or muzzled, public opion silenced,
business prostrated, our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impov-
erished and the lands concentrated
in ;the hands of capitalists. The
urban workmen are denied the right
Of organization for self-protection,
imported pauperized labor beats
down their wages, a hireling stand
ing army, unrecognized by our laws,
is established to shoot them down
and they are rapidly degenerating
into European conditions.
The fruits of the toll of millions
are boldly stolen to build up colos-
sal fortunes, unprecedented in the
history of the world, while their
possessors despise the republic and
endanger liberty. From the same
prolific womb of governmental in
justice we breed the two great classes
-paupers and millionaires. The
national power to create money is
appropriated to enrich bondhold-
ers; silver, which has been accepted
as coin since the dawn of history,
has been demonetized to add to
the purchasing power of gold by
decreasing the value of all forms of
property, as well as human labor,
and the supply of currency is pur-
posely abridged to fatten usurers,
bankrupt enterprise and enslave in
dustry. A vast conspiracy against
mankind has been organized on two
continents and is taking possession
of the world. If not met and over
thrown at once, it forebodes terrible
social convulsions, the destruction
OF civilization or the establishment
of an absolute despotism.
In this crisis of human affairs the
intelligent working people and pro-
ducers 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 inde-
pendence. We assert our purpose
to vote with that political organiza-
ton which represents our princi-
Piles.
We charge that the controlling
influences dominating the old polit-
ical parties have allowed the exist
ing dreadful conditions 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
outcries Of a plundered people with
the uproar of a sham battle over the
tariff; so that corporations, national
banks, rings, trusts, watered stocks,
the characterization of silver and
the expressions of usurers may all
be lost sight of. They propose to
sacrifice our homes and children
upon the alter of mammon; to de-
stroy the hopes of the multitude in
order to secure corruption funds
from the great lords of plunder.
We assert that political organ
ization representing the political
principles herein stated, is neces-
sary to redress the grievances OF
which we complain.
Assembled on the anniversary of
the birth of the illustrious man who
led the first great revolution on this
against oppression, filled
with the sentiment which actuated
that grand generation, we seek to
restore the government of the re-
public to the hands of the "plain
people," with WON 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 eAtor-
tions of aggregated capital, to drive
the money changers out of the tenn
pie, to form a perfect union, estab-
iish Justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common
defense, promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessings OF
liberty to ourselves and our poster
ity, we do ordain and establish the
following platform of principles: