The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-11-17
SRC0Eg DEGLA2AFION
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
Plat erm Adopted by the Ceniedei
atfed Industrial OgaaxAti3n
al 81. Lsn,s. No.. sebrua
rv %, ~. 1899.
FREA MBi.E


This. the ilrst great labor confer
ence OF the United States and of the
world. representing ali divisions OF
urban and rural organized industry,
assembled in national congress, in
voking upor IFS action the blessing
and protection of Almighty God,
puts forth 10 and for the producers
of the nation this declaration OF I'M
ion and independence. The condl-
tions which surround us best justify
our cooperation. We meet in the
midst of nation brought to the
verge of moral, political, and nate
rial ruin. Corruption dominates the
ballot-box, the legislatures, the Con-
gress and touches even the ermine
of the bench. The people are de-
moralized. Many of the States have
been compelled to isolate the voters
at the polling places in order to pre-
vent universal intimidation or bribe-
ry. The newspapers are subsidized
or muzzled, public opinion silenced,
business Frustrated. our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impover-
ished, and the land concentrating in
the hands Of capitalists. The urban
workmen are denied tho right Of or
ganization for self-protection; ina
ported paupeliZed labor beats down
their wages; Il hireling standing ar
my, unrecogniZed by our laws. is ss
| tablished to shoot them down; aud
they are rapidly degenerating to
European conditions.
| The fruits of the toll of laillious
are bodily stolen to build up colossal
fortunes, unprecedented in the his
tory Of the world, while their possss-
sors despise the republic and endan-
ger liberty. From the same prolific
womb Of governmental injusti ?
breed the two great classes-paupel
and millionaires. The national pow.
err to create money is appropriated to
enrich bondholders; silver, which ha.
been accepted as com since the dawn
of history, has been demonetized tt
add to the purchasing power of colo
by decreasing the value of all forms
of property, as we'll as human labor
and tie supply of currency is pur
posely abridged to fatten usursrs
/ bankrupt enterprise, and enslavs in
dusty. 4 vast conspiracy agains
mankind has been organized on tive
vast continents. and is taking pos
session OF tho worli. II not mo
and overthrown at once 1t fOrbode
terrible social convulsicns, the do
structiooa If civiliZ atom ortha es
tablishmcnt Of al absolute depot
ism.
In this crisis of human affairs tn,
intelligent working people and pro
ducels of the United States hav,
come together ID the name peace, or
her and society to defend thoir libsr
ty, prosperity and justice.
We deciae our union and indie
pendence. We assert our purpos,
to support the organization which
rep1 esents our principles.
We charge that the controlling ia
fluences dominating the old politica
parties have allowed the .existin,
dreadful conditions to develop with
out serious effort to restrain or pre-
vent them. They have agreed to
gether to ignore, i'll the coming cam
paign. every issue but one. The,
propose to drown the Outcrios Q
plundered people with the uproar 0
sham buttle over the tariff; so tina
corporations, national banks, rings
trusts. watered stock. =" the demons
tization of silver, and the oppression
of usurels, may be lost sight of
They propose to sacrifice our homo
and children on the altar of nam
mon; to destroy the hopes Of tn
! multitude in order to scare corrup
ton funds from the great lords .
{ plumber.
We assert that political organiza
, ton, representing the political prin
l ciples herein stated, is necessary [
: redress the grievances Of which W
4 complain.
Assembled on the anniversary O
, the birth of the illustrious man VIII
:, led the first great revolution on thi
continent against oppression, file
. with the sentiments which actuate
! that great generation, we seek to r
: store the government of the reput
lie to the hands of the H'plain Fec
: ple,n with whom it originated. Gu
doors are open to all points Of tn
! compass. We ask all honest mo
to join with and help US.
J. In order to restrain the extortion
+ of aggregate capital. to drive tn
money-changers out of fhe tempt,
to form a perfect union, establis
Justice, insure domestic tranuuilit,
, provide for the common defense, prt
Q mote the general welfare, and secur
j the blessings of liberty for ourselve
g and cur pestelity we do ordain al,
$ establish the following platform {
4 principles:
}, First-.e declare tic union G
o the labor orces of the United State
/. this dav accomplished permanor
/ and perpetual. May its spirit 81
$ ter into ali hearts for the salvatio
r Of she FfpHbiic and the uplifting {
t mankind
i Second w eaith belongs to hi
> who created it. Every dollar take
for Industry without an equivalent
q robbery. Il any one will not uorl
neither snail iie eat. Tho interes
ofrural and urban labor are the SAM
their enemies are Identical.
/: PLATFORM.
= First-We demand national Gu
:. seney safe, sound, ana flexible, i
% Snpl hU the .eaneral .rn.rorn xaoat ~,