The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-14
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the C~onfederated In
dustrial Organizations at St.
Louis, Mo, Feb.
pr FAMRIE.


Louis, Mo-, Feb.
22-24, 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
its action the blessings and protection of AL
mighty God, puts forth to and for the producers
of the nation this declaration of union and in
dependence. The conditions which surround
us 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, the
Congress, and touches even the ermine of the
bench. The people are dem0raIlzed., Many of
IL g States have been compelled to isolate the
voters at IT, polling places in order to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery. The news
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
is established to shoot them down and they are
rapidly degenerating to European conditions.
The fruits of the toll of millions are boldly
stolen to builG 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
ornamental injustice breed the two great classes
-paHpers and milliOnaires. The national power
to create money is appropriated to enrich bond
! Olders; silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history, has been demonetized
to add to the purCl asing power Of gold by de-
creasing the value of all forms of property, as
we'll as human labor, md the supply of currency
upAeptN and enSlave industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
+ e world. If not met and ~ 6r6wn& qGce,
it fOrbodes, terrible social convulsiog DE.
structiOn of civilization, or the establishment of
In this cr4sfs&bf hahaaR- affairs the intelligent
working people and pr0duCers OF the United
States | ave come together in tARQame of peace,
order, and society to defend liberty, prosperity
We declare our union and independence We
assert our purpose to support the political or
gaRlzatlon WIG rePresents our PrincipIes
mating the old political parties have allows: the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious effort to restrain or prevent them. II ey
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 tArin; 50
that corporations, national banks, rings, trusts,
d" wat4red stock" the decentralization OF silver,
and the oppression of u-UrcrS, may all be lost
sight of. They propose 10 sacrifice our homes
and children upon the altar of mammOn to de-
stroy the hopes OF the multitude in order to
corruption funds from the great lords Of
plumber.
senting the political principles herein stated, is
necessary TO redress the grievances of which we
complain.
Assembled on the anniversary of the birth of
the iHustriOnS man who led the first revolution
on this continent against oppression, filled with
the sentiment which aCtuated that grand gen
Grafton, We seek to restore the government of
II e hands of the plain people, with whom 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 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
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our p~osterity we dc ordain and establish the
following platform of principles:
Eirst-We declare the union of the labor forces
of the United States this day accomplished per-
nanpnt and naTnnfn1I Ma Y its GnjTit nntnPintn
all hearts OF the republic and the uplifting of
Second-Wealth belongs to him who created
it. 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.
FINANCE.
First-We demand a national currency cafe,
sound and flexible, issued by the General Gov
eminent only, a full legal tender for all debts,
public and private; and that without the use OF
banking corporations a just, and equitable and /
efficient means of distribution direct to the peo-
pie at a tax not to exceed 2 per cent. be provided,
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
public improvements.
a. We demand free and unlimited coinage of
silver.
b. We demand that the amount of circulating |
medium be speedily increased to not less than
$50 per capita.
c. We demand a graduated income tax.
d. We believe that the money of the country |
should be kept as much as possible in the hands
the people, and hence we demand all national
and State revenue shall be limited to Il e nuces-
sary expenses of the government economically
and honestly administered.
6. We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe de-
pOsit of the earnings of the people and to facili-
tate exchange.
LAND.
SecOnd-The land, including all the natural
of wealth, is the heritage of all the
people and should not be mOnOpolized for specu- |
lative- purposes, and alien ownership of land
should be prohibited. All land now held by
and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs, and all lands now owned bv |
aliens, should be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only.
TRANSPORTATION
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of ex-
change and a public necessity, the government
should own and operate the railroads in the in
q. The telegraph and telephone, like the post
once system, being a necessity for transmission
of news, should be owned and operated nv the
in the interest of the people.