The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-10-18

SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMERICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the Confederated In
dustrial 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
mighty God, puts fortf to and for the producers
of the nation this declaration of union and in
ms best Justify our CO operation. We meet in
the midst of q 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 demOralized. Many of
IL e States have been compelled to isolate the
voters at ii g 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 concentrat1ng IN the 6ands OF capitaLsts:
The urban workmen are denied the right of
organization for seIf-prOtectiOn; imported pau
periZed labor beats down their wages; a hire
ling standing army, unrecogniZed by our laws,
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 builC up colossal fortunes, uDprece-
denied in the history of the world. while their
pOsSeSSOrS deSpise the republic and endangeF
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov
ernmental injustice breed the two great classes
-paupers and mtLliOna1res. The national power
to create money is appropriated to enrich bond
Iolders; silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history, has been demonet1zed
creasing the value of all forms of property, as
well as human labor, and the supply of currency
is purposely abridged to fatten Insurers, bank
rupt enterprise, and enslave industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been organized
on two continents. and Is taking possession OF
tie world. If not met and overthrow at once,
it fOrbodes terrible social convulsions the de-
strUction of civilization. or the establishment of
an absolute despOtism.
In this crisis of human affairs the intelligent
States / ave come together in the name of peace.
order, and society to defend liberty, prosperity
and justice.
We declare our union and Independence. We
aSSeTC-6n purpose to support the political or
ganization wEicfEeP9eseqts our principles.
mating the old political parties have aIlOwed the
existing dreadful conditions to develop without
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 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.
We assert II at a political organization, repre-
senting the political principles herein stated, is
necessary to redress the grievances of which we
on the anniversary of the birth of
the nlustrionsm man who led the first revolution
on this continent against oppression, filed with
the sentiment which actuated That grand gem
Grafton, we seek to restore the government OF
originated. Our doors are open to ali points of
the, compass. We ask all honest men to join
with and help us.
| In order tn restrain the avtOrtioDS IF aOOraOofa
capital, to drive the money changers out of the
temple to form a perfect union, establish justice,
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings Of liberty for ourselves
and our posterity we dc ordain and establshth the
following platform of principles:
First-We declare the union of the labor forces
manent and perpetual. May it's spirit enter into
all hearts of the republic and the uplifting of
mankind.
Second-WeaIth 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.
- FINANCE.
First-We demand a national currency safe,
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 toeXceed 2 per cent. be prOvided,
as set forth in the Sub-Treasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance, or some better system; also,
by ayments in d1Scl aFge 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
Of the people, and hence we demand all national
and State revenue shall be limited to Il @ neees-
sary expenses of the government economically
and honestly administered.
e. We demand that postal savings banks be
| established by the government for the safe de
postt of the earnings OF the people and to facli-
tate exchange.
LAND.
S~econd-The land, including all the natural
resources of wealth, is the heritage of all the
people and should not be monopOliZed for specu-
Iattve purposes, and alien ownership of 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.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of ex-
change and a public necessity, the government
should Own and operate the railroads in the in
a. The telegraph and telephone. like tba not
ofdce system, being a necessity for transmissi0n
of news, should be owned and operated nv 1ba
government in the interest of the people.
A Valuable Farm for Sale !
Iofer to sell, remarkably cheap, 40 acres of
land, so acres cleared and in a high state of cul-
-