The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-03-01
PrurocRAcY ARRAIeNED.

%Ns AACA4" ACS6A rDSA@AN%AJS ~ASAO
of Caesars Column" and read
the following powerful arraignment of
the %plutocrats of America:
This, the first great labor conference
of the United States and the world,
representing all the divisions of urban
and rural organized industry assembled
in the National Congress, invoking
upon its action the blessing and protec-
ton of Almighty God, puts forth to
and for the producers Of the nation
this declaration of union and lndepen-
dence. The conditions which surround
us best Justify our cooperation. we
meet in the midst of a nation brought
to a verge of moral, political and ma
terial ruin. Corruption dominates the
ba~llot-box, legislature and Congress-
and touches even the ermlne OF the
bench. People are demOrallzed. Many
of the States have been compelled to
isolate voters at the polling places In
order to prevent universal lntlmlda
ton or bribery; newspapers are sub
sidized or muzzled; public opinion
siIenced: business Frustrated; u
| homes covered with mortgages; labor
| IMPOVERISHED and land concentrating
in the hands of capitalists. Urban
workmen are denied the right of organi-
cation for self prote ctiOn, imported
pauperized labor beats down their
wages; a hireling standing army unob-
| iected to by our law is established to
shoot them down, and they are rapidly
degenerating to European conditions.
Fruits of the toll of millions az bodily
stolen to build up colossal fortunes.
unprecedented in the history of the
world, while their possessors despise
the republic and endanger the liberty
of the people through national power
to create money is appropriated to en-
rich bond-holders; silver which has
been accepted as coin since the dawn
of history, has been demOnetized to
add to pur :hasing the power of gold
by decreasing the value of all forms of
property as we'll as human labor and a
supply of currency is purposely
abriged to fatten usurers, bankrupt
enterprise and enslave industry. Vast
conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents and is
taking possession of the world, if not
met and overthrow at once, it
means solid commissions, destruction
of civilization or establishment of absO-
Lutte despotIsm. In this crisis of human
affairs, intelligent working people and
producers of the United States have
come together in the name of peace,
order and society to defend liberty,
prosperity and justice. w edeclare our
union and independence and assert
them through political organizations
which represent our principles. We
charge that the controlling influence
dominating the old political parties
have allowed existing dreadful condi-
tions 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 out
cries of a plundered people with an up
roar of sham battle over the tariff, S o
that the corporations, national banks,
rings, trusts, "watered stock" demon
citation of silver and oppression of
usurers may all be lost sight of. They
propose to sacrifice our homes and
children upon the altar Of mammon, to
destroy hopes, multitudes in order to
secure from great lords of plumber.
We assert that political organizations
representing political principles, herein
stated, is necessary to redress griev
ances of which we complain. Assem-
bled on the anniversary of the birth of
the illustriOus man who led the first
great revolution on this continent
against oppression was filed with sen
timent which actuated that grand gen
GRAFTON. We seek to restore the gov.
eminent of the public to the hands of
the "plain people" with whom it
originated; our doors are open to all
points of the compass, we ask all hon
est men to join with and help us in
order to restrain the extortions of ag-
gregated capital; to drive money
changers out of the temple; to form a
perfect union; establish justice and in
sure domestic tranquility provide for
the common defence; promote the gen
eral welfare and secure the blessings of
liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
THAT GAME WON'T WORK.