The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-08-02

representing every State and every or
ganization. The committee labored
faithfully and without intermission
fourteen hours, and presented as their
unanimous report the following:
SECOND DECLARATION OF
AMEICAN INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted by the Confederated In
dustrial Organizations at St. Louis,
Mo, February 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 its
action the blessings and protection of
Almighty God, puts forth to and for
the producers of the nation this decla-
ration of union and independence. The
conditions which surround us best
Justify our cooperation. We meet IN
the midst of a nation brought to the
verge of moral, political, and material
ruin. Corruption dominates the bal
AOJUOA GlS 1CSN 11UulO, ULC NOhS1CGSS
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 in
timidation or bribery. The newspapers
are subsidized or muzzled, public opin-
ion silenced, business Frustrated, our
homes covered with NOR cages, labor
impoverished, and the land concentrate
ing in the hands of capitalists. The
urban workmen are denied the right
of organization for self-prOteGtion; i'm
ported p~auperiZed labor beats down
their wages; a hireling standing army,
unrecOgnized by III laws, is estab-
lished to shoot them down; and they
are rapidly degenerating to European
conditions,
The fruits of the toll of millions are
boldly stolen to build up co Ossal for
tunes, unprecedented in the history of
the world, while their p-ossessors despise
the republic and endanger liberty.
From the same prolific womb of gov
ernmen5al injustice breed the two
great classes-paupers and m~illionaires.
International power to create money is
appropriated to enrich b~ondholders
silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history has demone-
tized 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
purposely abridged to fatten usurers,
bankrup enterprise, and nslave indus
try. A vast conspiracy against man
kind has been organized on two con-
tlnents, and Is taking possession Of the
world. If not met and overthrow at
once it forbodes terrible social convul-
siOns, the destruction of civilization.
or the establishment of an absolute
despOtism.
In this crisis of human affairs the in
tellIgent working people and producers
OF the United States have come together
IN the name of peace, order, and So
ciety to defend liberty, prosperity and
justice.
We declare union and independ-
ence. We assert our purpose to sup
port the political organization which
represents our principles.
We charge that the controlling inhu-
nee dominating the old political par
ties have allowed the existing dreadful
conditions to develop without serious
effort to restrain or prevent them.
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 stock" the de
monetization of silver, and the oppres-
sion Of usurers, may all be lost sight
OF. They propose to sacrifice our homes
and children upon the altar of NAM
nom; to destroy the hopes of the null
tltude In order to secure corruption
funds from the great lords of plumber.
We assert that a political Organiza-
ton, representing the political prin-
clples herein stated, is necessary to re-
dress the grievances of which we COM
plain.
Assembled on the anniversary of the
birth of the illustrious man Who led
the first great revolution on this CONT
nent against oppression, filled with the
sentiment which actuated that grand
generation, we seek to restore the gov
eminent of the republic to the hands
of the "plain people," with whom it
originated. Our doors are open to all
points of the compass. We Eask 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 n
welfare, and secure the BLESSINGS of
liberty for ourselves and our posterity
we do ordain and establish the follow
ing platform of principles:
First-We declare the union of the
labor forces Of the United States this