Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-25
ITO Conquer Capitalism"


called Social Democracy of Amer
; ica," an organization which comes to
the front with the CLINT of rebellion in
the eyes OF the prime-movcrs and its
chief advocate, as expressed in the
words OF the latter few days ago in
an address, in Chicago, when the ulti-
matum was presented of determina-
ton to Peacefully If we can, and
forcibly if we must" conquer the
capital" of the country.
The STANDARD is not, nor ever has
been, an apologist for the aggrcssions
OF wealth, but in correcting an evil it
can never sanction the "Stand and
deliver" methods of the highwayman.
abolition of capitalism" can mean
nothing more nor less than, by some
process of distribution in which might
is the moving factor, to even up the
property acquired 10y judicious labor of
mind or muscle, with those who may
possibly never have made an effort to
earn or save dollar. Theplan is sus-
tanned by the road agents Justification,
" The world owes me living" and
the constitutional rights of others are
entirely ignored by the selfish plea for
lawless appropriation of the every
thing in sight.
The declaration of principles, adopt
ed in Chicago, that city famous for
disorder, demagogism and dynamite,
on the 18th instant, is given in full as
matter of current history rs well as
being the official declaration of n
movement which announces, as
possible contingency, an effort to
overthrow the government by armed
force. Here it is:
Resolved, That the American Rail-
way Union take immediate action to
carry into effect the plans of its Presi-
dent and adopt the broader policy
commended in the following declara-
ton of principles:
Labor, manual and mental, being
the sole creator of wealth, it rightfully
follows that all those who perform
all labor and create all wealth, should
enjoy the result of their efforts. But
this is rendered impossible by the
modern system of production. Since
the discovery and application of steam
and electric power and the general in
PRODUCTION of machinery in all branches
of industry, the industrial operations
are carried on by such gigantic means
that but few are now able to possess
them, and thus the producer is sep
arated from his products.
While in former times the individual
wOr ker labored on his own account
with his own tools and was the master
of his products, now dozens, hundreds
and thousands OF men work together
in shops, mines and factories, CO.
operating according to the most
efficient division of labor, but they are
not masters of their products. The
fruits of this cooperative labor are in
great measure appropriated by the
owners of the means of production,
viz: the owners of machines, mines,
land and the means of transportation.
This system, by gradually extinguish-
ing the middle class, necessarily leaves
only two classes of men in our coun-
try-the great class of workers and
small class of great employees and
capitalists. To the obvious fact that
our despotic system of economics is
the direct opposite of our Democratic
system of politics can be plainly traced
the existence of class that corrupts
the government, alienates public
property, public franchise and public
functions, and holds the mightiest of
nations in abject dependence.
Human power and natural forces
are wasted by this system, which makes
profit the only object in business.
Ignorance and misery, with all con-
comltant evils, are perpetuated by this
system, which makes human labor
ware to be bought in the open market
and places no real values on human
life.
Science and invention are diverted
from their humane purposes and made
instruments for the enslavement of
men and the starvation of women and
children.
We, therefore, hold that in the
natural course of human evolution.
this system, through the destructive
action of its failure and crises on the
one hand and the conservative tenden-
cles OF its trusts and other capitalistic
combinations on the other, will an
initiate the middle class, the basis on
which this system rests and thereby
work out its own downfall.
We, therefore, call upon all honest
citizens to unite under the banner of
the Social Democracy of America, so
that We may be ready to conquer
capitalism by making use of our
political liberty and by taken posses
sion of the public power, so that we
may put an end to the present
barbarous struggle by the abolition of
capitalism, by the restoration of the
land and OF all means of production,
transportation and distribution to the
people as collective body, and the
substitution of the cooperative COM
monwealth for the present state of
painless production, industrial war
and social disorder. A commonwealth
which, although it will not make every
man equal physically and mentally,
will give to every worker the free
exercise and the full benefit of his
faculties, multiplied by all the modern
factors of civilization. and ultimately