The Topeka state journal., 1897-06-19
THE NEW CREED.
Declaration of Principles of the $50
ciaI Democracy

CulCa5Oy June lS--1GaOGIS OL I1G oOGlcl
Democracy held conference last night
looking to the amalgamation of the
American Railway union, the Brother
hood of the Cooperative Commonwealth
/ and kindred societies under the new name.
President Debs, Sylvester Keliher, c. O.
Sherman, Professor Parsons, A. S. Ed
wards and others are engaged in it. The
basis of consolidation will be the declara-
ton of principles adopted by the conven-
tion. The legislative committee will en-
body the result in its report. The Gre
dentia1s committee will recommend the
seating of delegates from many organiza-
tions.
Following is the declaration of princi-
pies:
Resolved, That the American Railway
union take immediate action sto carry in
to effect the plans of its president and
adopt the broader policy commended in
the following declaration of principles:
Labor. manual and mental, being the
sole creator of wealth, it rightfully fol-
lows that all those who perform all la
Dor and create all wealth should enjoy
the result of their efforts. But this is
rendered impossible by the modern sys-
tenn of production. Since the discovery
and application of steam and electric
power and the general introduction of
machinery in all branches of industry
by such gigantic means that but few are
now able to possess them. and thus the
producer is separated from his products.
s While in former times the individual
worker Iabored 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, cooperating accord
ing to the most efficient division of Ia
are their
products. The fruits of this cooperative
labor are in a great measure appropriat-
ed by the owners of the means of prOduc-
ton, to-wit: the owners of the machines.
mines, land and the means of transpor-
tation.
This system. by gradually extinguish-
ing the middle class, necessarily leaves
only two classes of men in our country,
the great class of workers and the small
class of great employers and capitalists.
To the obvious fact that our despotic
system of economies is the direct oppO-
site of our Democratic system of politics
can be plainly traced the existence of a
class that corrupts the government, alien
ates public property, public franchises
and public functions and holds the might
lest 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-
comitant evils, are perpetuated by this
system, which makes human labor a ware
to be bought in the open market and
places no real value on human life.
Science and invention are diverted from
their humane purposes and made instru-
ments 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 fail
ures and crises on the one hand and the |
conservative tendencies of its trusts and |
other capitaHstic combinations on the |
other. will annihilate the middle class, |
the basis on which this system rests, and |
thereby work out it own downfall.
We therefore call upon all honest citi- |
zens 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 taking possession of the public power; |
so that we may put end to the present |
barbarous struggle by the abolition of |
capitalism, by the restoration of the land |
and OF all means of production, transpor- |
tation and distribution to the !
people collective body. |
and the substitution of cooperative COM
monweaIth for the present state of plan
less production, Industrial war and social
disorder A commonwealth which, al
though it will not make every man equal
1y physically and mentally will give every
worker the free exercise and the full ben
eft of his faculties, multiplied by all the
modern factors of civilization and ulti-
mately fnaugurate the universal brother
hood of man. The Social Democracy of
America will make a democracy-"the
rule of the people"-a truth by ending
the economic subjugation of the over
great majority of the people.
With a view to the immediate improve
ment of the condition of the people all
our efforts shall be put forth to secure
to the unemployed self-supporting en-
plOyment, using all proper ways and
means at our command to that end. For
such purpose one of the states of the un-
ion to be hereafter determined shall be
selected for the concentration of our sup
porters and gradually extending the
sphere of operations until the National
Commonwealth shall be es-
tablished.
Among the prominent persons who
have arrived to participate in the pro-
ceedinss of the convention is DR.. Ella r.
Jennings of New York, the philanthro-
pist who has made the care of waits her
life mission.