Vanguard Declaration

The Vanguard Declaration is a 1905 document written by Antonin Benoit Baskoro with the help of his long time editor and roommate Alazarro Anguel Saffo. Thanks to the well established underground political networks of Socialists, Communists, and Anarchists that Baskoro had contact with, as well as Saffo's position as editor of the South Bakian Gazette, the declaration was widely distributed throughout Bakia and beyond.

### Attempts to Ban the Declaration

In 1906 the Government of the South Bakian Province publicly declared the Declaration as an illegal document, which only served to further its recognition and spread. Governor Hardcroft became a target of ridicule as this famous photograph only served to enhance the publicity of The Declaration. Later versions of The Declaration include this photo on the cover, as a sort of sarcastic nod to its history. Hardcroft was an otherwise unremarkable politician who is now best known for this photo and his attempt to ban the Vanguard Declaration, a ban that went widely unenforced. Hardcroft remained a staunch anti-Vanguardist for the rest of his life.

### Abridged Text

The entire document is close to fifty pages long, and includes detailed histories and examples of religious violence, monarchist overreach, and nepotistic corruption both in Bakia and the world at large. Typically a copy of the Declaration consists of an abridged version, with the important text at the front, with a full version after. The abridged version is given here:

> **The Vanguard**
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> The history of the world hitherto is the history of the deceived and the deceiver. The peasants and city folk, soldiers and workers, lay citizens and serfs, you are chained to your station by the ancient edicts of royal conquerors and religious proselytizers. The nobles and priests of the world have worked tirelessly and ceaselessly to conceal your enslavement under a veil of tradition and superstition. Reject now these deceivers and their decaying edicts. Reject now the criminal hierarchy of the ennobled and the enslaved. Reject now and forever the dual deception of monarchism and religionism, and take your place in the Vanguard.
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> Standing side by side with the physically and intellectually liberated free citizens, the Vanguard shall rise and strike the vulnerable gluttonous underbelly of the so-called ruling elite. The Vanguard shall tear down the towers of oppression from whence these elites manufacture their systems of illusion and repression.
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> **On The Tyranny of Deception**
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> In the earliest days of human existence the primitive societies existed in a system of harmony by necessity. In the hostile wilderness, all those members of society achieved their station according to their own capabilities, all members had equal opportunity to achieve, and those who achieved the most offered their abilities to serve the betterment of their society.
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> But as time marched on, the cowards and criminals of society grew to despise their well earned station. They conspired to usurp the natural order and supplant it with one that served themselves. To these charlatans, the betterment of society and uplifting of their fellow citizen was irrelevant. Thus, they created gods, the greatest lies ever told.
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> This deception was so powerful against the primitive early humans that they quickly supplanted the natural order and placed themselves at the top. But it was not enough, they needed more, and they needed to remain atop forever. Thus the rules of inheritance and divine right quickly followed. Every system of inherited power, of religious authority, and of divine rule that has plagued our world, flowed forth from this ancient crime against humanity.
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> **On The Cruelty of Nepotism**
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> It remains, as it always was, anathema to all human technological, cultural, societal, and economic progress to grant unwarranted station to those whose only claim to power or authority is their relation to those in a position to grant such position. The nepotistic allocation of station has not only directly robbed those deserving of station by their own merit, but has also robbed human civilization of the benefits of having such deserved individuals in the positions where their talents can most benefit society.
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> How many technological advancements has society been deprived of because those in the high ranks of scientific and technological institutions were incompetent. Likewise with regards to sociological progress, cultural contributions, and economic prosperity, our civilization has been robbed of an enormous bounty of betterment. Even further, the very pursuit of greatness has been suppressed by the cancer of nepotism. Those who would otherwise achieve by their own merit, have neglected their own betterment and the betterment of society in pursuit of unearned station.
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> **On The Struggle for Community, Meritocracy, and Progress**
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> It is both the sovereign duty and moral obligation of every capable individual to liberate themselves and their society from the Tyranny of Deception and the Cruelty of Nepotism. Vanguardist Praxis will by nature require an assertive and violent rejection of the opulent status quo, and the aggressive and tireless pursuit of the establishment of a Vanguardist State. This inevitable revolution must be embraced by all classes and peoples together. Overcome your incorrect consciousness and join in Vanguardist Revolution against those who would separate you from your potential greatness and the fruits of a better society. Lift up those around you, become your best self, and push ever forward against the reactionaries, religionists, monarchists, and luddites of the world. People of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your shackles.
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