Declaration of Principles of the Social Democrracy of America [June 1897] 1 Declaration of Principles of The Social Democracy of America: Adopted at the Special Convention Held Under the Auspices of the American Railway Union, June 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21, 1897. 1 Published in The Social Democrat [Terre Haute, IN], v. 4, no. 13 (July 1, 1897), pp. 1, 4. Declaration of Principles. We hold that all men are born free, and are endowed with certain natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and happiness. In the light of ex- perience we find that while all citizens are equal in theory, they are not so in fact. While all citi- zens have the same rights politically, this political equality is useless under the present system of eco- nomic inequity, which is essentially destructive of life, liberty, and happiness. In spite of our politi- cal equality, labor is robbed of the wealth it pro- duces. By the development of this system it is de- nied the means of self-employment, and by en- forced idleness, through lack of employment, is even deprived of the necessities of life. To the obvious fact that our despotic system of economics is the direct opposite of our demo- cratic system of politics, can be plainly traced the existence of a class that corrupts the government, alienates public property, public franchises, and public functions, and holds this, the mightiest of nations, in abject dependence. Labor, manual and mental, being the cre- ator of all wealth and all civilization, it rightfully follows that those who perform all labor and cre- ate all wealth should enjoy the fruit of their ef- forts. But this is rendered impossible by the mod- ern system of production. Since the discovery and application of steam and electric powers and the general introduction 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 sepa- rated from his products. While in former times the individual worker 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, factories, etc., cooperating accord- ing to the most efficient division of labor, but they are not the masters of their products. The fruits of this cooperative labor are, in a great measure appropriated by the owners of the means of pro- duction, to wit: by the owners of machines, mines, land, and the means of transportation. This system, by gradually extinguishing the middle class, necessarily leaves but two classes in our country: the large class of workers and the small class of great employers and capitalists. Human power and natural forces are wasted by this system, which makes “profit” the only ob- ject in business. Ignorance and misery, with all concomitant 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 Declaration of Principles of the Social Democrracy of America [June 1897] 2 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 social evolution, this system, through the de- structive action of its failures and crises on the one hand, and the constructive tendencies of its trusts and other capitalistic combinations on the other, will annihilate the middle class, the basis upon which the 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 taking possession of the public power, so that we may put an end to the present barbarous struggle, by the abolition of capitalism, the resto- ration of the land, and of all the means of pro- duction, transportation, and distribution, to the people as a collective body, and the substitution of the cooperative commonwealth for the present state of planless production, industrial war, and social disorder — a commonwealth which, al- though it will not make every man equal physi- cally or mentally, will give to every worker the free exercise and the full benefit of his faculties, multiplied by all the modern factors of civiliza- tion and ultimately inaugurate the universal broth- erhood of man. The Social Democracy of America will make democracy, “the rule of the people,” a truth by ending the economic subjugation of the overwhelmingly great majority of the people. With a view to the immediate relief of the people, all our efforts shall be put forth to secure to the unemployed self-supporting employment, using all proper ways and means to that end. For such purpose one of the States of the Union, to be hereafter determined, shall be selected for the concentration of our supporters and the introduc- tion of cooperative industry, and then gradually extending the sphere of our operations until the National Cooperative Commonwealth shall be established. We also make the following specific demands for relief. Demands for Relief. 1. The public ownership of all industries con- trolled by monopolies, trusts, and combines. 2. The public ownership of all railroads, tele- graph, telephone, all means of transportation, communication, water works, gas and electric plants, and all other public utilities. 3. The public ownership of all gold, silver, copper, lead, coal, iron, and all other mines; also all oil and gas wells. 4. Reduction of the hours of labor in pro- portion to the progress of production. 5. The inauguration of a system of public works and improvements for the employment of the unemployed, the public credit to be utilized for that purpose. 6. All useful inventions to be free to all, the inventor to be remunerated by the public. 7. The establishment of Postal Savings Banks. 8. The adoption of the Initiative and Refer- endum, the Imperative Mandate, and Propor- tional Representation. Published by 1000 Flowers Publishing, Corvallis, OR, 2006. • Non-commercial reproduction permitted. marxisthistory.org Edited by Tim Davenport.
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