The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-31

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Natisnal Laber Relsrn Party
ADOPTED
On Friaav, September IS, 1868.
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lienable rights; that among them are life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness; that
10 secure these rights governments areip-
stituted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent of the governed.
That there areBbst two pure forms Of gov
eminent, the Autocratic and the Democratic;
under tie former the Fill Of the individual
sovereign 10 the supreme law, under the lat
Tor the sovereignty ID vested in the whole
people, all other forms being modification
cf the one Or the other Of these principles,
AID hat ultimataly one or the other 81
these forms must prevail throughout all
civilized nations, and itisnow for the Amer
lean people to determine which Of these prin-
ciples shall triumph. r . 4-+gl
That the design Of the founders OF the Re-
public was to institute q government upon
the principle of absolute inherent sovereign
ty Of the people, and that would give to
each citizen the largest political and religi-
Gus liberty compatible with the good order
Of society, and securs 90 each the right to
enjoy the fruits Of hrs labor and talents
that when laws are enacted destructive of
these ends, they are without moral binding
force, and il 10 the right and duty of the
people to alter, amend or abolish them, and
institute such others, founding them upon
the principles Of equity, az to them may
seem most likely to effect their prosperity
and happiness.
Prudence will indeed dictate that import
ant laws long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes, and
experience has shown that the American
people are more disposed to suffer while
evils are suferable, than to change the
forms and laws TO which they have been ac-
customed. But when long train of legis-
tive abuses, pursuing invariably the same
object, evinces design to subvert the spirit
Of freedom and equality upon which our in
situations are founded, and reduce them to
state of sery'tude, it is their right-it is
their duty to abolish such laws and provide
new guards for their future security. Such
has been the patient suffering of the wealth
producing classes Of the United States, and
such is now the necessity which constrains
them to put forth an organized and united
effort for maintaining their natural rights,
whica are imperilled by the insidious
schemes and unwarranted aggression of un-
scrupulous bankers and usurers by means Of
unwise and corrupt legislation.
We further hold-That all properly OF
wealth is the product OF physical or intel.
lectual labor, employ ed in productive indus.
Try and in the distribution of the produc.
tons Of labor that laborers ought OF right
and would, under q just monetary system
receive or retain the larger proportion Of
their productions !; that the wrongs, oppres
sions and restitution which laborers are suf
fering in most departments of legitimate en-
terprise and useful occupation, do not re.
suit from insuficiency of production bu
from the unfair distribution of the product,
OF labor between non producing capital ant
labor.
That money is the medium Of Distribution
to producing capital and producing la
Dor, the rate OF interest determining wha
proportion of the products of labor shall b,
awarded to capital for its use, and what I,
labor FOR its productions rat the power t,
make money and regulate its value is al
essential attribute of sovereignty, the exer
clse OF which Is by the Constitution Of th
United states wisely and properly granted I,
Congress, and it Is the imperative duty o
Congress to institute it upon such wis
and Just basis that it shall be directly unde
the control OF the sovereign people who pro
duce the value 1t Is designed to represent
measure and exchange, that il may be cor
rect and uniform standard Of value, and dis
tribute the products Of labor equtably be
tween capital AMI labor according to tn
service or labor performed in their produc
ton.
That the law enacting the so-called Ma
tional Banking system is a delegation b.
Congress OF the sovereign power to max
money and regulate les value to a class o
irresponsible banking associations, thereb
giving to them the power tie control the valu
Of nil the property 10 the nation, and to &.
the rewards Of labor in every department O
industry, and Is inimical to the spirit 0
liberty and subversive Of the principles o
justice ipon which our democratic repub
sicaa in ,tltutions are founded, ard withou
warrant 10 the Constitution justice, reason
and sound policy demands its immediate re
peal and the substitution of legal-tende
Treasury notes as the exclusive currency o
the nation.
That this money monopoly IT, the pG:en
Of all monopolies-the very root and essenc
Of slavary- railroads, warehouses and al
other monopolies, Of whatever kind or ma
ture, are the outgrowth Of and subservien
to this power, and the means used by II I,
rob the enterprising, industrial weaith-pro
ducing classes Of the products of their tai
ents and labor.
That as Government is instituted to pro
tect life and secure the rights Of property
each should share lite just and proper pro
portion Of the burthens and sacrifices
necessary for its maintenance and perpatui
tY, and that the exemption from TAXATION Of
bank capital and government bonds, bearinl
double and bankruptIng rates of interest, i
species Of dangerous and unjust class Leg
islation opposed to the spirit of our inssitu
tions, and contrary tothe principles Of SCUM
mortality and enlightened reason.
That our monetary, financial and reyenu,
laws are in letter and spirit opposed TO th,
principles Of freedom and equality upor
which our democratic. republican institntionl
are founded, there Is In all their provision.
manifestly studied design to shield non,
producing capital from its just proportion Of
the burthens necessary for the support O.
/ the Government, imposing them mainl OIL
the indastrisl wealth producing classes
\ thereby sondemning them to lives of un.
remunerated toll, dcpriving them Of the or
binary cenveniences and comforts Of life
| OF the time and means necessary for socia