The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-22

LN 41W 0V4UA
On Tnanpavs Asgust ~. lee5s
We hold tkese truths 10 bs self-svidsnk
hat al men ere created eQunl, that they ~
endowed ~ thdr Orsssor with csrtxin iear
tenable rights thsk among them ass We,
liberty and The pursuit Of happiness; thai
v secure thee rights governments are in
stituted among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent 81 tine governed.
That thars are bus two pure forms Of gov
erument, Inc Autocratic and the Democratic;
under the former the win Of the individual
sovereign 10 the suprsue Law, under the lat
ter TIC sovereignty 10 vested in the whols
people, all other forms being modification
aud that ultimately one or the other %
these forms must prevail throughout all
civilzed nations, and Il Il nox for the Amer
lean people TO determine which OF these prin-
ciples shsll triumph.
That the design Of the FOUNDERS OF the Re
public was to institute government upon
the principle Il absolute inherent Sovereign
" OF the peoria, and that would give %
each citizen the largest political aad religi-
Gus liberty compatible with the good order
OF society, and secure to each the right 70
enjoy the fruits OF HE labor and talents !;
that when laws are enacted destructive Of
these ends, they sre without moral binding
force, and it Is the right and daty Of the
people to alter. smend or abolish them, and
institute such others, founding them upon
the principles of equity, as 70 them may
seem most likely 30 effect their prosperity
and happiness.
Prudence will indeed dictate that iDpor
tant laws long established should nos be
changed for light and transient causes, and
experience has shown that the American
people are more disposed 10 suffer while
evils are siderable, than to change she
forms and laws to which they have been ac-
customed. But when u long train of legisla-
tive abuses, pursuing invariably the same
object, evinces design to subyert the spirit
of freedom and equality upon which our in
situations are founded, md reduce them TO
a state of servitude, it is their right-it Is
their duty to abolish such laws and provide
new guards for their future security. Sueh
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 organised and united
effort for maintaining their natural rights,
which are imperilled by the insidious
schemes and unwarranted aggressions OF
INSCRIPTIONS bankers and usurers by means
of unwise and corrupt legislation.
We further hold-That all property or
wealth is the product of physical or intel
lectual labor, employed in productive indus
try and in the distribution Of the produc-
tions Of labor that laborers ought Of right,
aud would, under n just monetary system
receive or retain the larger proportion Of
their productions; that the wrongs, oppfes-
sions and destitution which laborers are suf-
fering in most departments of legitimate en-
terprise and useful occupation, do not re-
suit from nsuficiency of production but
from the unfair distribution Of the products
Of labor between non producing capital and
labor.
That money is tae medium of distribution
to on-producing capital and producing
labor, the rate Of interest determining what
proportion Of the products OF labor shall b
awarded to capital for its use, and what to
labor 70 its productions that the power to
make money and regulate its value IN an
essentia attribute Of sovereignty, the exer-
else Of which is by the Constitution of the
United States wisely and properly granted to
Congress, and it rs the imperative duty oil
Congress to institute it upon such q wise
and just basis that 1t shall be directly under
the control OF the sovereign Pc pie who pro
duce the value it is designed to represent
measure and exchange, that it NAV be cor.
rect and uniform standard Of value, and dIs-
tribute the products Of labor equltably bet
ween capital and labor according to the
service or labor performed IN their pro-
duction.-
That the Law enacting the so.called Ma.
tional Banking system 10 a delegation by
Congress of the sovereign power TO make
money and regulate its value TO q class a
irresponsible banking associations, thereby
giving to them the power to control the value
Of all the property in the nation, and to fix
the rewards Of labor in every department ol
industry, and is inimical 10 she spirit 4oi
liberty and subgersive Of the principles Of
justice upon which our dem cratic repub-
lican institutions are founded, and without
warrant IN til. Constitution justice, reason
and sound policy demands its immediate re-
peal and the substitution of legal-tender
Treasury notes as the exclusive currency OF
the nation.
That this money monopoly is the Spareni
OF all moRopolies-the very root and essence
of slavery-rsiiroad, warehouse tnd all other
monopoIes, Of whatever kind or nature, eare
the outgrowth Of and subserpent to this
power, and the means used by 1t to rob
the enterprisiDg, industrial wealth producing
classes Of the products of their mleuts and
labor.
That rs Government 10 instituted to pro-
tar ltfo nd tka ws- -
each should share rs just and proper pro-
portion Of the burthens and sacrifices ne
cessary for its maintenance and perpetuity,
and that the exemption from taxation OIL
bank capital and government bonds, bearing
double and bankrupting rates Of interest, i
species OF dangerous and unjust class L.
gislation opposed to the spirit of eur insti-
buttons, and contrary to the principles Of
sound morality and enlightened reason.
That our monetary, financial and revenue
laws are in letter and spirit opposed to the
principles of freedom and equality upon
which our democratic republican institutions
are founded. there is in all their provisions
manifestly . studied design to shield non.
producing capital from its just proportion OF
the burthens necessary for che support Of
the Government imposing them mainly on
tue industrial wealth-producing classes,
thereby condemning them to ares Of IN.
remunerated toll, depriving them o. the or
binary conveniences and comforts Of life :
of the time and means necessary for social
enjoy ment, intellectual culture and moral
Improvement; and ultimately reducing them
to state Of practical servitude.
We further hold that while these un-
righteous laws OF distribution remain in
foscs. laborers cannot, BY any system Of
combination CT corporation, secure their
natural rights. That the first and most i'm
portant step towards the establishments Of
The rights Of labor, 10 the institution Of a
system of true cooperation between n0n-
producing capital and labor. That to effect
this most desirable object, money, the medi-
um Of distribution to capital and labor,must
be instituted upon such wise and Just prin-
ciple that instead Of being power to cen
tralise the wealth in the hands Of few
bankers, usurers, middlemen and non pro-