The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-29

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Natieaal Labor Reform Party
On ghuEs1sv. Annnstd - 1897
We hold these trushs 70 be sslf-svident,
that I'll mon ere created eopal, hat theg are
ende esd by their 0rsates nth 6srkainf ina
tenable rights; that among them are life,
liberty and ths pursuit OF happiness; that
10 secure there rights governments af. in
stitutsd among men, dsnving their just
poWsrs from the consent Of the governed.
That tkers srs but two pure forms Of goy-
eminent. the Autooratic and the Democratic;
undsr the fcrmsr she viii Of the individual
sovereign i the sapfeme laN, under the LEI
Ger the sovereignty 10 vested In the who're
speopls. Ill oShsr FERNS beng nodlh9eon
% The one or The other .0f these prfndpies.
and that ultimately one on the other o.
these forms must prevail throughout ali
civilixed nations, and IL 10 nov Tor the Amer
iesn people TO determine which Of these prin-
ciples shall triumph.
That the design Of the founders OF the h.
public was TO institute u government upoa
the orfnciple Of absolute inherent sovsreign-
e az the people, and that would give TO
ssoh citiren the largest political and religi-
Gus liberty compatible with the good order
az society. and secure TO each the right 70
euioy the fruits of hir labor and tale a
hat when laws are enacted destrucs'.s Vt
thsse ends. they sre without moral bindin :
force. and Il Il the right and duty of the
psonia 10 alter. amend or abolish them, and
institute such others, founding them upon
80 than
seem most likely to effect their prosperity
and happiness.
Prudence will indeed dictate that iwPor
tant laws long established should NOT be
changed for light and transient causes, ana
experience has shown that the American
people are more disposed to suffer while
evils are siderable, than to change the
forms and laws to which they hare been 40
customed. But when q long train OF lcgisia-
tive abuses, pursuing invariably the same
object, evinces y design o subvert the spirit
of freedom and equality upon which our In
situations are founded, End reduce them 70
a state Of servitude, 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
prod uring classes OF the United States, and
such is now the necessity which constants
them to put forth an organized aud united
effort for maintaining their natural rights,
which are imperilled by the insidious
schemes and unwarranted aggressions Of
unscrupulous bankers and usurers by means
Of unwis~ and corrupt Legislation.
We further hoid-That all property OF
wealth is the product Of physical or intel
lectual labor, employed in productive indus
try and 10 the distribution of the produc-
lions of labor that laborers ought OF right
and would, under q just monetary system
receive or retain the larger proportion q
their productions; that the wrongs; oppres-
sions and restitution which laborers are sui
fering in most departments of legitimate en-
/ terprise and useful occupation, do not re
suit from insufficiency OF production bu
from the unfair distribution Of the products
| OF labor between non-producing capital anc
labor.
That money il the medium Of distribution
to nom producing capital and producing
labor, the rate of interest determining VIVA
| proportion Of the products Of labor shall b
awarded to capital for its use, and what Il
labor for it's productions; that the power y
mas money and regulate its value is 81
essential attribute of sovereignty, the exer
/ else of which is by the Constitution Of tn
1 United States wisely and properly granted Il
| Congress, and it rs the imperative duty 0
Congress to ins tute it upon such q wis
and lust basis thar it shall be directly unde
the control of the sovereign people who pro
duce the value it is designed to represent
measure and exchange, that it may be cor
rect and uniform standard Of value, and dis
tribute the products Of labor equitably bet
ween capital and labor according to tn
service or labor performed an their pro
duction.
That the Law enacting toe so-called Ma
tional Banking system is q delegation BY
Congress Of the sovereign power to max
money and regulate its value to class o
4 Irresponsible banking associations, thefeD.
giving to them the power " control the vAlu'
Of all the property in the nation, and 70 d.
the rewards Of labor in every department o
industry, and is inimical TO- the spirit o
liberty aud subversive Of the principles 0
Justice upon which our democratic rePub
lican Institutions are founded, and withou
warrant in the Constitution !; justice, reason
and sound policy demands its immediate re
peal and the substitution OF legal-tende
/ Treasury notes rs the exclusive currency o
the nation.
That this Or 1ney monopoly is the paren
of all monopoiies-the very root and essenc'
! of slavery-reilroad, warehouse and all othe
monopolies, Of whatever kind or nature, ar
the outgrowth of and subservient to tha
power. and the means used by it to rol
the enterprising, industrial wealth producing
classes Of the products of their talents and
labor.
That M Government 10 instituted to pro
tect lie and secure the rights Of property
each should share its Just and proper pro
portion of the burthens and sacrifices ne
cessary for It's maintenance and perpetuity
and thai the exemption from taxation o
bank capital and government bonds, bearing
double and bsnkrupting rates of interest, y
q species Of dangerous and unjust class le
gislation opposed to the spirit of cur insti
tutions, add contrary to the principles o
sound morality and enlightened reason.
That our monetary, foancIal and revenu,
laws are in letter and spirit opposed to tn
principles Of freedom and equality upoE
which our democratic republican institution
are founded. there IL in oil their provisions
manifestly studied design to shield non
producing capital from its just proportion o.
the burthens necessary for the support o
the Government, imposing thcm mainly or
the industrial weallh-producing classes
thereby con lemning them 70 lives Of IN
remunerated toll, depriving them OF the or
binary convtniences and comforts Of life
Of the time and means necessary for sOcia
enjoyment, intellectual culture and mora
Improvement and ultimately reducing then
to q state Of practical servitude.
We further hold that while these IN
righteous laws Of distribution Iemsin in
force, lsborers cannot, by any system o.
combination CT cooperation, secure theiI