The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-17
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Natisnal Labor Rsisrn IlIty

H843 NAf-A ttFIs " tNNA 50 49, II
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We bold thee tzntAe 20. ~ -srIf- ssidp.t-
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l<1esty and the purspit of happinsns; thaf !
70 secure these fighta goveFnnents axs in- |
stitptsd bmoek m{i{ de1v1nf thktt - |
BSwers from The consent 81 10 gotGsno1.
|, That thers m but twO purss f11as2 esgs |
ernnent, the Aatoerstic and the DsmoRaiie; |
under The former the win u Ne ioefsiduafl
sovereign IL the supreme law, under ths lss- |
toe the sovereignty y vested IN - whole |
p0Ople, all other forms being q modiGoasion
az the one or the ether % these principles,
and that ultimately one or The other of
these forms must prevail throaghcas I'll
civilized nations, and &. nov for the AMER
lean people "a deterunine shich Of these prin-
cipIes sha't triumph.
That the design Of the founders Of the ne
public was TO institute q government upon
/ the principle Of absolute inherent sovereign
~ Of the people, and that would give 70
each citizen the largest political and religi-
Gus liberty Compatible with the good order
of society, and secure to each the right to
enjoy the fruits OF hls labor and talents
that when laws are enacted destructive OF
these ends, they are without moral bindiag
force, aud II rs the right and duty Of the
people to alter, amend or abolish them, and
institute such others, founding them upon
the principles Of equity, o. 10 them may
seem most likely TO effect their prosperity
and happiness
Prudence will indeed dictate tn.s 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 sutferabe, shan TO change the
| forms and LEWIS 70 which they have been ac-
customed. But when q long train of legis-
Ave abuses, pursuing invariably the same
| object, eylnces design to subvert the spirit
of freedom and equality upon which our in
stitutions are founded, aud reduce them to
a state Of servitude. il 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 10 put forth an organized and united
effort for MAINTAINING their natural rights,
which are imperiiied by the insidious
schemes and unwGrranted aggression Of un-
\ scropulous bankers and osurers by means of
unwise and corrupt legislation.
We further hold-That all property OF
wealth Il the product OF physical or intel
lectual labor, emplo, ed in productive indus
try and in the distribution OF III. produc
tions Of labor; that laborsrs ought OF right,
aud would, under q just monetary system
receive or retain the larger proportion OF
their productions ; that the wrongs. oppres-
sions and desttution which laborers are SUIT
fering in most departments Of legitimate en-
terprise and useful occupation, do not re-
suit from insufficiency of production bat
from the unfair distribution OF the products
Of labor between non producing capital and
labor.
That money is the medium Of distribution
to n0u-producing capital and producing la
Dor, the rate Of interest dett rmining what
proportion Of the products Of labor shall be
awarded to capital for its use, aud what to
labor for its productions that the power to
make money and regulate its value 10 az
essential attribute Of sovereignty, the exer
else Of which Is by the Constitution OF tht
Unitoj States wisely ami properly gre ated t.
! Congress, and IL Is the imperative uuty o.
! Congress to institute it upon such a wiss
and Just basis that il shall be directly undel
the control OF the sovereign people who pro.
duce the value II Is designed to represent
measure and exchange, that it may he cor
rect and uniform standard Of value, and dis
tribute the products of labor equitably be-
tween capital an labor according to th,
service or labor perfor--ad in their produc
ton
That the law enacting the sO-called Ma
tIonal Banking system is delegation b.
Congress OF the sovereign power to max,
money and regulate its value to q class O
: irresponsible banking associations, thereby
' giving to them the power te control the valai
Of all the property in the nation, and to Ii,
the rewards Of labor in every department 0
industry, and is inimical to the spirit 0
liberty and subversive of the principles o
justice upon which our democratic repub
ilcaa institutions are founded, ard withou
warrant In the Constitution justice, reason
and sound policy demands ITS immediate re
peal and The substitution Of legal-tende
treasury rotes ~ the exclusive currency D
the nation.
Ths. this money monopoly is the paren
OF all monopolies-the very root and essen c,
OF siavary- railroads, warehouses and al
other mOnopolles, Of whatever kind or ma
ture, are the 0utgrowth Of and subser wien
to this power, and the means used by il /,
rob the enterprising, industrial weath-pro
ducing classes Of the pr odocts of their tai
It's and labor.
That as Government is instituted to pro
tect life and secure the rights Of property
each should share its just and proper pro
portion OF the burthens and sacrifices
niece ssary for its maintenance and perpetui
I tn and fhnR 81 e.
bank capital and government bonds, bearing
double and bankrupting rates Of interest, ID
a species Of dangerous and unjust class leg.
slation opposed to the spirit Of our institO-
tons, and contrary to the principles Of sound
mortality 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 cur democrats: republican institutions
are founded, thereis in all their provisions
manifestlya studied design to shield nou-
producing capital from its just proportion Of
the burthens necessary for the support OF
the Government, imposing them manly on
the industrial wealth producing classes,
thereby condemning them to lives OF un.
Temunerated toll, depriviDg them OF 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. Dz1
We further hold that while these I'M
righteous laws Of distribution rsmain. ID,
force, laborers cannot, BY any system Of
combination CT cooperation, secure their
natural rights. Thai che first and most i'm
portant step towards the establishment OF
the rights Of labor, 10 toe institution of
system Of true CO. operation between non
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 o power TO cen
tralise the wealth in the hands Of few
bankers, usurerss middlemen and non-pro-
dncers generally, it shall be power that
gwr Init