Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-09-18
National Labor Congress Platform in
Full.

WHlch lHc cicSiaph Sa'C oh'J sum
mary:
WHEREAS, 1t is not deemed advisable
to change or modify the existing declara-
ton of principles, but to reaffirm the
same; and, for practical use, enunciate
the substance thereof in more convenient
aud concise form, with some additional
resolutions and whereas, "All political
power is inherent in the people, and free
government founded on their authority
and established for their benefit" that all
frecmcn are equal in political rights and en-
titled to the largest political and religious
liberty compatible with the good order of
society, as also the use and enjoyment of
the fruits of their labor and talents; and
no man or set of men are entitled to ex-
elusive separate cmolumcnts, privileges, or
immunitics from the Government, but in
consideration of public services" and
any laws destructive of these fundamental
principles are without moral binding force
and should be repealed; to do so, how
ever, is difficult work when such laws or
usagcs are interviewer with pride, prcju-
dice aud sclishncss; besides, experience
shows that lahoring people are more than
others disposed to "suiicr while evils are
suffcrablc,' than to organize for their abo
| ltion; and, whereas, We are admonishcd
by the impcrilled rights of labor, through
out the United States, to organize and agi-
tate in our behalf. with the decree: In
| the sweat of the face shalt thou eat bread"
and the adage that the price of liberty
is eternal vigilance" cnthroncd in our
| hearts and cmblazoncd as notices on our
banners, assured Of success over corrupt
political schcmers, and the spectators and
bankers who arc prcying like harpics upon
the fruits of honest labor, and thus restore
to our political and social systems that
equilibrium of rights and justice so ncces-
sary to good government and domestic
tranquility therefore, be it
Resol,ra, That Eborcrs in all depart
mcnts Of useful industry arc suffering
from system of monetary laws which were
enacted during the war as measures. it is
assumed necessary to the life of the ma
ton, and which is now sought to be per-
| pctuatcd in the interest of bondholders
and bankers, as Il means to subvcrt the
Government of our fathers. and establish
on its ruins an empire in which all poit-
cal power shall be centralized to restrain
and opprcss the rights of labor. and sub.
ordinate its votaries to the mcrcilcss de-
mands Of aggregated capital and supcrcili-
GUS authority.
ResoIyed, That the National banking
system, being inimcal to the spirit of lib
crty, and subvcr>ivc to the principles of
justice, and without warrant in the Con-
Stitution of the United States, and wrong
fully increasing the burdens of the wealth
producing classes of millions of dollars
annually, justice, the aspirations of honest
industry, and the spirit of imperilled lib
erty, demand its immediate repeal, and the
substitution of legal tender notes as the
exclusive currency of the nation.
Rrsolred That the National Labor
Union is opposed to the continuation or
creation of banks by acts of Incorporation,
by either State or national authority, with
the privilege of making, issuing. or put
ting into circulation any notes, bills, or
other papers of any other bank, to crcu-
late as money, except the legal-tcnder
Treasury notes therein contemplated
Resolred, That the present rate of in
terest is in excess of, and disproportionatc
to the increase of national wealth, and
being the governing power in the distribu-
tion of the products of capital and labor,
is oppressive to the producing classes.
Resolved, That the revenue laws of the
United States should be altered so that,
instead of subordinating labor to capital,
they may afford just protection to labor
and the industrial interests of the whole
country.
Resolved, That the legal-tcnder money
should be made legal tender in the pay
ment of all debts, public and private, and
convertible, at the option of the holder,
into Government bonds, bearing interest at
the rate of three per cent. per annum, with
privilege to the holder to rcconvert the
bonds into money, or the money into bonds,
at pleasure.
Resolved, That the claim of the bond
holders, that the bonds which were bought
with greenbacks, and the principal of
which is by law payable in currency.
should nevertheless be paid in gold is un-
just and extortionate.
Resolred, That the exemption from tax
of bonds aud securities is violation of
the just principle of revenue laws.
Resolved, That land monopolies arc at
variance with the doctrine that sail free
men, when they form social compact are
equal in rights" and if persisted in, must
ultimately result in the subversion of free
institutions, as also the social and political
well-beiug of the laboring masses. To pre-
vent this calamity, the public lands adapt
ed to agriculture should be given, in rea-
sonable quantities, to none but American
citizens and such as have declared their
intentions to become citizens Individual
owners of extensive tracts of land should
be encouraged to dispose of the same in
small parcels, at reasonable prices, to sctu.
al settlers, that they mny thus become