The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-08-26
= rhe Nationa1 Lahor Conrress.

. The National Labor Congress.
This-Rodyxrepresentipg nearly 200
900 mem lbers belonging to- kdifersnt
National Labor Unions ins diferent
sections Of the coultry assembled At
Philadelphia last week. 1T IS an Of
ganization formed far self-profection
against the exactions of capital. A
platform of principles of which the
following is synopsis was unani-
meusly adopted:
That all political power is inherent
in the people, and tree government is
founded on -their ant harity and -estab-.
lished for their benefit.
That labofefs in all tile departments
of useful industry are suffering from
a system of monarchcial laws which
were enacted during the war as meas
nfes, it was assumed! necessary to the
life of the nation, and which are now
sought to, be perpetuated in the inter
ests of the bondholders. and bankers
to- subveft the government of our
fathers and establish on its ruin an
empire, in which all political power
will be centralized to restrain and op-
press the rights of labor and subordi-
nate its yotaries to the meFciless de-
nands of aggregated capital and SUI
Epercilious authority 'en ot tafE1f 2Gl
|. That the national banking; system
being inimical to the spirit of liberty
and snbversive of the principles, of
Justice, without warrant in the Con-
stitution of the United States,y and
wrohgfully increasing the burdens 'of
the wealth-producing classes millions
of dollars, justifies the .aspersions of
honest industry, and the spirit or i'm
perilled liberty demands its immedi-
atesrepeal, land the substitution of le-
gal tender notes as the exclusive cur
rency of the nation, 4. ..f..3 =. ..Jtt
That the National Labor Union is
opposed to the continuation and crea-
tion ofabanks by acts of Incorporation
by either State or National authority,
with privilege of issuing OF putting
IN circulation any notes, bills, or other
papers Of any other bank to circulate
as money except the legal tender
Ireasnry-nOtes therein contemplated.
- That the revenue lawstof the Unit
| ed States should be altered so that in
stead of subordinating labor to capi-
tai, they may afford Just protection to
labor, and to understand the interests
of the whole country.7Yu9 ybod iii
That the legal tender money should
| be made legal tender iii the payment
of all debts public and private, and
convertible at the option of the hold
er into Government bonds, bearing
interest at the rate, of three per cent:
] per annum, with the privilege to the
| holder to reconvert the bonds into
money, and MONEY into bonds, at his
pleasIre.n9d hnR 2nirfb 5ToG = tGsi
70 That the claim of the bondholders,
with green backs, and the principal of
which, is by law payable IL currency,
should never be less II paid in gold,
rs g9lasbG al9fI9E sidi i-2 J63Liss, 9ib.
The exemption, from tax aof bonds
and securities is a violation of the
principle of revenue laws. n
ii That land monopolies are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that all free
men, when they form a social COM
pact, are equal in rights, and if per-
sisted in must result in the subversion
of free institutions, as also of the So
cial and political weil-being of. the la
/ boring mass, gsytg ann i}flg ref
That as labor is the foundation and
cause of. National prosperity, it is
'|both the duty and to the interest of
1.-THE; Government to foster and protect
] it. Il Its Importance, therefore, de-
mands the creation of an Executive
Department of Government at Wash
isilgton, to be denominated a Depart
lnent of Legislature, which shall aid
1in protecting it tIaboVe all other. inter
rests.,odfri eni.eos 10 9rfi4ef q syal.
l That the National, Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption
4 of such measures among all GLASSES OF
j werkingmen, in all sections of the
country, as will. secure the adoption
of the eight hour system, and call up
lon their respective State Legislatures
4 to follow the example Of the National
Congress in recognizing eight hours
as legal days work. g9rd 1907 -rJ
d. j That political equality, being one OF
the cardinal principles of this organi.
zation, we therefore urge the full re-
4 storation of civil and political rights
to every American citizen, except such
as have been convicted OF felony ri
i The laboringg men. throughout the
country are beginning to understand
that the Government4isi being run in
the interests of the privileged clasae'
i of ebondhQldeFs, National Bankers anG
a New England manufacturers, and the!
Il are organizing for their own protec
Fon. aiilY! nniIisoQ I'D jsGi 32Ht, .