The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-03
Platform of the National Labor Union
TO BE CONTINUED. }

TO BE CONTINUED
Platform of the National Labor Union.
WHEREAS, 1t is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration of
principles, but TO reafirn the same and. for
practical use, enunCiate the substance thereof
in more convenient and 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 bene-
1T; that all freemen are equal in political
rights, and entitled TO the largest political and
religious liberty compatible with the good order
Of society, as also the use and the enjoyment Of
the fruits OF their labor and talents and no
man or set OF men are entitled 10 exclusive, sep.
arate emoluments, privileges or immunities
from the government, but in consideration of
public services 4 and any laws destructive of
these fundamental principles are without moral
binding force, and should be repealed. To do
so, however, is a difficult work when such laws
or usages are interviewer with pride prejudice
and selfshness. Besides, experience shows that
laboring people are more than others disposed
" to -utfer while evils are siderable" than or
ganize for their abolition and
WHEREAS, We are admonished BY the imper.
illed rights OF labor throughout the United
States TO organize and agitate 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" enthroned in
our hearts and emblazoned as notices on our
banners, assured of success over corrupt pOliti-
cal schemeIs and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like harpies upon the fruits Of
honest labor, and thus restore to our political
and social system that equilibrium Of rights and
justice 50 necessary to good government and
| domestic tranquility, be it
! Resolved, That the la5orers in all dep rtments
Of useful industry are suffering from a system
Of monetary laws, which were enacted during
the late wal, as measures, it was assumed, nee
essary to the life of the nation" which is now
sought to be perpetusted in the interest OF
! boDdhoiders aud bankers a. a means to su5vert
the government of our fathers and establish on
It's ruins an empire III which all political power
shall be centralized to restrain and Cypress the
rights of labor and subordinate its votaries to
| the merclless demands Of aggregated capital.
! Resolved That the rate OF interest on money
is the governing power 10 the distribution OF
the products Of Industry aud enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
in excess and dispropOrtionate to the increase
Of the national wealth., and oppressive 70 the
producing classes.
! Resolved. That the national banking system
being inmca to the spirit Of liberty and sub
versive Of the principles of Justice, without war
rant i'll the constitution Of the lInitAd-f5s4tes
aud wrongtully increasing Tue burdens Of the
wealth producing classes millions Of dollars an
nually, Justice demands its repeal.
:, -ReaS0lTed, That to provide a true nAtiona
currency adapted TO the genius of our institu-
tons and the wants of the business Of the couH
try, the circulating notes of the national banks
and the present greenbscks, which are not a full
lea al tender, should be Withdrawn from circula
ton and their place supplied with paper cur
rency based on the wealth OF the nation made
a legal lender IN the payment OF all debts, pub
lie and private declared the lawful money o
the United States and convertible at the plea
sure Of the holder Tito government bonds bear
ing per cent. interest per annum, subject tC
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, At the op-
ton Of the holder
Resolved That the claim Of the bondholder.
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
ess known as go bonds, the principal o
which is legally and equitably payable in Lawful
MONEYS dishonest and extortiohate anC
hence We enter our solemn protest against any
departure from the original contract, by fua d
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
creasing the gold bearing and untaxed obliga-
| tons OF the government.
Resolved, That justice demands that the bur
dens of the government should be so adjusted
AS TO bear equally on all classes and Interests
and that the exemption from taxation Of gov
eminent bonds, bearing extortionate rates o.
interest, is a violation OF al Just principles o.
revenue laws.
| Resolved, That congress should mod the
taIlf so as to- admit free the necessaries Of life
and such articles of common use as we can mel
Their produce nor grow also to lay duties fol-
revenue mainly upon art cles of luxury and up
on sucn articles of manu- etJre as-we having
the raw material in al an ance-will develop
the resources of the country, increase the NUN
Der of factories, give employment to more la
5OreTs, maintain good compensation, cause the
immigration OF skilled labor. the lessening OF
prices to consumers, the creating Of perma
nent home market for agricultural products,
destroy the necessity for the odiOus and e1pen-
! sIve system Of internal taxation, and will soon
enable US to successfully compete with the man
uiacturers Of Europe in the markets of the
world.
! Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption Of such
measures among all classes Of WOrkmen, in all
sections of the country, as will secure he adOp
ton Of the eight hour system, and call upon the
r. spective state legislatures to follow the eX-
ample OF the National Congress ia recognizing
eight hours az legal Gays Work.
Resolved, That the presence in our country
Of Chinese lsborers in large numbers is an evil
entailing want and its consequent train Of mis-
cry and crime Oh all other classes Of the
American people, and should be prevented by
legislation.
Resolved, A labor is the foundation and
cause OF national prosperity, il is both the duty
and interest OF the government W foster and
protect it. Its Importance, therefore, demands
the creation OF an Executive Department of the
government at w ashing ton, to be denOmiDated
the Department of Labor, which shall aid in
protecting it above all other interests.
Resolved, That the protection Of life, liberty
aud property are the three cardinal principles
of government, and the first two more sacred
than the latter; therefore, money necessary for
prosecuting wars should, as it is required, be
assessed and collected from the wealth OF the
country, and not be entailed as burden on
pOsterity.
Resolved, That the public lands Of che
United States belong to the people, and should
not be sold TO individuals nor granted 70 cor
pOrations, but should be held as a sacred trust
for the benefit Of The people and should be
granted free Of cost 10 landless settlers only, ID
amounts not exceeding 100 acres Of lnnd.
Resolved, That the treaty-makibg power Of
the government has no authority ID the consti-
tuition to dispose Of" the public lands without
the joint sanction of the Senate and House of
Representatives.