The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-09-10
Platform Of the National Labor Union

boilers"
Platform Of the National Labor Union.
WHEREAS, Ii is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration of
principles, but to reafirm the same; and, for
practical nse, enunciate the substance thereofin
a more convenient aud concise form, with some
additional resolutions and,
WHEREAS, "All political power IS inherent In
tile people, aud free government founded on
their authority aud established for their bene-
fit. !" that all frCemen are equal in political
nights, 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 ard talents and mo
man or set Of men are entitled to exclusive Sc
parate cmoluments, privileges or immunitIes
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binding force, and should be repealed.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. however, il a difficult work when such laws
or usages are interviewer with pride, prejndiced
and sc6shncsS. Besides, experience shows thas
laboring people are more than others disposet
Ito suffer while evils are sutfcrabIe" than organ
ze for their abolition; aud
WHEREAS, We are admonished by the imper-
A1u li-uts Oh ldD.I lNibuHuOuL Tue OultCu
States to organize and sgitate in our behalf,
with the decree, 81 the sweat Of the face shalt
thou cat bread and The adage that The price
OF liberty S eternal vigilance enthrOned in
cur hearts and emblazoued as m0ttos on our
banners, as ured Of success over corrupt pohti-
cal schemers, and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like harpies upon the fruits OF
honest labor, and thus restore 10 our political
and social system that equilibrium OF rights and
justice SO necessary 10 good government and
domestic tranquility, be il
Resolved, That the laborers in all depart
ments Of useful industry are suffering from
system OF monetary laws, which were enacted
during the late war, As measures il was assumed,
necessary to the life of the nation" which is
now sought to be pcrpetuated ia the interests OF
bOudholders ami bankers as a means To subycrt
the government Ut our fathers and establish on
its ruins an empire IN which al political power
shall be centralized To restrain aud Cypress the
rights Of labor, ana subordinate its yotaries %
the merciess demands of aggregated capital
Resolved, That the rate Of interest on money
is the governing power ~ the distribution OF
the products ot industry aud enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
IN excess and disIropOrtionate to the increase Of
the na,ioual wealth, and oppressive 20 the pro
duclng classes.
Resolved, That the national bankiug system
hcing inimical 70 the spirit Of liberty and sub
vcIsive of the principles OF justice, without war
rant ~ the constitution OF the United states,
and WtOngfully increasing The burdens OF the
wealth producing classes millions OF dollars an
nuIlly, Justice demands its repeal.
Resolved, That to provide true national
currency adapted 20 the genius Of our institu
lions aud the wants Of the business of the cOun-
try, the circulating notes Of the national banks,
and the present grcenbacks, which are not full
legal tender, should be Withdrawn from clrcula-
tion aud their place supplied with paper cur
roncy based on the wealth Of the nation; made
a legal tender 10 the payment of al debts, pub
Tic aud private declared the lawful money of
the United States and convertible at the plea
sure Of the holder into government bonds bear
ing . per cent. interest per annum, sub jet 10
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, as the OPP
ton Of the holder.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondhol1crs
for payment in gold OF thai class of indebt-
cdness known AZ 90 bonds the principal
of which is legally aud cqutably payable in law
full moneys dishonest and extortionate, and
hence we enter our solemn protest against any
departure from the original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
crcasiug the gold bearing and untaxed obGga-
tioLs Of the government.
Resolved, That Justice demands that the bur
dens OF the governments should be 80 adjusted
to bear equally on all classes and interests
and that the exemption from axatIoIr OF gov
ernmelt bonds bearing eNtortinonaue rates OF IN
tcrcst, i violation Of all just principles Of re-
venue laws
Resolved, That congress should modify the
tariff 50 to admit tree the necessaries OF life.
ard such articles Of common use as we can nei-
tNgr prOsiuea aiSR 10 Law duties tp
revenue, mainly npon articles Of luxury,and an
on such aruelcs Of manufacture As, we, having
che raw material in abundance, will devcio' the
resources OF the country; Increase The M nOer
OF factories; give employment to more a5or-
ers, maintain good ompensaton, cause he i'm
migration ol skilled labor, the lcssening fprices
TO consumers the creating of permanc Mt 10 ne
market cor agrieu!tuTal products, desnoJ the
necessity for the odiuus and Expensive system of
internal taxation, and will soon enable us to sue.
cessfully compete with the manufacturers Of Eu
rope IN the markets OF the world
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption or such
measures among all classes Of wsfkmen. in all
sections Of the countTy,as viii secure the adop-
ton OF the Eight Hour system, and calls npon
che respective state legislatures to follow the
example Of the National Congress IN rccoguiz-
ing eight hours as legal days work.
ANS0Ni'N"I Auot Tue presence III our country
OF Chinese laborfrs in large numbers is al evil
entailing want ard rs consequent train OF
misery andCumo 90 all other classes OF the
Ameri an peopk, and shcuh. be prevented, BY
by legislation.
Resolved, as labor il The foundation aud
cause q national prosperity, it is both the duty
aid interest OF the Government to foster and
protect It. lis Importance, therefore, demands
the creation OF an Executive Department Of
TIE Governma mt &C Washington, to be deuomi-
mated the Department 0; Labor, which shall aid
~ protecting 1t above all other interests.
Resolved. That the protection of hfe liberty
ard property are the three cardinal principles
OF government, and The first two more sacred
shau the latter: therefore, moreY necessary for
prosecuting vars shonld, as it is re- med, be
asse ased aud collected from the wealth Of the
coantiy, aud not be entailed as burden on pos:
tcIiJy
Resolved, That the public lands Of the United
States belong to the people, and should not be
soid 20 individuals, nor granted to corporations
but should DC held as a sacred trust for the beue-
a. OF the people, aud should be granted, free of
cos, to landless settlers only, in anou1ts not
exceeding 100 acrcs Of land
Resolved, That the treaty -makisg power OF
the government has no authority in the cossti-
rniHn % dispose Of the public .nds sishout
ihe joint sanction OF the Sen ite and House OF
Representatives.
FRUTr PUDDISGs.-Onc cup of molasses,
one Of chopped raisins, one of chopped
....A r. ~ NJ