The workingman's advocate., 1870-04-16

enaS iuny D0 s1Aeu aS bue
ordinary rate.
PLATFORM
OF THE
L BOR REFORM PARTY,
WHEREAs. It Is not deemed advisable To
change or modify the existing decIarstion N
principles, but to re-aflrm the came. and fos
practical rec enunciate the substance thereof
In more convenient and concise form. with
come additional resolutions; and.
WHxRfAs, All political power is inherent
IN the people, and free government founded on
their authority and established for their bene-
ht that all free men are equal ia political rights
and entitled to the largest political and reliRi-
Gus liberty compatible with good order of 60
ciety, as also the use and enjoyment of the
fruits Of their labor and talents, and no man OF
set Of men are entitled TO exclusive, separate
emolments. privileges or immunities from the
government, but in consi ieration of public
service; and any laws destructive Of these fun
damental principles are without moral bind
ing force, and should be repealed. TO do 20,
however, is difficult work, where such laHs
or usuages are interviewer with pride, prejudi.
ces and sel6shnees Besides, experience SHOWS
posed to suffer while evile are sufferable, than
to organize for their abolition: and,
WHEREAs, We are admouished by the i'm.
perilled rights Of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agitatc in our own be-
half with the decree, in the sweat Of the face
shalt thou eat bread. and the addage that
/" The price Of liberty is eternal vigilance" On.
throned in our hearts and embla soned n mot
toes on our banners, assured of success over
corrupt political schemes, and the spectators
and banker who are preying like harpies upon
the fruits Of honest labor, and thus restore 70
our political and social system that equilibrium
of rights aud justice 90 necessary to goOd
government and domestic tranquility there
fore, be it
Resolved, That laborers in all depart
ments of useful industry are suffering from .
system OF monetary laws which we're enacted
during the late war, ~ measures, it was As
sumed necessary to the life OF the nation. aOd
which 10 now sought to be perpetuatsd IN the
interest Of bondholders and bankers a. q means
to subvert the government of our fathers, and
establish on its ruins IN empire, in which al
political power shall be centralised 10 restrain
and oppress the rights oflabor, and subordinate
its votaries to the merciless demands of aRgre
gated capital and superscIllious authori.y
Resolved, That the Nationsl Banking system
being inimicAl to the spirit Of Ii serty, and sub
versive to the prenciples Of justice, aud without
warrant in the Constitution of the United
States, end wrongfully increasing the burdens
of the wealth producing classes millions Of dol
lars annually, justice, the aspirations Of hcnes
industry, and the spirit of imperilled liberty de
msnd its immediate repeal and the substitu
ton of legal tender notes a. the exclusive cur
rency Of the nation. s
Resolved, That the "National Labor Union
is opposed to the continuation and creation o
banks by acts OF incorporation, by either Stat,
or National tuthority, with the privilege o
making, issuing, or putting in circulation am
notes, bills, or other paper Of any other banl
to circalste as money, except the " lega
tender Treasury notes therein contemplated
Resolved, That the present rate Of interest il
in excess Of, and disproportionate TO the in
crease of national wealth, and being the gov
erning power in the distribution Of the pro
ducts Of capital and labor, 10 oppressive to th,
producing classes
Resolved, That the revenue laws OF th,
United States should be altered 90 that, instea,
of subordnatlng labor to capital, they ma,
afford just protection to labor and the indus
trial interests OF the whole country.
Resolved, That the legal terder none,
4 D3Vw0n
Of all debts, public and private, and convertibl
1T the option of the holder into Goverumen
bonds, bearing interest at the rate Of three pe
cent per snnum, with privilege tn the holde
| to reconvert the bonds into money or tn
money into bonds, at pleasure.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondholders
that the bonds which were bought With green
backs, and the principal of which is bv law pay
able in currency, should nevertheless, be pai
Ia gold, is unjust and extortionate.
Resolved, That the exception from tx Q
bonds and securities, is q violation Of the jus
principal Of revenue laws.
Resolved, That land monopolies are at vari
ance with the doctrine that all freemen whe
they form social compact are equal.in rights
and If persisted 10, must ultimately result in th
subversion Of free institutions, as also the socIa
and political well being Of the lAboring masses
To prevent this calamity, the public land
adapted to agriculture 'houd be given. in rea
sonabe quantities., to none but A uerican citi
zene, and such ss have declared their intention
TO become citizens. Individual owners Of ex
tensive tracts of lard should be encouraged 4
dispose of the same in small parcels, at reasOna
bic prices, to actual settlers, that they may thu
become identified with the soil, az responsible
intelligent citizens.
Resolved, That it is q duty which should b
exercised With pleasure, 20 guard with viqilan
care the delicate and sacred rights o. tn
daughters of toll who are engaged in variou
industrial pursuits, ,Andwe solicit their hearty co
operation in our efforts TO yindicate the right
Of the Iaboring classes, while we pledge them
in return, our individual and undivided sup
port
Resolved, That religion, morality, and knowT
edge, being necessary to success, schools an,
other means Of education should be encouraged
such as the formation of labor uniona md
chanics' institutes, lyceums, readipg-rooms an.
whatever additional agencies may hereafter b,
deemed conductive to the cause Of mOrAIit,
and intelligence.
Resolved, That as labor 10 the Eoundasio,
and cause Of national prosperity, it in both IN,
duty and interest Of government TO foster an,
IrOtect IT, Its importance, therefore, demand
the creation Of an Executive Department q
the Government at Washington, 70 be de
nominated the Department n Labor. whicI
shall aid in protecting it above al other iu-
tereets.
Resolved, That the protection Of life. liberty
and property. are the three cardinal principle
of government, and the two frst more sacref
than the latter therefore, money necessary fo
prosecuting wars shonld, 90 it n REQUIRED. h,
assessed and collected. from the wealth of tb,
country, and not be entailed % burden o.
posterlty.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption of such
measures among all classes Of workmen, In al
sections Of the country, a win secure the adoD
tion Of TIE Eight Hour system, and calls upon
the respective State Legislatures to follow che
example Of the National Congress, In recoR
nizing eight hours 40 legal days work
Resolved, That voluntary associations o.
woIkiDgmen and women are entitled, AZ the
hands of legislation, State and National, to the
same chartered rights and privileges granted "a
associated cspltsi, and We demand their practi-
cal recognition and enforcement.
Resolved, That we would arg. ntIy call The
attention Of the industrial classes to the subject
Of tenant houses and improved dwellings, be
lieving it to be essential to the welfare Of the
whole community that q reform should be ef-
fer ed in thla rAanAck the - n.