The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-23

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PLATFORM
OF THE
LABOR REFORM PARTY.
WHKRxAs, II is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration Of
principles, but 10 re-afiirm the same, and for
practical use enunciate the substance thereof
ina more convenient and concise form, with
some additional resolutions; and,
WHEREAS, All political power 10 inherent
IN the people, and free government founded on
their authority and established for their bene-
ct that all free men are equal in political rights,
and entitled to the largest political and religi-
GUS liberty compatible with good order Of so
ciety, as also the use and enjoyment Of the
fruits Of their labor and talents. and no man or
set of men are entitled 10 exclusive, separate
emolments, privileges or immunitIes from the
government, but Ia consi leration Of public
service and any laws destructive of these fun
damental principles are without moral bird
ing force, and should be repealed. To do so,
however, is difficult work, where such laws
or usuages are interviewer with pride, preiudi-
ces and selfshness- Besides, experience shows
that laboring people are, more than others, dis
posed to suffer while evils are siderable, than
to organize for their abolition; and,
WHEREAS, We are admonished by the i'm
perillsd rights of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agitate 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 ID eternal vigilance" en-
throned in our hearts and emblasoned as 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 to
our political and social system that equilibrium
Of rights and justice 90 necessary to good
government and domestic tranquility there
fore, be il
Resolved, That laborers In all depart
ments of useful industry are suffering from q
system Of monetary laws which were enacted
during the late war, as measures, It was as
sumed necessary to the life Of the nation, and
which is now sought TO be perpetuated ia the
interest of bondholders and bankers as means
to subvert the government of our fathers, and
establish on its ruins an empire, 10 which all
POAhSiCaA pOWCt SuuAA Do couGE2At8oU 70 TSBbFuH
and Cypress the rights oflabor, and subordinate
its votaries to the merciless demands Of aggre-
gated capital and superscIllious authority.
Resolved, That the National Banking system,
being inimical to the spirit Of liSerty, and sub
versive to the prenciples of justice, and without
warrant in the Constitution of the United
States, end wrongfuIly increasing the burdens
Of the wealth producing classes millions of dol
lars annually, justice, the aspirations Of honest
industry, and the spirit ofimperilled liberty de-
mand its immediate repeal and the substitu-
ton of legal tender notes as the exclusive cur
rency Of the nation.
Resolved, That the National Labor Union"
il opposed to the continuation and creation OF
banks by acts Of Incorporation, by either State
or National authority, with the privilege Of
making, issuing, or putting in circulation any
notes, bills, or other psper Of any other bank
to circulate as money, except the illegal
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 the
producing classes.
Resolved, That the revenue laws of the
United States should be altered 80 that instead
of subordinating labor to capital, they NAV
afford just protection to labor and the indus
trial interests of the whole country
Resolved, That the legal terder money
should be made legal tender in the payment
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 reconvert the bonds into money or the
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 by law nav
able in currency, should nevertheless, be paid
Ia gold, Ia unjust and extortionate.
Resolved, That the exception from tax Of
bonds and securities, is q violation Of the lust
principal of revenue laws.
Resolved, That land monopolies are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that all freemen when
they form q social compact are equal in rights"
and If persisted in, must ultimately result In the
subversion of free institutions, also the social
and political well-belng of tile lAooring masses.
To prevent this calamity, the public lands
adapted to agriculture should be given, in rea-
sOnable quantities, to none but American citi-
z4Ds, and such as have declared their intention
10 become citizens. Individual owners OF ex
L. i've tracts of lard should be encouraged to
dispose Of the same in small parcels, at reasona.
bic prices to actual settlers, that they may thus
become identified with the soil, az responsible,
intelligent citizens.
Resolved, That it is a duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, to guard with vigilant
care the delicate and sacred rights of the
daughters of toll who are engaged in various
industrial pursuits sndwe solicit their hearty CO.
operation in our efforts to vindicate the rights
of the laboring classes, while we pledge them,
in return, our individual and undivided SUP.
port.
Resolved, That religion, mora 'ity, and knowl-
edge, being necessary to success, schools and
other means of education should be encouraged,
such as the formation of labor unions, mo
chanics' institutes, lyceums, reading rooms, and
whatever additional agencies may hereafter be
and intelligence.
Resolved, That as labor is the foundation
and cause of national prosperity, it is both the
duty and interest of government to foster and
! rotect it, Its Importance, therefore, demands
The creation of an Executive Department Of
the Government at Washington, to be de.
nominated the Department Of Labor, which
shall aid in protecting it above all other in
terests.
Resolved, That the protection Of life, liberty,
and property, are the three cardinal principles
OF government, and the two first more sacred
than the latter therefore, money necessary for
assessed aud collected from the wealth Of the
country, and not be entailed as burden on
posterIty.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption Of such
measures among all classes of workmen, in all
sections of the country, az will secure the adop-
ton Of the Eight Hour system, and calls upon
the respective State Legislatures to follow the
example Of the National Congress, in recog-
nizing eight hours as a legal days work.
Resolved. That voluntary associations OF
workingmen and women are entitled, at the
hands Of legislation, State and National, to the
same chartered rights and privileges granted to
associated capita, and we demand their practi-
cal recognition and enforcement.
Resolved, That we would urgently 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
vhole communitV that A reform should ha &c