The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-10

laborers working at low wages, the needs Of
tho people, mind / do not say the demands,
being not fully supplied, there is a most
unnatural condition Of things, growing out
Of the same monstrously defective govern
mental system, that protects the ali de-
vcuring avarice Of the wealthy against the
Justly expressed Indignation Of the work
ing people, and acts as an incentive to dis
honest public servants inclined to the NAL
administration of trusts.
Ii holds further that we are indebted to
our vast natural resources. the COMPARE
tive virginity of our soil, and the youth Of
cur government, for even the little that 10
vouchssfed us as workers, inadequate and
iuequitable as that is, for though our mon
led men are such governmsndizing Shy
locks as the world has never seen, they
have not yet bad time to absorb it all, or
reduce us quite to the pitiable condition Of
the Euro can laborer.
1t was in considering how this otherwise
inevitable end might be averted that the
platform, the demands Of which are thus
distinctly and succinc'ly stated, was first
conceived.
No legislation comforting any special
privileges, exclusive rights permitted to one
person, or any number OF persons, being
necessarily burdensome to all others.
No usury. that practice being the most
hellish Of all political denominations.
A cheap money, which means much less
to capital, and much more to the laborer.
No especial franchise to corporations.
No Banks Of Issue. The people as a
government can make better and a cheap
er medium.
Lands for the landless poor, but not an
acre for subsidy.
Eight hours for days work.
No greasy heather workmen at few
pennies day, rat diet and kennel accom-
modations. No contract Chinese. No sla-
very in any guise.
No gold to the bond holder and paper to
the pensiOned soldier, but the one money
Tor the whole people.
No untaxed bonds.
Protection to American labor as VeH
against the unsuitable dUdyice of the
peaLthy here, as against the competition of
the so-called .panper labor OF Europe.
In time Of war a drafted money as well
as a drafted army.
A labor department at the Capitol en-
powered to assist cooperative enterprise, pro-
vide for the arbitration difficulties between
employer and employed, and generally to
look alter the interests Of the working peo-
pie.
Each of these demands | consider alike
credltable to the honor and sagacitv Of
their originators, and their enforcement. es-
sential to our well-being as a people. You
have the power after having carefully dis
sected and digested them, and found the
basis upon which they rest. to be iBcontrO-
vertible political truths to prove to your
selves how injudicious has been you indif-
ferdnce to the great value Of a free bal
lot
Having 3ngrafted each principle into
your laws, you will find that political pref
erence will cease to be the delicious morsel
it now is. You will learn that pol tician
can be an honest man, and that laborer
is the first Of. natures noblemen. You will
find that the Office will seek the man, and
not the man the Office, rs is now the Gaze.
You will witness a cessation Of the disgrace
full political conflicts which are now almost
unsufferable periodical infections, and you
will have dispossessed yourself of the fear
you now entertain that in teaching our
youth til science Of politics, YOU are SOW
ing tares in their pliable minds, to take root
and grow up, and make them vicious and
dlscordant elements among your successors.
Above all this gentlemen, you will have
throttled monopoly, bound the hands Of the
avarcious, insured to the worker fair share
Of the products Of bis toll, his OWn By az
Uine right, annihilated horde of political
tIicksters, money grabbers and money
shavers, whose breath is a moral infection,
and crowned labor king of your continent.
DO not think am at all to sanguine in
my expectations. These results are perfect
ly demonstrable. Study for yourselves the
channel Of the workings of our proposition,
and help us pilot the good ship Of state, and
embarking in the hour of adversely and my
word for I'VE t0iH attain the other end where
there is nothing but peace and prosperity.
The ballot, in the hands Of united work.
ing people, is a spectacle at which the stout
est and most consunmate Of tyrants may BE-
well quail. 1t is a power stronger than an
army, and with it, let us reconstruct socie
ty, and reiDvest labor with the dignity il in
herited from Christ and bis APOSTLES Mon.
Ely is the tyrant whose detbroncment w
aim at. With our ballot, regarding oul
candidates merel, as the embodiment Of ouI
principles, let us choose who are best suited
10 the honor Of snatching away bis sceptre
and the deed is done in the maiden effort
The following resolutions were the1
adopted:
WHEREAS, IL must needs TO the most ordn a
~ mind be manifest that where there exist.
laws tending directly or indirectly or an absence
Of rdequate legal safeguards against the pio
accumulation and Capitalization OF wCalh, q
dearth Of employment, low wages, and poverty
are enevits6ly entsied upon the many v no la,
Dor Tor living and,
WHEREAS, In our vicious monetary system
and the heniOus legislation for which it has
b en- deemed an ample excuse. We recognize an
esse niial inducements to bribery, corruption and
fraud among law makers; a cloak to usury, and
tacit ccuntei ance of the tyranny OF employ
ers and "ncuitd .ords'-great and crying evils
sadly IN need OF reformation, there fore, be it.
Resolved That we earnestly call upon every
bona hde Workingman to make patient and
afeful study of our monetary svatern tn axar
else an ever vigilant surveillance over tee acts
OF their public servants, and to possess tbs m
relves of a know ledge OF the platform Of the
National Labur Union, claimed to contain the
receipt OF sovereign remedy for all the null
titude OF deficiencies Astounding in our laws
and,
Resolved, That We recommend workinEmen
to divest Themselves oil all partisan pr, JUDGES,
and carefully and thoroughly to canvass the
propIiety and feasibility Of the projected lorna.
tiOn Of the National Labor PRIV, Its principles