The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-08-27


Platform reported as follows:
PLATFORM.
WHEREAS, It is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing de claration Of
principles but TO reaf6rm the same; and, for
practical nse, enunciate the substance thereofiH
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-
Il !" that al freemen equal in political
rights. and entitled to the largest political an
religious liberty compatible with the good order
Of society, rs also the use and the enjoyment Of
the fruits Of their labor and tIlenis; and mo
man or set Of men are entitled TO exclusive. Sc
parate emOlumeuts 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binding force and shonld be repealed To do
SO, however is a difficult work When such laws
or usages are interviewer with pride, pre- iddces
and selfshRess Besides, experience shows that
laboHng people are more than others disposed
30 suff-r while evils are suheTable" than organ
ize for their abolition and
WHEREAS, We are admonished by the imper-
HE'D rights of iabor throughout tbs United
States to organize and sgitate il our behalf
with the decree an the sweat OF the face shalt
thou eat bread" and the adage that "Ths price
Of liberty is eternal vigilance" enthroned in
our hearts and emblazoned as mottos on our
banners as .ured OF success corrupt pOliti
cal schemers, and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like hsrpies upon the fruits OF
honest labor and thus restore TO our political
and social system that equilibrium OF rights and
justice necessary to good government and
domestic tranquility, be it
Resolved, That the laborers 10 all depart
ments Of useful Industry are suffering from
system Of monetary laws, which were enacted
during the late war az measures il was assumed,
necessary 10 the life Of the nation" which is
now sought TO be perpetuated in the interests OF
bondholders and bankers a means to subVert
the government Of our fathers, and establish on
It's ruins sn empire IN which all political power
shall be centralized to restrain and Cypress the
rights Of labor, aud subordinate its vOtaries to
the merciless demands of aggregated capital
Resolved, That the rate of interest on money
is the governing power in the distribution of
the products OF industry and enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
IN excess and disproportionate to the increase OF
the national wealth, and oppressive to the pro-
ducing classes
Resolved, That the national banking system
being inimicll to the spirit Of liberty and sub
vcrsive Of the principles Of justice, without war
rant in the constitution OF the United States,
aud Wrongfully increasing the burdens OF the
wealth producing classes millions of dollars an
nually, justice demands its repeal
Resolved, That to provide q true national
currency adapted 70 the genius of our institu-
tiOns and the wants of the business of the coun-
try, the circulating notes of the national banks,
and the present greenbscks, which are not full
lanai oh - - atRaula
tion ard their place supplied with a paper cur
rency based on the wealth of the nation made
legal tender in the payment of all debts, pub
lie and private declared the lawful money oil
the United States and convertible at the plea
sure OF the holder into government bonds bear
lus per cent. interest per annum, ject to
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the OPP
ton Of the holder
Resolved, That the clsim Of the bondholders
for payment in gold OF that class Of indebt-
edness known 90 bonds, the principal
q which is legally and equitably PAYABLE in law
full money-is dishonest and extortionste, and
nehce-~o enter eur solemn protest against any
departure from the original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in auy way in
creasing the gold bearing aud unIAAed Oblg@
uoLs OF the government.
Resolved, That Justice demands that the bur
deHs OF the government should be so adjusted
as To bear equally on all classes and interests
and that the exemption from ts1stion o. gov
ernmeat bonds, bearing extnrtinonate rates OF in
terest, is violation OF all just principles OF re-
venue laws
Resolved, That congress should modify thu
faTitt 50 to admit free the necessaries of life
ard such articles OF comm on use as we can mel
ther pre- duce nor grow also to lay duties FL
revenue, m,iniy upon articles Of luXuIy,and up
on such srucles Of manufacture as, We, having
the raw material IN abundance, will develop h
resources o. the country increase the numbe
o. factories; give employment to more labor
ere, maintain good compensation, cause the i'm
migration OF skilled labor the lessening of price.
70 consumers, the creating of q permanent home
market for agricultural products, destroy ths
necessity for the odious and expensive system oil
internal taxation and will soon enable US to cue.
ce--fully compete with the manufacturers OF Eu'
ToTe in the markets OF the world
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption of such
measures among all classes of Ikmen. 10 all
sections Of the country as will secure the sdop-
tion Of the Eight Hour system, and calls upon
the respective state legislatures to follow the
example Of the National Congress IN reeognz-
ing eight hours as legal days work
Resolved, That the presence in our country
ot Chinese !aborers in large numbers is an evil
tntsiling want aid ia consequent train OF
misery aud crime on all other classes OF the
American people, and should be prevented, by
by legislation.
Resolved, as labor is the foundation and
cause of national prosperity, it ia both the duty
and interest Of the Government to foster and
protect it. Its importance, therefore, demands
the creation OF an Executive Department Of
the Government Mt Washington, to be denomi-
mated the Department OF Labor, which shall aid
in protecting It above all other interests.
Resolved, That the protection Of life, libert]
and property are the three cardinal prrciplei
Of government, and the irst two more sacre(
Than 'he latter; therefore, NOR ey necessary fol
prosecuting wsIs shonld, as it is required bt
assessed aud collected from the wealth of tbk
country, and not be entaied as burden on poi
teritv.
Resolved, That the public lands Of the UL .ek
States belong to the people, and should not u
cold TO individuals, nor granted TO corporation
but should be held as sacred trust for the bend
a. Of the people, and should be granted, free II
co.'s, td;tftef7F9ts i +fs.eEs .eG}y G..amouHs nc
exceeding 100 acres of land.
Resolved, That the tresty-makiag power n
the government has no authority in the constik
tuition to dispose of" IL public lands without
the joint sanction of the Semitic and House ii
Representatives.
A CE-CANERoN, Illinois,
K. 0ILcHsIsT, Kentucky,
H. 0. sHELDoH, Missouri.
A. NJ. PuETT, Indiana,
9. p. CUMMINGS, MAssschusetk,
McsEs W. FIELD, Michigan, 4
JoHE STKEY, Pennsylvania. L
y. M. DAVIS Ohio.
hrs v. g. AILLARr, llIlnok.
Miss NJ. WALLBEIDoE, Mass. 1
W. y. DELAkY, California.
Nv. FHSLPs, Connecticut I
G. Kuhn. New York
SANUEL hYRss, Maryland
PKTkR IL. CLARK,* Ohio.
Excepting 81 10 the paragraph relating TO iSk
Of gTesnbsck currency. a
Mr.. Nelson, of Missour, moved thkt
in view of the vital importance Of Tie
NATTER the report of the Platform Cor J.
mittee be postponed until ten o'cloE k
tomorrow, and that in the meanthh be
the report be printed and copies pc
L