The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-08
Platform of the National Labor Union

Platform OF the National LABOR union.
WHgREAs, Il is not deemed advisable to
change or modify tie existing declaration Of
principles but 70 reaffrm the same; and, for
practical nse enunciate the substance thereof in
more convenient and concise form, with some
additional resolutions and,
WHEREAS, IAN political power is inherent in
the people, aud free government founded on
their authority and establi shed tor their bene-
fl I" thu; all frremen equal in political
nights, and entitled to the largest political ana
religious liberty compatible WITH the good order
of society as also the use and the enjoyment Of
the fruits Of their labor and tllents 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 N and any laws destructive Of
these fundamental principles without moral
binding orce, and should be repealed To do
so, however, is a diff cult work when such laws
or u.ages are interviewer with pride, prejIdiced
and selfshness. Besides experience shows thAs
laborng people are more than others dispOset
TO suffer while evils are Enfferabe' than organ
TIE for their abolition; and
WHEREAS, We are admouishta by the imper-
He'd rights Of labor tbroughouG the United
States to organize and sgtste in our behalf
with the decree, IN the sweat Of the face shalt
thou eat bread, and the ad Ige that "Ihe price
Of liberty il etvrna. vigilance" enthrOned 10
our hearts ana emblazoned a. mottns on on.
banners, assured ~ success over corrupt politi-
cal schem ers ard the spectators and bankers
who are preyng like harpies upon the fruits of
honest labor, and thus restore 10 our political
and social system that equilibrium OF rights and
justice 80 necessary to good government and
domestic tranquility, be il
Resolved That the laborers in All depart
e 4 81, "a T,,r+yfy F-,v, a
system OF monetary laws, which were enacted
during the late war.as measures iE was assumed,
necessary 10 the life Of the nation" which Is
now sought to be peTpetuate1 in the interests OF
hondholders and bankers a. means to subvert
the government Of our fathers, and establish on
its ruins an empire IN which all political power
shall be centralized to restrain and oppress the
rights Of labor, and subordinate its votaries to
+ the merciless demands Of aggregated capital.
/ Resolved, That the rate OF interest on money
I is the governing power in the distribution of
the products Of industry ard enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
N excess and dispropOrtionate to the increase OF
the national wealth, and oppressive TO the pro-
ducIng classes.
Resolved, That the national banking system
being iuimical to the spirit of liberty and s.D-
versive Of the principles OF justice, without var
rant ia the constitution OF the United States,
aud wrongfuly increasing the burdens Of the
wealth producing classes millions Of dollars an
nuallv, Justice demands its repeal.
Resolved, That to provide true national
currency adapted 10 the genius of our institu-
lions and the wants OF Jne business of the cOun-
try, the circulating notes Of tile national banks
aud the present greenbacks, which are not tut
legal tender, should be Withdrawn from cIrcula
tion ard their place supplied 9th a paper cur
1 "A fha uuaaIfh off ha afin AZ
a legal tender 10 the payment of all debts, pub
lie and private; declared the lawful money o
the United States and convertible at the plea
sure Of the holder into government bonds bear
irg per cent. interest per aEnUm, sub ject U
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the OPP
ton Of the holder
Resolved, That the claim Of the bOndholder
for payment in gold Of that class Of iudebt
edness known as 5 - bonds, the princpa
Of which is legally and equitably PAYABLE in las
ful money-is dishonest and extortionate, an
hence we enter our solemn protest against an
departure from the original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
creasiug the gold bearing and untaxed oblga
tioLs OF the government.
Resolved, That Justice demands that the buI
dens Of the government should be SO adiuste
as to bear equally on all classes and interests
and that the exemption from taxation OF gov
ernment bonds, bearing extortinonAte rateso of il
terest is violation OF all just principles of re
venue laws.
Resolved, That congress should modify til
tariff 50 to admit free the necessaries Of life
ard such articles OF comm on use as We can mel
Their produce nor grow; also to lay duties fl
revenue, mainly upon articles Of Luxury, and al
on such articles Of manufacture rs, we, lavin
The raw material IN abundance will deveIop'1h
resources OF The oouatTy; Increase the humbe
of factories give employment to more labor
I ers, maintain good coupe .sation cause tEe in
migration Of skilled labor, the lesSening Of price
70 consumers, the creating OF permanent hon
market for agricu.turaI products, destroy ID
necessity for the odious and expensive system
ia,ernal taxation, and will soon enable US to SUI
cessfully compete with the manufacturers of 81
rope in the markets OF the world
Resolved, That the National Labor Congre:
earnestly recommend tie adoption of sue
measures among all classes Of workmen. in a
sections Of the country az will secure the adop
ton of the Eight Hour system, aud calls upo
the respective state legislatures to follow I'll
example Of the National Congress IN recogniz
ing eight hours as a legal DAYS work
Resolved, That the presence 10 our countr
{ Of Chinese laborers in large numbers il an ev
entailing want ard is consequent train (
misery aud crime on all other classes Of Ii
American people, and should be prevented, b
legislation.
Resolved, as labor is the foundation an
cause OF national prosperity, il il both the dui
and interest OF the Government 10 foster an
protect it Its Importance, therefore, deman,
: the creation OF an Executive Department.
the Governm mt at Washington, TO be demon
mated the Department OF Labor, which shall a
7, in protecting &C above all other interests.
Resolved, That the protection Of life, liber
/, and property are the three cardinal princpI
! Of government, and the first two more sacr,
thah>ihe latter; therefore, moreF necessary {
/ prosecuting wars should. as it is required,
2 assessed aud collected from the wealth of q
country, and not be entailed a. burden On pc