The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-05-27
Platform of the National Labor Union.


Platform of the National Labor Union,
WHKRKAs, II is net deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration OF
principles, bot 70 resfarn she same and, for
practical use, enunciats the substance thereof
| in more convenient and concise form, with
some additional reselasioas and,
WHEREAS, IAN political power is inherent
in the people, and frss government founded on
their authority and established fer their bene-
Ct !" that all freemen are equal in political
rights, and entitled % the largest political and
religious liberty compatible with the good order
| Of society az also the use and the enjoyment of
| che fruits Of their labor and tAleEts; and mo
man or 30 II mon sfs entitlsd 70 exclusive, sap
arete emolumcnts, privileges or immunities
from ne government, but In consideration Of
public services" aad any laws destructive of
thess fundamental principles are without moral
binding force, and should be repealed. To do
%, however. 10 dinicult work when such laws
or usages are interviewer with pride, pref udice
and seifsADess, Besides, experiences shows that
laboring people are more than others disposed
to suffer While evils are saiferable" than or
gsniss for their sbolition; and
K WHTREAs, We are admonished by the imper-
He'd rights Of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agiIate in our behslf,
With the decree, "ln the sweat of the face shalt
thou eat bread" and IL. adage that Tue price
Of liberty is eternal vigilance" enthroned in
our hearts and embla zoped Is NOTICES on our
banners, assured of success over corrupt politi-
cal schemers and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like harpies upon the fruits Of
honest labor, ,ana thus restore 90 eur political
and social system that equilibrium of.rights and
justice so necessary TO good government and
domestic tranquility, be il
Resolved, That the iaoorers in sl1 department .
useful industry are suffering from system
of monetary laws, which were enaeted during
the late war, as measures, il was assumed, "nec
essary to the fife of the nation," whiehis now
sought to be perpetaased IN the interest Of
stockholders and bankers a. q means to subyert
the government Of our fathers, and establish on
its ruins an empire in which all political power
shall be centralixed to restrain and Cypress the
rights Of labor, and subordinate its v0tariss to
the merciless demands Of aggregated capital
Resolved, That the rate of interest on money
il the Cove rning power 10 the distribution OF
the products Of industry and enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
in excess and disprop0rtionate to the increase
Of the natienal wealth, and oppressive to the
producing classes.
Resolved. That the national banking system
being inimical TO the spirit of liberty and sub
verdve Of the principles ofjustice. without war.
rant in the constitution OF the United States,
and wrongfully increasing the burdens OF the
wealth producing Glasses millions Of dollars an
nually, justice demands is repeal
Resolved, That 70 provide q true national
currency adapted to the genius Of our institu-
tons and the wants Of the, business Of the coun-
trv, the circulating notes Of the National banks
and the present greenbacks, which are not q full
al tender, should be withdrawn from circuls
ton and their place supplied with a paper cur
rescy based on i fhs syeagaA a. ;a an debts pub
! tic and private declared the lawful money Of
the United States f; and convertible ct the plea
I sure Of Tho holder into government bonds besr-
! ing per cent interest per annum, subjecG to
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the op--
| ton of the hOl Ter
Resolved, That the claim of the boudhoIders
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
ness known AS $40 bonds the principal Of
which is legally aud equitably payable in lawful
MONEYS dishonest and extorti0base, and
hence we enter our solemn protest against any
departure from the original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
creasine the gold bearing and untsxed obligs-
tons Of the government
Resolved, That justice demands that the bur
dens OF the government should be 90 adjusted
a 20 bear equally on all classes and interests
and that the exemption from taxation Of gov
ernnent bonds, bearing eItortionate rates Of
interest 10 a violation Of all Just principles OF
revenue lava
Resolved, That congress should modify the
"a rff so as TO admit free the necessaries Of life
end such articles Of common use - We can mel
ali IN Law hna for
revenue msinly upon articles Of luxury and up
on sucn articles of manufacture as-we having
the raw material In abundance-win develop
the resources OF the country, increase ihe Hum-
Der Of factories, give employment to more IA
borers, maintain good compensation, cause the
immigration Of skilled labor. the iesseuing of
prices to consumers, the creating of q perma
nent home market for agricultural products,
destroy the necessity for the Odious and expen-
sivs system Of internal taxation, and will soon
enable N 70 successfully compete with the man
ufacturers Of Europe in the markets of the
world
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption Of such
measures among oil classes OF wort men, in all
sections of the country, 40 will secure the adop
ton Of the eight hour system, and call upon the
respective state legislatures to follow the eI-
ample Of the National Congress in recognizing
eight hours . legal days work.
Resolved, That the presence in our country
Of Chinese lsborsrs in large numbers is an evil
entaiiDg want and Its consequent train of mie-
cry and crime on all other classes Of the
American people, and shonld be prevented by
legislation.
Resolved, As labor is the foundation and
cause Of national prosperity. it 10 both the duty
and interest Of the government to foster and
protect it. It's importance, therefore, demands
the creation Of an Executive Department Of the
governmegtiat w ashington, 70 be denOminatsd
the Depattnent Of Labor. which shall aid In
protectngft hbovS I'll other intsesss. l..
Resolved, That the prdtedtiun OF life, liberty
aud property arG the three cardiaal principles
of government, and the first two more sacred
than the latter; therefore, money necessary for
prosecuting wars should, a. il is required, be
assessed and collected from the wealth Of the
country, aud not be entailed as burden on
posterity
Resolved, That the public lands of the
United States belong to the people, and should
not be sold to individusls nor granted 10 cor
porations, but should be held a . sacred trust
for she benefit Of the people, and should be
granted free Of cost to lapdiess settlers only, 10
amounts not exceeding leo acres Of land.
Resolved, That the treaty making power Of
the government has an shortly in the consti-
tuition to dispose of" the public lands without
the joint sanction of the Senate and House Of
Representatives .---.-.