The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-22
Platform Of the National Labor Union.


WHEREAS, 1t is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration of
principles, but TO reafhrn the same aud, for
practical use, enunciate the substance thoreof
ia more convenient and concise form, with
some additional resolutions aud,
WHEREAS, "All political power 10 inherent
in the people, and free government founded on
their authority and established for their bene-
at; mat al Ifeefer rr-eqax i 10 pn.ic q
rights, and entitled 10 the largest political and
religious liberty compatible with the good order
Of society, as also thc use and the enjoyment Of
the fruits OF their labor aud talents and mo
man or set of III u are entitled 20 exclusive, sep
arate emolumcnts, privileges or immuDi:ies
from the government, but ia consideration Of
punhc services y and any laws dest ructive Of
q e. fundamental principles are without moral
binding iOrce and should he repealed To do
SO, however, is difficult work when such laws
or ussges are interviewer with pride prejudice
and sthshuess. Besides, exp" rirnce shows that
laburing people are more than others disposed
d" e. suffer while evils are suferable" than or
gauize Tor their abolition; and
WHEREAs, We are admonished BY the imper-
illed righ,s OF IabOr throughout the United
States TO organize aud agirate in our behalf,
nth the decree, In the sweat Of the face sEAlr
thou eat bread and the ad4ge that The price.
Of liberty is eternal vi lance" enthrOned in
our hearts and emblazOned as notices on our
banners, assured Of success over corrupt pniti-
cal schemeIs, aud he speculAt rs aud bankers
Who are proving ike hsrpies upon the fruits II
honest lauor, and thus restore u our political
aud social system rha, equilibrium OF rights aud
justice so necessary TO god government and
Jumrst c tranquility, be il
Re dyed, That the laborers in eli department
uAet ri INDUSTRY suffering from svstem
uf monet ary laws, which we're enacted curing
the late w'r,as measures, IL Was assumed. nee
| essary 10 tie lite Of the nation" NhchIs uow
sought 10 be perpetuAted ia the interest 81
bOudhOiders and bankers As a means 70 subvert
the government Of our fathers and establish on
its ruins empire in whitehall political power
snail be centralized to restrain aud Cypress the
r gifts Of labor, and subOrdnat its vOtaries to
the merclless demands Of aggregated capital
Resolved That the rate OF interest o. money
is the governing power il the distribution Of
the products Of industry aud enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
il excess and disproportionste 20 the Increase
Of The national wealth, and oppressive to the
producing classes.
Resolved That the national banking system
being inimicsl 70 the spirit Of liberty aud sub
versive Of the principles Of justice, without
rant in the constitution Of the United Sta !,
aud wrongiully increasing the burdens Of The
wealth producing classes millions of dollars an
nuallv, justice demands its repeal.
\ Resolved, That to provide a true national
currency adapted 60 the genius of Ou- nstitu-
/ tons snd the wants of the business If the coun-
1 trv, the circulating notes of the national banks
and the present greenbacks, which are not full
eaal tender, should be Withdrawn from circulA
az and ~ afr al ltaA vith
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 Of
4 the United States aud convertible at the plea
1 sure of the holder into government bonds bear
| ing per cen.. interest per annum sub iect TO
4 future legislation BY congress The bonds like
: wise convertible into lawful money, At the Cd
ton Of the holder
Resolved, That the claim of The bondhoIders
for payment in gold Of that class of indebted
ness known As $40 bonds the principal OF
which is legally and equitably payable in lawful
noney-is dishonest and extortohate, 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 H.
cresSing the gold bearing aud unta Ked obliga-
lions Of the government.
Resolved, That Justice demands that the bur
dens Of the government should be 40 adjusted
as bear equally on all classes and interests
and that the exemption from taxation Of gov
ernmeht bonds, bearing extortionate rates OF
interest, is violation OF all Just principles Of
revenue laws.
Resolved, That congress should modify the
tariff 30 to admit free the necrssaries Of life
and such articles OF common use as We can mel
Their pro uce nor grow; also to lay duties fou
revenue m"inly upon articles Of luxury and IN
o. suca articles Of manufacture as-we having
the raw material 10 sbundance-uill deveIoT
the resources OF the country, Increase he nun
ber Of factories, give employment To more IA
borers, MAINTAIN good compensation, cause IL,
immigration OF -killed labor. the less.ning u,
prices To consumers, the creating Of a perm4
ncnt home maj ket for agricultural prod ucts
DESTROY the necessity for the odiOus and expen
sive system Of internal taxation, ap1 gill sooI
enable us 70 successfully compete with the m,n
uacrurers Of Europe in he markets Of the
world.
! Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
| earnestly recommend tie adop ion Of such
Y measures among al classes Of wOrkmen, in AL
Y sections Of the country, will secure the adop
ton Of the eight hour system, and call upon she
\ espective State l-gsl lures TO follow the rI-
ample OF the National Congress 10 recognizing
eight hours "a legal Gays work.