The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-05-27

lzed equality can exist but in name.
This then is q great point gained, fo
it will lead to the investigating and ex-
animation of this great question ana
all others bearing on the subject of tn,
relations and rights Of capital and la
Dor. This is just what we want W.
do not shun but invite full and fair dis
cusslon OF all our measures. If ouI
principle will not stand the most
thorough criticism, and if it cannot be
shown that our cause is just, our de-
mands reasonable, and the remedies
proposed for the evils complained OF
necessary, wise and clearly adapted to
the end In view, we do not want them
adopted. For ourselves, and we be-
lieve we express the views of large
majority of the Labor Reform Party,
when we say that where we have no
candidates in the field we are willing
to support men for Office, without regard
to their former political connections or
their present views on minor questions,
who now espouse our cause. and to act
and vote with any party that will adopt
and advocate our monetary system,
financial policy and other leading
measures.
As our principles are well known to
the readers Of both the old parties, and
having, at various times, received more
OF less recognition in the conventions
and discussions Of both, and in view Of
the manifest purpose of corporate cap
ital to override all individual rights
and interest, and reduce the whole pro-
ducing element to state of sbject de-
pendence, we had hoped to see some
declaration against the unwarranted ag-
erosion OF these monopolies some
recognition Of the rights Of the produc-
ing classes in the platforms Of these
parties, the present year, but with the
exception of the action of the Demo
crazy in New Hampshire, we have so
far been disappointed. We see the
Republican convention Of the great
State of Pennsylvania meet and resolve
in favor of the present state of things,
utterly ignoring the rights Of labor,
notwithstanding that, within her own
borders, at the time of the setting of the
convention, there was being perpetrat-
eel one OF the most audacious acts of
tyranny ever exercised by corporate
capital over individual rights, or that
was ever tolerated in any civilized gov
ernment-this, too, known to the men,
bers Of that convention because it had
recently been proven before a commit
tee of the State Senate Next we see
the conventions Of both parties, in the
State of Kentucky, meet and resolve
10 favor Of universal suffrage and gen.
eral amnesty, and some other right and
proper measures, followed with q long
string of "glittering generalities" OF
dead issues but they too are silent on
tie great questions Of money, land and
other reforms affecting vitality the inter-
est of the producing classes and the
perpetuity of our Democratic Republi-
can institutions.
Our only remaining hope for the re-
cOgnition of our principles and the CO.
operation of either of the old parties,
as now organized, is in the State Of
Ohio, where a full State ticket is to be
elected the coming fall, and where bo;h
parties hold their nominating conven-
tons at an early day. Our ground for
hope in this quarter is, that leading
men of both parties have sanctioned
and discussed, with great ability and
cIearness, the fundamental measures Of
the Labor Party, and, if our memory is
not at fault, both parties have, to some
extent, at least recognized most Of
them.
This is particularly true of the Dem.
ocratic party which, in its last State
platform, adopted almost identically
our measures. They resolved against
the donation Of the public lands tc
railroad and other corpor atoms, reserv'
ing them for actual settlers; against the
Importation of Coolies or other servilt
labor, and in favor Of repeating thu
I National Banking System and redeem
ing the 500 bonds in legal tenders
The only differences between this plat
form and that Of the Labor Party is
the omission Of the wise and necessar,
provision for the regulation Of the cur
rency and rate of interest, by allowing
it when redundant to be converted into
bonds bearing 8 per cent, the bonds tx
be likewise convertible into legal tend
ers at the pleasure of the holders Thu
providing a currency Of uniform value
under the direct control of the people
and which will pay the usurers' interes
as well as the laborers' wages.
With the addition of this interchan
ability Of bonds and currency at tn
pleasure Of holders-which is essentia
, 10 the usefulness and success Of thu
systematic platforms would be iden.
teal on all the fundamental principle
which the Labor Reform Party hold {
be Indispensable to the protection o
, the RIGHTS and interests of the Droduc