The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-11
LABOR REFORM.
A New Political Party i'm the
Field.
The Contest Between Capital
and Labor.
Declaration Of Principles Adopted by the
National Reform Congress In st.
Louis, August 10, 1871.
ST. LOUIS. August 10, 1871.

AOuAS3 Au6uoS AVe AC'As
ST. LOUIS. August 10, 1871.
The declaration OF principles with which the Ma
tional Labor party propose to before the country
next year as political organization Is as fOOws:-
referring to the call for National Convention TO
nominate u President and Vice President they
say:-In making this call, and presuming to enter
mo competition with existing parties 1t Is meet
we should give to the world our reasons as well az
remedies. Wepr0pose Tor the wrongs OF which we
complain starting, then, with the MAXIM that our
government IS founded ON the sovereignty and the
consent OF the governed and Its purpose IL TO pro-
tcct property and enforce national rights, and thus
give to all an equitable chance In the race of life.
common g1fts governments are only trustees to
guard against their misapplicatlon. and that as
the consent VI the owner, freely given. That all
class legislation, whereby these original and
same enhanced by intelligent labor, are per-
verted from their original design and made
To inure to the benefit OF non-producers and
injury Of producers. is wrong and subversve of the
purposes OF good government; that all abe.oodied,
Intelligent persons should contribute to the COM
mon stock, by fruitful Industry, sum or quantity
equal to their own support and legislation should
tend. as far as possible to the equitable distribution
OF the surplus products. III These propositions are
true our government IL wholly perverted from ita
true design and the sacred names OF democracy and
republicanism are synonyms OF dcsp0tism, and the
parties represented thereby as now organized, are
engines OF oppression, crushing out the lives Of the
this Denencent country OF unlimited resources,
with the land annually grooming beneath the pro.
nave n no supply beyond tnes d daily ' waas
and are competed, from unjust conditions in SICK.
Migrants. Pauperlsm and CRIME are the prevailing
questions OF all modern craftsmanship, and 1t Is
nave n 70 M ie on es sSr ara
| superficial craftsmanship seems NOT to perceive.
| Chatter slavery mas been abolished, but the rights
and relations OF labor stand just where they did be-
fore emancipation In respect to the division OF Its
products. The dinerence lies only IN the method OF
nh fhur and frn
the few capitalists now the masters and other die
tators OF terms, and thus all labor Is practically
placed IN the same condition OF the slave before his
emancipation In thus placing IL the interest OF all
LABOR becomes common and they must nght the bat
tie in unity II they would succeed. What, then are
the Observation-Disclosures by which these wrongs are In
nicted2
Frst-Banking and moncyed monopoles by
which, through ruinots rates OF Interest, the pro-
ductlons OF human labor are concentrated In the
hands of non-producers. This Is the great central
source OF these wrongs, ana through which all otner
monOpOlleS exist and operate.
Second-Consolidated railroad and other transit
monOpOlles, whereby all Industries are taxed TO the
last mill they will bear for the Denent OF stocknoid-
ers and stock jobbers.
operators arc crushed and the price OF labor and It's
products are Determined with mathematical Ger.
tanty In the interest OF capitalists
Fourth Land monOpolies by which the public
domain Is absorbed ny lew SPECTATORS
F.Jth-COmmerc1al and grain monOpOllea, specu.
lating and enriching their Dloated corporat0rs on
We propose to restore the government to its
original purpose, and as rar as possible TO remedy
these evils aud remove their results:-
Frst-By establishing monetary system based
on the facts and resources or the natOn in harmony
with tie genius OF tile government, and adapted to
the eXlgences OF Legitimate commerce. To this end
the circulating notes Of the National anu state
banks as well ali currency that lis not luIl legal
tender, should be Withdrawn from circulation and
o proper currency issued by the government, which
shall be legal tender IN the payment oil all debts,
puDlc and private, dues ON Imports included, and
declared the Lawful money oil the United states.
Thls currency or none to be interchangeable, at
the pleasure or the holders, for government bonds
bearing three per cent interest, the government
creditors TO have the privilege o taking the money
or bonds at their election reservlng 10 Congress
the right TO te rate o. interest ON tne oonds
table distribution OF the products OF labor between
money or non-producing capital ana productive III
dustry.
Second-By paying the national debt in strict ac-
cordance with the laws under which 1t was orgl-
nally contracted-gold wnere specifically promised.
but all other forms Of Indebtedness, including che
principal of the hvetwenty bonds, shall be dis
Charged ut the earliest option of the government In
the legal tender currency or lawful money OF the
United states, without funding IL IN long bonds or
in any way increasing the gold paying anu untaXed
obligations OF tue government. IN
Thud-By preserving involate the public domain
to actual settlers-tilers Of the soil.
Fourth-By tarlif OF revenue alone, believing, as
do, that the reduction oil interest 10 ADJUST The
rate viii do more 10 increase rewards OF labor and
10 encourage the Development or agricultural, MN.
eral, manufacturing ana mechanical resources tnan
any system OF tarin laws tnat can be devised.
tuth--By restraining, OF, II needs NC, abollshlng
corporate mon0polles uuder lnerdctlng class iegis-
latlon, and combining national legislation to such
ties and reducing the army To u peace standard,
and confinlng Its operations to national purposes
alone.
lSiIth-By requiring that IN all future wars the
means necessary Tor their prosecution SNAIL as
quired collected from the wealth Of the country
and not entaIled Oh the future earn.Dgs OF labor.
SereHtI,-By adopting an indian policy rounded
national justice, Dy winch many valuable lives
and many millions or money Will DC annually saved.
Eiqhut-By holding Legislators TO q more rigid
accountability; by requiring the submission OF the
annex atlon OF territory and other fundamental
laws affecting the general interest oil society 10
vote OF the whole people.
Ninth-By prohibiting the importation OF coolies
or other servile labor and projecting labor IRON all
unnecessary burdens.
T,nLh-py encouraging cooperative efforts and
building up OF manufacturing Industries through
out the country.
EleUenth-By granting general amnesty and
storing the Union at once, on the basis of the
equality OF rights ana privileges TO ali classes ana
interests the impartial administration Of justice
being the only true bona OF union to bind the states
together and engage the affections OF the people by
the government.
Ttoenh-By the creation Of a board OF manage.
ment of the currency ana revenue. to consist OF
sucn NUMBER OF intelligent business men as may
be necessary transact the nscai AFFAIRS OF the
government, which board shall be charged with the
execution OF all laws relating to the collection Of
and disbursement OF the revenue and The regulation
OF the currency, and empowered To employ and have
the ove sight vi the clerical force and other officers
and agents required III the discharge OF all the
duties pertaining to this departments; the same rule
to be applied TO the Pqsy gqice and Interior Depart
ments as far as may be practicable the Secretaries