The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-04
Platform of the National Labor Union

WHEREAS, Ii is not deemed advisable Il
change or modify the existing declaration o.
principles, but to reafirm the sam, and, for
practical use, enunciate the substar~e horeoi
ia more convenient and concise W., with
some additional resolutions aud,
WHEREAS, "All political power Is inherent
III the people, and free government founded Oh
their authority and established for their bene-
Fl :" that all freemen are equal in political
rights, and entitled to the largest political and
religious liberty compatible with the good order
of society, as also the use and the enjoyment OF
the fruits of their labor and talents and "no
man or set of men are entitled to exclusive, sep
arate emolumcnts, privileges or immunities
from the government, but in consideration OF
public services !" and any laws destructive o
these fundamental principles are without mora
binding force, and should be repealed. To do
so, however, is a difficult work when such Law
OF usages are interviewer with pride, prejudice
and selhshness, Besides, experience shows that
laboring people are more than others disposed
to suffer while evils are sufferable" than or
ganize for their abolition and
WHEREAS, We are admonished BY the imper,
ied rights of labor throughout the United
States to organize aud agitate in our behalf,
with the decree, In the sweat Of the face shalt
thou eat bread, and the. adage that "The price
of liberty is eternal vigilance" enthroned in
our hearts and emblazoned as notices on our
banners assured of Iccess over corrupt pOiti-
cal schemers and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like harpies upon the fruits Of
honest labor, aud thus restore tO our political
and social system that equilibrium of rights and
justice so necessary to good government and
domestic tranquility, be il
Resolved, That the laborers in all departments
of useful industry are suffering from a system
of monetary laws, which we're enacted curing
the late war, as measures, il was assumed, "nec-
esSary to the life of the nation" WhichIs now
sought to be perpetuated in the interest of
bOndhOders aud 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 Cypress the
rights of labor, and subordinate its votaries to
the merclless demands Of aggregated c pital.
Resolved, That the rate OF interest On money
is the governing power in the distribution Of
the products Of industry and enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
in excess aud disprOpOrtOnate 70 the increase
Of the national wealth, and oppressive to the
producing classes.
Resolved That the national banking system
being inimical to the spirit Of liberty and sub
versve Of the principles Of Justice, without war.
rant in tile constitution Of the United States
and wTC"gfully increasing the burdens 81 the
wealth producing classes millions Of dollars an
nually, justice demands its repeal
Resolved, That to provide true national
currency adapted 20 the genius Of our institu-
tons and the wants of the business of the coun-
try, the circulating notes Of the national banks.
and the present greenbscks, which are not a full
legal tender, should be Withdrawn from circula
ton and their place supplied with paper cur
rency based on the wealth of the nation made
legal tender in the payment Of all debts. pub
lc and private; declared the lawful money of
the United States and convertible at the plea
sure OF the holder into government bonds bear
ing per cent. interest per annum, sub iect to
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the on
ton Of the holder.
Resolved That the claim Of the bondbolders
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
ness known 500 bonds, the principal of
which is legally and equitably payable in lawful
moneys dishonest and extortiOhate, 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
creasing the gold bearing and untaxed obliga-
lions of the government.
Resolved, That justice demands that the bur
dens of the government should be SO adjusted
as to bear equally on all classes and interests
and that the exemption from taxation of gov
eminent bonds, bearing extortionate rates of
interest, is a violation of all just principles OF
revenue laws.
Resolved, That congress should modify the
ariff SO as TO admit free the necessaries of life
md such articles Of common use as we can mel
her produce nor grow; also to lay duties for
evenue mainly upon articles Of luxury aud up
u sucn articles Of manufacture as-we having