The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-01-21
to suffer while evils are siderable" than or

to suffer while evils are siderable" than or
gasise for their sbolition and
WHEREAs, We are admonished BY the i-nper.
illed rights of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agitate in our behalf.
with the decree, "In the sweat Of the face shalt
thou eat bread" and the .adage that 1.-THE price
OF liberty 10 eternal vigilance" enthroned in
our hearts and emblazoned as 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, and thus restore to our political
and social system that equilibrium Of rights and
justice so necessary to good government and
domestic tranquility be It
Resolved, That the lsborers in all departments
OF useful industry are suffering from a system
OF monetary laws which were enacted during
the late war,as measures, it was assumed, "nec
essary to the life of the nation" which ia now
sought to be perpetuated in the interest Of
bondholders and bankers as 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 capital.
Resolved, That the rate of interest on money
the products of industry and enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
in excess aud disproportionats to 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
versive of the principles ofjustice, without war
| rant in the constitution of the United States
and wrongfully increasing the burdens OF the
wealth-producing classes millions of dollars an
nually, justice demands its repeal
Resolved, That to provide a true national
currency adapted to 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 greenbacks, which are not a full
legal tender, should be withdrawn from circuls
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
lie 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, ject to
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the OPP
ton of the holder.
Resolved, That the claim of the bondholders
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
| ness known as 500 bonds the principal Of
which is legally and equitsbly payable in lawful
money-is 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-
tons 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
ernment bonds, bearing extortionate rates o.
interest, is violation OF all just principles o
revenue laws.
Resolved, That congress should modify the
tariff so as to admit free the necessaries of lift
and such articles of common use as We can mel
Their produce nor grow; also to lay duties TO
revenue mainly upon articles of luxury and up
on such articles Of manufacture as-we having
the raw material in abundance-will develop
the resources of the country, increase the mum
Der Of factories, give employment to more la
borers, maintain good compensation cause th'
immigration OF skilled labor. the lessening 0
prices to consumers, the creating of q perma
nent home market for agricultural products
destroy the necessity for the odious and expen
sive system of internal taxation, and will sooI
enable us to successfully compete with the man
ufacturers Of Europe in the markets of thu
world.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption Of sucl
measures among all classes of workmen, in al
sections Of the country, IS will secure the adop
ton of the eight hour system, and call upon thu
respective state legislatures to follow the eX-
ample OF the National Congress in recognizing
eight hours as q legal days work.
Resolved, That the presence in our countr,
of Chinese laborers in large numbers is evl
eBtailing want and Its consequent train Of IN
cry and crime on Al .alaeNIe y mi. 1s
kAneHlaaREnna1rMe 80 classes snt y. ~ -
4 legislation.
Resolved, As labor is the foundation AM
cause of national prosperity, it Is both the o0'
and interest Of the governments 70 ioster AM
protect it. Its importance, therefore, demand
the creation of an Executive Department Of tn
government at Washington, to be denominste
the Department Of Labor, which shall AID J
protecting It above all other interests.
Resolved, That the protection Of life, libert
aud property are the three cardinal principles
Of government, and the FIRST two more sacre
than the latter; therefore, money necessary TO
prosecuting wars should, as it is required, b
assessed and collected from the wealth Of tn
country, and not be entailed as burden o
pOsterity.
Resolved, That the public lands of th
URited States belong to the people, and shout
not be sold to individuals nor granted 70 cor
, porations, but should be held as a sacred trus
, for the benefit of the people, and should b
granted free of cost TO landless settlers only,
amounts not exceeding 16O acres Of land.
Resolved, That the treaty-making power {
the government has no authority in the consti
tuition to dispose Of" the public lands wlthOu
the joint sanction of the Senate and House Z
Representatives.