The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-09-23

rights, and entitled to the largest political and
religion. E5arty compatible with the good order
society, 40 also tn use and the enjoy uent o.
me fruits OF their labor and talents; and mo
man or set Of men are entitled 20 exclusive, sep
arate emolum ents, privileges or immunisies
from the government, but in consideration Of
public services" and any laws destructive a
these fundamental principles are without moral
binding force, and should he repealed. To do
90, however, is a difficult work when such Laws
or usages are interviewer with pride, prejudice
and selfshness Besides, experience shows that
lsboring people are more than Others disposed
:" to suffer while evils are siderable" than or
gauize for their abolition; and
WHIRkAs, We are admonished by the imper-
iIled 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 The price
Of liberty is eternal visilence," enthroned 10
our hearts and emblazoned AS notices on our
banners assured OF success over corrupt politi-
cal schemers aud the spectators and bankers
who are preyiDg like harpies upon the fruits II
honest labor, aud thus restore to our political
and social system that equilibrium OF rights and
Justice so necessary to good government ana
domestic tranquility, be il
REQ we'd, That the laborers in all department Q
useful industry are suffering from system
Of monetary laws, which were enacted curing
the late var, as measures, it was assumed, 'nec
essary to the life of the nation" ~hich IL now
sought to be perpetuated in the interest Of
bondholders ard bankers a. means to subvert
the government of our fathers, and establish or
its ruins an empire in which all political power
-.
rights of labor, and subordinate its votaries to
the merclless demands Of aggregated capital
Resolved, That the rate Of interest on money
10 the governing power in the distribution OF
the products Of industry aud enterprise between
capital aud labor, and that the present rates are
in excess and disproportionate 70 the increase
Of the national wealth, aud oppressive to the
producing classes.
Resolved, That the national banking system
being inimical to the spirit Of liberty, and sub
versive of the principles Of justice, Without war
rant in the constitution ~ the United States,
and wrongiuly increasing the burdens Of the
wealth producing classes millions of dollars an
nuallv, justice demands its repeal.
Resolved, That to provide true national
currency adapted Co the genius Of our inStitu-
tons and the wants of the business If the enun-
try, the circulating notes of the national banks,
and the present greeubacks, which are not fun
legal tender, should be withdrawn from circula
ton and their place supplied with paper cur
rcncy 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 az the plea
sure Of the holder into government bonds bear
ing per cent. interest per annum, sui iect to
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the op--
ton Of the hnlieF
Resolved, That the claim Of the bordholder-
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
ness known a. 8 20 bonds, the principal o,
which is legally aud equtabiy payable ia Ia xfu,
MONEYS dishonest and extortionate, and
hence we enter our solemn protest against anv
departure from t original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any Sav in
err ssing tie gold bearing and untuxcd obliga-
tions Of the government.
Resolved, That justice demand. that the bur
d-ns OF the government should D. adius ed as
TO bear equally on ali classes AID interests; aud
that the exemption from tsxaJion OF govern
ment bonds, bearing cKtortionate rates Of in
terest, is violation Of all Just principles OF
revenue laws
Resolved, That congress should mod ~ the
t,rff so as TO admit free the ecessaries Of lifa
and such articles Of common use as we can
neither produce nor grow also tp lay du les
tor reyenLH, mainly upon articles Of luxury and
upon articles OF maEufacture as-we having
tie raw material in abuudance-wil devtl op
the resources Of the country, increase she mum
Der of fac cries, give employment to more la
borers, maintain good compensation, causr the
immigration of skilled labor the lessenng OF
prices TO consumers, The creating o perm a.
nent home market for agricultural products, de-
stroy the necessity for tie odUus and expcn-
sive system of internal taxation, snd will soon
enable US to successfully compete with the
manufactures OF Eur pc ii the markets o. the
world
Resolved, That the National Labor Congrcsl
earnestly recommeid the adoption OF such
measures amoug all ella 'ses Of workmep, ia all
sectious of the country, viii secure the
ad option of the eight hour system. AID call up
on the respective state Legislatures to follow
the example Of the N4tiou4l Congress IL recog-
nising eight hours leg, lays work.
Resolved, Thst the presence IN our country
of Chinese laborers in large numbers, is an
evil entailing want ard its insequent train Of
misery and crime o. ali classes Of the Ameri-
can people, and should be prevented Ivy legis-
latiOn
Resolved, A. labor is the foundation and
Cause Of national prosperity, it is both the du
ty and interest Of the government to foster and
protect it. les importance, therefore, demands
the creation of an Executive Department Of
the government ni Washington, 20 be den mi
mated the Department Of Labor, hch shall aid
in protecting it above all other interests
Resolved, That tue projection If life, liberty
and property are the three cardinal principles
of government, and tn first two more slered
than the later; therefore, money necess az,
for prosecuting wars should, AZ u il required
be assessed and collected from the wealth of
the country, and not be entailed as a burden
on posterity.
Resolved That il be the duty Of the govern
ment to 80 exercise its power over railroads ana
telegraph corporations that tie actual capi-
tai honestly invested therein. shall m no case
realize exceeding six per cent. upon the mount
invested