The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-09-02
Platform Of the National Labor Union.

Platform Of the National Labor Union.
WHkRkAs, IL Is not deemed ai,i,abIe tol
change or modify the existing declaration OF
principleS, but TO reaftrn ta~ same aud. tor
TACTICAL use, enuDcate the subs ance thereof
Il more convenient and concise form with
Ome additional resolutions aud,
WHEREAs, "All political power il inherent
Ia the people, nnd free goVernm at founded Oh
their authority and established FIR their b.ne--
n :; that all irermen are equal in poll sicaI
RI hts aud entitled 10 the largest politIc,I and
religious liberty compatible with the 2, snd order
nf society, aIso th use aud the eni1, m.nt 81
the fruits OF their labor and taIrCts; and ..no
man or set Of men are entitled TO exclusive. sem
ara4r rm"lum.nts, privileges Or irimuui les
rom The government, but in consider Il ion of
plIllc Sc, vice, !" and any laws destructive Z
li.c,- fundamental principles are without m raj
ii, ding iurce. aud should tie repealed t. do
So, ho~rver, is difficult work wheE sucn hws
usagrs are int r~uven WITH pride, prejudice
md selfish ess Besides, experience shows tina,
Iaburing people r. more than others disposed
=" e. suffer while evils SuffeIable" than or
gahiZe Tor their abolition md
WHEREAS, We are admOnished by the inper
He'd rights OF labor throughout the United
States To organize and a.itaLe our bennlt,
~ILh The decree, In the sweat Of the lace stal'
thou eat bread" and the adtge that The pTlc
Of liberty lis eternal vi ilehte," enthrohed III
our hctrts aud emUlaZOned as notices Our
banners, assured Oi success over corrupt p"litl-
cal schemeIs, aud the speculat4rs and b mixers
who preying like harples upon tine fruits Of
honest la or, aud thus restore 70 our pUIlticAl
aud social system thai equilibrium OF right, and
Justice so necessary to cd government ami
1omrstc guilty, be it
Re we'd, That the labOrers 10 al department 0
useful INDUSTRY are suffering from a system
II munetar, laws, which we're enacted 0unng
the late war,a measures, il was Assumed, "Lec
ssary to the lite OF the nation" which Ia now
sought to be perpetu4ted III the interes. of
buudbolders aud LankeTs means To subyert
the government Of cur fathers and establish on
its ruins empire in which all political power
shall Ut Centralized e. r. strain aud opDress The.
ghts of labor, and subOrd nate its vOtaries to
the meIcsiess demands Ut aggregated capital
Resolved That the rate Of interest on money
i the governing power il the distribution 81
the products OF Industry and enterprise between
capital and labor, aud that the present rates are
in excess aud disprUPOruOnate 10 the Increase
# the national wealth, and oppressive TO the
produDing classes
Resolved. That the national banking system
being iuimtc ! % { spirit Of lib rty, and sub
versIve of the principles Of Justice, without war
rant in The constitution II the United Sta ties
aud wrongiully increasing the burdens OF the
wealth producing classes millions Of dollars an
nuaIly, justice demands its repeal
Resolved, That to provide a true national
curreucy adapted tt the grnius Of our institu-
lions aid the wants of the business If the coun-
Jrv, the circulating notes Of the national banks,
ana tie present grerubdcks, Which are not iull
legal tender, should be ~thdrawn from circult
ton and their place supplied with paper eur
rency based on the wealth OF tue nation made
a legal tender in the payment OF all debts, pub
lie aud private declared the lawful money OF
tie United States ; end convertible AZ the plea
sure d the holder into government bonds bear
ing per cen:. interest per aunum, sub iacs to
future legislation bv congress. The bonds ike
wise Convertible into lawful money, at the op-
uon Of the holler.
Resolved, That tile claim Of the boudnoider-
1 tor payment ID gold of that class Of indebted
ness known ~ 20 bonds, the principal Of
" hich Is legally aud equitaby PAYABLE in lawful
moe is dishonest aud extortionate, and
hence enter our solemn protest against any
departure from original contract, bt fund
Z 4 < the debt In llrS bonds, in any ~av n-
CT s-irg tie gld bearing and untaIrd obi.
tons of the government.
Resolved, That Justice demands that the bur.
d ns OF the government should D. 0 adus ed a.
70 bear equally IN all classes A. d interests auC
I that the exemption from taxation OF govern
H,ent bO"ds, bearing cX'orTlnna e rates OF IN
| crest, j. violation Of all just principles o.
revenue laws.
\ Rr-olvrd, That congress should modify To,
I riff 20 As 70 admt free the nece~saries 81 lfr
and such articles Of common u>e - We ctI
nei her produce nor grow also To lay du ie,
tor revenue, maiuly upon t,cles of luxury ant
upon articles If Manufacture Hs-we having
. tie raw material III abund tnce-wih drv-lo
he resources of the country. increase the mum
Der Of f,c Orir>, give employment to IRE Ia
borrrs, MAINTAIN good compensation, cause I'll,
imm grafton Of skilled labor, the lessenng o
prices 10 consumers, The creating o. a perma-
ueut nome market for agricultural products, de
srOy the recrssity for the Odnu ard expen-
sive system of internal taxttIon, ami will 500
enable Us to successfully compete with tn,
manufactures lrupe in the markets OF To,
world
Resolved, That the National L Dor Congress
earnestly recomme. d TIE adoption OF .uct
measures among all classes Of wurkmen, in Al
! sec ms OF The couutry, as will secure The
adoption of the eight hour system, aud cal up
. on tue re~prc I've state legl- latur-s to t,IOW
he extmpie Of the NtyiOrai Congress in recOg-
ulzng eight hours ~ leg, Ny : worE
Y Resolve Il, Thit the presence III cur countr,
: f Chinese laborers in large numbers, is al
/ evil entailing wat aud its c nsequent train oI
misery and crime On all ca-srs If he Amer
can people and should be prevented by legi>-
\ lIIipu.
Y RS lived, A lb0r is tie foundation and
/ cause Of national prOsp ritz, it is both the du
/ &, and interest of the government to foster ana
I the creation of An Executive Department III
tne government W Washington, re den Imi
rlted the Department Of Labor, hch snail aid
in projecting il above all other Interests.
80 we'd, That tie protcctiou Of life, liberty
aud property are the three cardinal principle,
III government, ana the frs. two more sicreC
tGau tile latter; therefore, money ncce-sir
tor prosecuting vars should, As it is required
be assessed AMI collected from the wetlln o.
the cJuHtry, and not be eutii!e1 a. burden
IN post rty.
Resolved, That i he the duty uf the govern
telegraph corporations that the actual cap
honestly Invested therein, snail m no cas-,
rcalize exceeding tx per cent upon tue noun
i Vested
NNAThRTOWN n. Y. Uninn-mrets "a tie
w met, the st SATURDAY evening Of cscl
nah QI-uctr ssde e. q Walters, &c Pre-
l.. J9z .rt tr-t y q Il