The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-09-30
Platform of the National Labor Union.

Platform of the National Labor Union.
WHEREAS, Il is not deemed advisable TO
change or modify the existing declaration Of
principles but to reaffirn the same and, for
practical use, enunciate the substance thereof
10 more convenient and concse form, w1h|
some additional res0Iutious; and,
WmRkAs, IAN political power 10 Inherent
10 the people, aud free government founded on
their authority and established for their bene-
ct; :" that all freemen are equal 10 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 talerts and mo
man or set of men are entitled 70 exclusive, sop
arate emolum ents, privileges or immuDities
from the government, but 10 consideration Of
public services !" and any laws dest ructive Of
these fundamental principles are without moral
binding force, and should be repealed. To do
so, however, is a difficult work when such laws
or usagcs are interviewer with pride. prejudice
and selfishness Besides experience shows that
laboriDg people are more than others disposed
to suffer while evils are siderable" than or
ganze for their abolition and
WHEREAS, We are admonished BY the imper-
States to organize and Agitate in our behalf,
WIth the decree, I'm the sweat Of the face shalt
thou eat bread" and the adage that The price
Of liberty is eternal violence" entbroned in
our hearts and emblsZoned a. notices on our
banners, assured Of success over corrupt politi-
cal schemeIs and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like harpies upon the fruits Of
honest laUor, aud thus restore ~ our political
aud social system that equilibrium of rights and
justice so necessary TO good government and
domestic tranquility, be IL
Re we'd, That the laborers in al department Q
useful INDUSTRY are suffering from a system
the late war ,as measures, 10 uas assumed, ~nec
essary to the life of the nation" which Is now
sought TO be perpetuated in the interest of
bondhoders and bankers q means to su5vert
the government Of our fathers, and est&blish 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 mercless demands OF aggregated capital.
Resolved, That the rate Of interest on money
is the governing power in the distribution Of
the products ofindustry and enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
in excess aud disproportionate to the increase
Of the national wealth, and oppressive to the
producing classes.
Resolved. Iuht buc HatiOuAl OAuklUk system
being inimic4l to the spirit of liberty, and sub
versve Of the prir eiples Ofjustice, without war.
rant in the const tuti IN OF the United St. les,
aud wrongtully Increasing the burdens OF the
wealth producing classes millions Of dollars an
nually, Justice demands its repeal.
Resolved, That TO provide q true national
currency adapted to the genius Of our institu-
tions and the wants Of the business Of the coun-
try, the circulating notes Of the national banks,
and the present greenbacks, which are not 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
a 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 aDnum, subject 70
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, &C the Qp-
ton Of the holder.
Resolved, That the claim of the bondbcJders
for payment in gold Of that class of Indebted
ness known as $40 bonds, the principal of
which is legally aud equitably payable 10 lawful
MONEYS dishonest and extortiouate, and
hence We enter our solemn protest against any
departure from TIE original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
crea sipg the gold bearing and untaxed obfga-
tons Of the government
Resolved, That justice demands that the bur
dens Of the government should be 80 adjusted 40
70 bear equally on all glasses aud interests; and
that the exemption from taxation Of govern
ment bonds, bearing extortionate rates Of in
terest, is violation Of all just principles of
revenue laws.
Resolved, That congress should modify the
tariff so as to admit free the necessaries Of life
and such articles Of common use as we can
neither produce nor grow also to lay duties
Tor revenue, mainly upon articles Of luxury and |
upon articles Of manufacture as-we having |
the raw material in abundAnce-will develop |
the resources Of the country, increase the num-
Der Of factories, give employment to more la
borers, maintain good compensation, cause the |
immigration Of skilled labor, the lessening of
prices to consumers, the creating Of perma-
nent home market for agricultural products, de-
stroy the necessity for the odious and expeD-
sive system of internal taxation, and win soon
enable US to successfully compete with the
OF Europe in the markets Of the
world
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption Of such
measures among all classes Of w0rkmen, in all
sections OF the country, as will secure the
adoption Of the eight hour system, and call up.
On the respective state Iegl~l&turee 70 Follow
he example of the National Congress in recog-
nizing eight hours IS leg. tayb work.
Resolved, That the presence in our country
4 Chinese laborers 10 large numbers. 10 an
Evil entailing want and its consequent train Of
misery and crime on all glasses Of the Aneri-
ian people, and should be prevented Oy lsgis-
alton
Resolved, A. labor lie the foundations and
,ause of national prosperity, it is both the du-
" aud interest Of the government TO foster and
protect il. I;s Importance, therefore, demands
he creation of an Executive Department Of
he government at Washington. 10 bs dsnomi-
rated the Department Of Labor, which shall aid
n protecting it above all other interesta
Resolved That tue proseosion Of life, liberty
md property are the three cardinal principles
# government, and the first two more sacred
han tne latter; therefore, money necessary
or prosecuting wars should, 10 il u required,
,e assessed and collected from lie wealth Of
he country, and not Be entailed a q burden
IN posterity.
Resolved, That IL be the duty Of the govern
nent to 30 exercise its power over railroads and
telegraph corporations that the actual capi-
al honestly invested tbsrein. shall IN no case
realize exceeding dx par ssnt upon the szeunt
invested '