Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-11
A National Labor Party.
Their Declaration of Principles.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 1O.-In the national labor
congress last night the platform adopted in Chi
cago in 1867, with the addition of the following,
was adopted:
That it is the duty of the government to so
exercise its power over railroad and telegraph
corporations that the actual capital honestly in
vested therein shall in no case realize exceeding
six per cent upon the amount invested.
motion to strike from the resolution on the
tariff the words "cause migration of skilled Ia
Dor" was lost A feeling resolution of tribute
to William H. Syling, deceased, formerly presi-
dent of the union, was adopted.
resolution postponing a convention at Co.
lumbus, Ohio, for the organization of national
labor party aud the nomination of president,
until the third Wednesday Of January, 1872,
was adopted.
A committee was appointed TO answer the adj
dress of the International wOrkingmens ass0ci-
ton of Europe. A resolution was adopted that
it was the duty of congress to establish a coloni-
cation bureau to enable the workingmen to oc-
cupy lands under the preemption act. They
also voted that committee be appointed to re-
port on a feasible plan to assist INDECENT immi-
grants in taking claims located on public lands.
The declaration of principles with which the
national labor party propose to go before the
country next year, as political organization, is
as follows:
Referring to the call for a national convention
to nominate president and vce-president they
say, in making this call and preSuming to enter
into competition with existing parties, it is meet
we should give to the world our reasons, as well
as the remedies we propose, for the wrongs OF
which we complain. Starting then with the max
lm that our government is founded on the SOW
ereignty and consent of the governed, and its
purpose is TO protect property and enforce ma
tional rights, and thus give to all an equitable
and all material elements are common gifts, and
governments are only the trustees to guard
against their misapplication, and that as trus-
tees they have no right to ALLEVIATE them without
the consent of the OwneiS freely given. That
all class legislation whereby these original COM
mon elements, or proceeds of the same, en-
HANGED by intelligent labor, are perverted from
their original design and made to inure to the
benefit of non producers and the injury of pro-
ducers, is wrong and subverSive of the purposes
of good government. That all able-boded, in
telligent persons should contribute to the COM
mon stock by fruitful industry sum in guam
tty equal to their own support, and legislation,
should tend as far as possible to an equitable
distribution of surplus products.
If these propositions are true our govern
ment is wholly prevented from its true design.
The names of democracy and republicaniSm are
synonyms OF despotism, and the parties repre-
sented thereby, as now organized, engines of
oppression, crushing out the lives of the people.
we need only point to facts in this benefcent
country of unlimited resources, with land an
hutlilS SlOunlup DGH6utH bilG pTOuuCtS OF human
effort, while the mass of the people have no
supply beyond their daily wants, and are COM
PEELED, from unjust conditions, in sickness aud
misfortune, to become paupers and Migrants
Pauperism and crime are the prevailing ques-
tons OF all modern craftsmanship, and with
these we have 10 deal. How far these evils are
connected with abuses inflicted on labor a
superficial craftsmanship seems not to perceive.
Chattel slavery has been abolished but the
rights and relations of labor stand just where
they did before emancipation, in respect to a
division of the products. The difference lies
only in the methods of abstracting the results
and concentrating them in a few capitalists,
now masters and dictators of terms, and thus
all labor is practically placed in the same con-
dition of the slave before his emancipation.
What, then, are the instrumentalitieS by
which these wrongs are inflicted? First, bank
ing and moneyed monopolies, by which, through
ruinous rates of interest, the productions of hui
man labor are concentrated in the hands of
non-producers This is the great central source
OF these wrongs, and through which all other
monopolies exist and operate. Second, CONSOLE
dated railroad and other transit monopoles.
whereby all industries are taxed TO the last
mill they will bear for the benefit of stockholders
and stock iobberS. Third, manufacturing mo-
nopolies, whereby small operators are crushed,
and the price of labor and its products are de-
term1ned with mathematical certainty in the in
tercst of capital, &c. Fourth, land monopolies,
by which the public domain is absorbed by few
spectators. Fifth, commercial and grain mo-
nopoieS, specializing and enriching their bloated
corporations on human necessities.
We propose to restore the government to its
original purpose, and as far as possible to
remedy these evils and remove their results:
First, by establishing a monetary system based
on the facts and resources OF the nation, in
harmony with the genius of the government,
and adapted to the exigencies Of legitimate
commerce. 10 this end the circulating notes OF
national and state banks, as well as currency
that is not full legal tender, should be with
drawn from circulation and a proper currency
issued by the government which shall be legal
tender in payment of all debts, public and
private, dues on imports included, and declared
lawful money of the United States. This cur
rency or money to be interchangeable at pleas
ure ny holders of government bonds bearing
three per cent. interest; government creditors
to have the privilege of taking money or bonds,
at their election, reserving to congress the right
to regulate the rate of interest on bonds, and
the value of currency, so as to effect an equita-
BILE distribution of the products of labor be-
tween money or non-producing capital
and productive industry. Second, by pay
ing the national debt in strict ac-
cordance with the laws under which
it was originally contracted; gold where
specifically promised, but all other forms of in
debtedness, including the principal of the FIVE
twenty bonds, shall be discharged at the earliest
option of the government in legal tender cur
rency OF lawful money of the United States
without funding it in long bonds, or in any way
increasing the gold paying and the untaxed OBJ
legations of the government Third, by pre-
serving inViolate the public domain to actual
settlers and tillers of the soil. Fourth by
tariff revenue alone, believing as VIC do that a |
reduction of interest to just rate will do more
to increase rewards OF labor and encourage the |
development of the agricultural, mineral, man.
ufacturing and mechanical resources, than any
system of tariff laws that ha r,eaI
Fifth, by restraining, or if needs be- abolishing
corporate monopolies under interdictipg class |
legislation, and combining national legislation |
to such objects; subecting military to civil au-
thorty and reduce the army to peace standard |
and combining its operations TO national pur- |
poses alone. Sixth, by requiring in all future |
wars that the means necessary for that prosecu- |
ton SHALL as required, be collected from the |
wealth OF the country, and not entailed on flu |
ture earnings of labor. Seventh, by adopting |
an Indian policy founded on national justice, by
which many valuable lives and many millions |
in money will be annually saved. |
Eighth, by holding legislators TO a more |
rigid accountability, by requiring the |
submission of the questions of the annexa- |
ton OF territory and other fundamental laws |
affecting the general interest of society to vote
OF the whole people. Ninth, by prohibiting the |
importation Of coolies or other servie labor and
labor from all unnecessary burdens. |
Tenth, by encouraging cooperative efforts, and |
the building up of manufacturing industries |
throughout the country. Eleventh. by granting |
general amnesty, and restoring the Union at /
once on a basis of equality of rights and privi- /
leges 10 all classes and interests, the impartial |
of justice being the only true
bonds of union to bind the states together and |
engage the affections of the people to the gov
Twelfth, by the creation of board |
Of management of the currency and revenue to
consist of such a number of intelligent business
men as may be necessary to transact the fiscal
affairs of government, which board shall be
charged with the execution of all laws relating
to the collection of and disbursement of revenue |
and the regulation Of currency, and empowered
to employ and have the oversight of clerical
force and other officers and agents required for
the discharge of all duties pertaining to this de-
The same rule to be applied to the
post office and interior departments as far as
may be practicable, the secretaries of the depart
ments to be presidents Of such boards.
The Buffalo Races.
RUEEATo N V Auu in 1.-Two ne tI,o eo,,o,,