The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-11-16
Platform of the National Labor union,

We hold that all political power is inhe-
rent III the people, that free government is
founded Oh their authority and established for
their benefit II that all citizens are equal in
political rights, entitled to the largest relig-
ious and political liberty compatible with the
good order Of society, as also the use and en-
joyment ofthe fruits Of their labor and talents,
and no man or set of men are entitled to the
exclusive, separate emoluments, privileges o.
immunitles from the Government, but in con-
sItleration III public services and any laws
destructi, Of these fundamental principles
are without moral binding force and should lie
repealed ; and We believe that the evils re-
sulting from unjust legislation now affecting
the industrial classes can he removed by the
adoption of the principles contained in the
following declarations. Therefore resolved.
|. That it is the duty Of the government
to establish Just standard Of distribution to
capital and labor, by providing a purely ma
tlonal circulating medium, based on the faith
and resources of the nation, issued directly to
the people without the intervention of any
system Of banking corporations, which money
shall be legal tender in the payment of all
debts, public and private and interchange
BILE at the option Of TIE holder for government
bonds, bearing rate of interest not to exceed
three and sixty five hundreths per cent sub
iect TO future ] egislation by Congress
,. That tn national debt should be paid
in good faith according to the original contract,
at the earliest option of the government, with
out mOrtgaging the property Of the people,
aud the future earnings of labor to enrich
few capitalists at home and abroad
3. That justice demands that the burdens
Of government should lie adjusted a. to bear
equally on all classes and interests and the
exemption from taxation Of government bonds,
bearing eNtOrtiOnate rates of interest Is a vio-
iatiOn OF all Just principles Of revenue laws.
4. That the enlightened spirit Of the age
demands the abolition Of the system Of con
tract labor in our prisons and other reforma-
tory institutions.
5. That the public lands Of the United
States belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals nor granted to corpora
tiOns, hut should he held a. a sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people, and should be grant
ed free of cost to landless settlers only i'm
amounts not exceeding l6O acres each
8. That Congress should modify tariff so
as to admit free such articles Of common use
as we can neither produce or grow, and lay
duties for revenue mainly upon articles lux
ury and upon such articles Of manufacture as
will-we having the raw material in abund-
ance- assist in further developing the resour-
ces Of the country.
7. That the presence in our country Of
Chinese laborers, imported by capitalists iP
large numbers for servile use In an evil entail
ing want and its attendant train of misery
and crime on all classes Of the American peo-
pie, and should be prohibited by Legislation.
=. That we ask for the enactment Of q law
by which all mechanics and day laborers en-
ployed by or ON behalf Of the Government,
whether directly or Indirectly, through per
sons firms or corporations, contracting with
the State, shall conform to the reduced stand
ard Of eight hours per day recently adopted by
Congress, for national employees. and also an
amendment to the acts Of incorporation for
cities and towns by which all laborers and
mechanics employed 1t their expenses shall
conform to the same number of hours.