The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-21
Platform of the National Labor Union.

We hold that all political power is inhe-
rent IN the people that free government is
founded on their authority, and established for
their benefit !" that all citizens are equal in
political rights, entitled to the largest relig
ious and political liberty compatible with the
good order " 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 or
immunities from the Government, but in con
slderatou Of public services and any laws
destructive Of these fundamental principles
are without moral binding force and should be
repealed and we believe that the evils
sulting from unjust Legislation now affecting
the industrial classes can be removed by the
adoption of the principles contained In the
following declarations Therefore resolved
L. That it is the duty Of the government
to establish Just standard of distribution to
capital and labor, by providing purely
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 interchangea-
bic at the option Of the holder for government
bonds, bearing a rate of interest not to exceed
three and sixty five hundreths per cent. sub
Iect 70 future legislation by Congress.
? That the 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,
and the future earnings of labor to enrich a
few capitalists at home and abroad.
3. That justice demands that the burdens
of government should be so adjusted as to bear
equally on all classes and interests, and the
exemption from taxation Of government bonds,
bearing eXtortionate rates of interest, is viO-
lation 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 refoma-
tory institutions
>. That the public lands of the United
States belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals nor granted to corpora
tiOns, but should he held q sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people, and should be grant
Ell free Of cost to landless settlers only in
amounts not exceeding l6O acres each.
D. That Congress should modify tariff 30
as to admit free such articles Of common use
as we can neither produce or grow, and lay
duties for revenue mainly upon articles of lux
ury and upon such articles Of manufacture as
wll--we having the raw material in abund-
ance-assist in further developing the resOur-
ces OF the country.
.. That the presence in our country Of
Chinese laborers, imported by capitalists in
large numbers for servile use, is 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
g. 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 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 |
employed at their expenses shall |
conform to the same number of hours.