The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-20
Platform of the National Labor Reform
PARTY.


We hold that "all political power is inlo-
rent in the people, and free government
founded ON their authority and established
for their benefit, that all citizens are equal IL
political rights, and entitled to the largest re-
llgous and political liberty cumI atible with
the good order Of society, As also the use and
enjoyment Of the fruits OF their labor and tai
ents, and mo man, or set Of men, are emit
tied to exclusive, separative eInolGments,
privileges, or immunitles from the Govern
ment but III consideration Of public services ;
and any laws destructive Of these fundamen-
tai principles, are without moral binding
force, and should be repealed; and, bchevin.
that all evils resulting from unjust legislation
now affecting the industrial classes, can be re-
moved by the adoption Of the principles con
tanned in the follow ing declarations, therefore
be it
Resolved, That it is the duty Of the gov
eminent to establish Just standard Of distri-
button to capital and labor, by providing
purely national circulating medium, based on
the faith and resources Of the nation, issued
directly to the people, without the lnterveI-
ton Of any system Of banking corporations,
which money shall be a legal tender in the
payment Of all debts, public and private, and
interchangeable, at the option OF the holder,
for government bonds bearing rate Of inter
est not to exceed G5-lOO per cent, subject
to future legislation by Congress.
,. That the national debt should be paid i'll
good faith according to the original contract,
at the earliest option of the government, with
out mortgaglng the property of the people or
the future earnings Of labor to enrich a few
capitalists at home and abroad.
3. That justice demands that the burdens
Of the government should be so adjusted as to
bear equally on all classes and interests, and
that the exemption from taxation Of govern
ment bonds bearing extortiOnate rates of in
terest, is a violation Of all Just principles Of
revenue laws
4. That the public lands Of the United
States belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals or granted to corpora
tons, but should be held as sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people, and should be grant
ed free OF cost to landless settlers only, In
amounts not exceeding l60 acres Of land.
.. That Congress should modify the tariff
so as to admit free such articles Of common
use as we can neither produce nor grow, and
levy duties for revenue mainly upon articles
OF luxury, and upon such articles of manu-
facture as 1--WE having the raw material III
abundance) will assist in further developing
the resources Of the country.
8. That the presence in our country of Chi
nese labOrers, imported by capitalists in large
numbers for servile use, Is an evil eItailing
want and its attendant train Of misery and
crime on all classes of the American people,
and should be prohibited by legislation.
Z. That we ask for the enactment of 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 day, recently adopted by
Congress for national employees, and also for
an amendment to the acts of incorporation for
cities and towns, by which all laborers and
mechanics employed at their expense shall
conform to the same number of hours.
3. That the protection Of life, liberty and
property are the three cardinal principles Of
government, and the first two more sacred
than the latter therefore the money neces-
sary for prosecuting wars should, as it is re-
quired, be assessed and collected from the
wealth Of the country, and not entailed as a
burden of posterity.
g. That it is the duty of the government to
so exercise its power over railroads and tele-
graph corporations that they shall not in any
case be privileged to exact such rates of
freight, transportation or charges, by whatso-
ever name, as may bear unduly or unequally
upon either producer or consumer.
10. That fitness, and not political or per-
sonal considerations, should be the only re-
commentator to public office, either appoint
i've or elective, and any or all laws looking to
the establishment of this principle are heart
lily approved.
III. That, az both history and experience
teach us that power ever seeks to perpetuate
itself by any and by all means at its command,
and that its prolonged possession in the hands
of one person is always dangerous to the lib
critics of a free people and believing, too,
that the spirit Of our organic laws and the