The workingman's advocate., 1872-03-30
Platform of the National Labor Reform
Party.

We hold that AL political power is mhe
rent IN the people, and free government
founded on their authority and established
for their benefit that all citizens are equal in
Iolitical rights. and entitled to the largest re-
Iigious and political liberty compatible with
the good order Of society also the use and
ENJOYMENT Of the fruits of their labor and tai
ents, and mo man, or set Of men, are entl-
tied to exclusive, separatlve emoluments,
privileges, or immunities from the Govern
ment but in consideration Of public services !;
and any laws destructive of these fundamen-
tai principles, are without moral binding
force. and should he repealed; and, believing
that all evils resulting from unjust legislation,
nov affecting the industrial classes can lie re-
moved by the adoption Of the principles con
tanned IN the following declarations, there
fore lie 1t
Resolved That it is the duty Of the gov
ernment to establish Just standard of distri
button to capital and labor, by providing
purely national circulating medium, based on
the faith and resourcey Of the nation, issued
directly to the people, without the interven-
tion Of any system Of banking corporations
which money shall be legal tender in the
payment Of all debts, public and private, and
interchangeable, at the option of the holder
for government bonds bearing a rate of inter
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,
without mortgaglng the property Of the people
/ or the future earnings of labor to enrich 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 al Just principles Of
revenue laws.
T. That the public lands Of the United
States belong to the people, and should not
he sold to individuals or granted to corpora
tions, but should be held as a 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 Of land
;. That Congress should modify the tariff
81 as to admit free such articles Of common
use a. We can neither produce nor grow, and
levy duties for revenue mainly upon articles
Of luxury, and npon such articles of manufac-
tune as I'VE having the raw material IL
abundancel will assist in further developing
the resources Of the country.
&. That the presence in our country oi
Chinese laborers, imported by capitalists il
large numbers for servile use, is an evil er.
failing want and it's 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 a Law
by which all mechanics and day laborers EN-
Ployed by or on hehalf of the government
whether directly or indirectly through per
sons, firms, or corporations contracting will
the State, shall conform to the reduced
standard of eight hours day, recently adopt
ed by Congress for national employees, ali,
also for an amendment to the acts Of incorpo
ration for cities and towns, by which all la
borers and mechanics employed at their ex
pense shall conform to the same number o
hours.
s. That the protection Of life, liberty anC
, property are the three cardinal principles O
government, and the first two more sacreC
than the latter therefore the money neces
sary for prosecuting wars should, as it is re
: quired, he assessed and collected from tn
wealth OF the country, and not entailed a.
burden on pOsterity.
9. That it is the duty of the government
to so exercise its power over railroad and tel
egraph corporations that they shall not in an,
case be privileged to exact such rates o
freight lsportatioE or charges. by whatso
ever name, as may bear unduly or unequall,
upon either producer or consumer
10. That fitness, and not political or per
sonal considerations, should be the only re
commendatiOn to public office, either appoint
i've or elective, and any or all laws looking T.
the establishment Of this principle are heart
! lily approved.
ii. That, as both history and experience
teach us that power ever seeks to perpetual
itself by any and by all means at its command
| and that its prolonged possession in the hand