The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-02-03
Platform Of the National Labor Union

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WHEREAS, 1t is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration Of
principles, but to re-afiim the same and for
practical use, enunciate the substance thereof
i'll a more convenient and concise FORM with
some additional resolutions and
WHEREAS, Ian political power is inherent
in the people, and free government, founded on
their authority and established for their ben
eft; y that all freemen are equal in political
rights, aud entitled to the largest political and
religious liberty compatible with the good
order of society, also the use and the enjoy
ment of the fruits of their labor and talents
and ''no man or set Of men are entitled to
exclusive, separate emoluments, privileges or
immunities from the government, but in con-
slderatiOn of public services and any laws
destructive Of these fundamental principles
are without moral binding force and should be
repealed. To do so, however, is a difficult
work when such laws or usages are interviewer
with pride, prejudice and seltishness Besides,
experience shows thai laboring people are more
than others disposed "to suffer while evils
are sutferable than organize for their abO-
lition and,
WHEREAS, We are admonished by the i'm
periled rights Of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agtate in our behalf,
with the decree g In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread and the adage that
" The price Of liberty is eternal vigilance
enthrrned in our hearts and emblazoned as
notices upon our banners, assured of success
over corrupt political schemers and the specu-
lators and bankers who are preying like har-
pies upon the fruits of honest labor, and thus
restore to our political and social system that
equilibrium Of right and justice necessary
to good government and domestic tranquility,
be it
Resolved, That the laborers in all depart
ments of useful industry are suffering from
system Of monetary laws, which were enacted
during the late war measures, it was as
sumed, necessary to the life of the nation,
which are now sought to be perpetuated in the
interest Of bondholders and bankers as a means
to subvert the government Of our fathers and
establish on its ruins an empire III which all
political power shall be centralized, to restrain
and Cypress the rights Of labor and subordi-
nate its votaries to the merciless demands Of
aggregated capital.
ReSoired. That the rate of interest on money
is the governing power in the distribution Of
the products Of industry and enterprise be-
tween capital and labor, and that the present
rates are in excess and disproportionate to the
increase Of the national wealth, and oppressive
to the producing classes.
Resolrei, That the national banking sys-
TEN, being inimical to the spirit of liberty and
subversive Of the principles of Justice, without
warrant in the constitution Of the United
States, and wrongfully increasing the bur
dens of the wealth-producing classes millions
Of dollars annually, justice demands its repeal
ResoIrei, That to provide true national
currency, adapted to the genius Of our institu-
tions and the wants Of the business of the
country, the circulating notes Of the national
banks and the present greenbacks, which are
not a full legal tender, should he withdrawn
from circulation and their place supplied with
paper currency based ON the wealth of the
nation; made legal tender in the payment
Of all debts, public and private; declared the
lawful money of the United States and con
vertible at the pleasure of the holder into gov
eminent bonds bearing three per cent. inter
est per annum subject to future legislation
by Congress the bonds likewise convertible
into lawful money at the option of the holder.
ReSoired, That the claim Of the bqndholders
for payment in gold 81 that class Of indebted
ness known as $40 bonds, the principal Of
which is legally and equitably payable in law
full money! is dishonest and extortonate and
hence We enter our solemn protest against any
departure from the original contract, by fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
creasing the gold-bearing and untaxed obliga-
tons Of the government.
ResoIred, That the public lands Of the
United States betong TO the people and should
not be- Soiito mdirItudis nor granted to corpora
TONS, but should he held as a sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people and should be grant
eel free of cost to landless settlers only, in
amounts not exceeding 100 acres of land
ReSoIyei, That Justice demands that the
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iusted as to bear equally on all classes and in
terests and that the exemption from taxation
Of government bonds bearing extortionate rates
Of interest, is a violation Of all Just principles
Of revenue laws
Res0Ired, That Congress should modify the
tariff so as to admit free the necessaries of life
and such articles Of common use az we can
neither produce nor grow also to lay duties
for revenue mainly upon such articles of lux
ury and upon such articles of manufacture a.
1--WE having the raw material III abundance)
will develop the resources Of the country, in
crease the number of factories give employ
ment to more laborers, maintain good compen-
sation, cause the immigration Of skilled labor,
the lessening Of prices to consumers, the ere
ating Of a permanent home market for agricul-
tural products, destroy the necessity for the
odiOus and expensive system of internal
taxation, and will soon enable us to sue
cessfully compete with the manufacturers Of
Europe in the markets of the world.
Resolred, That the National Labor Con
gress earnestly recommend the adoption Of
such measures among all classes of workmen,
in all sections of the country as will secure
the adoption of the eight-hOur system, and
call upon the respective state legislatures to
follow the example Of the National Congress in
recognizing eight hours as legal days work.
Resolved, That the presence in our country
Of Chinese laborers in large numbers il an evil
entailing want and its consequent train Of
misery and crime on all classes Of the Ameri-
can people, and should be prohibited by legis-
lation.
Resolved, As labor is the foundation and
cause Of national prosperity, it is both the
duty and interest of the government to foster
and protect it. Its Importance, therefore,
demands the creation Of an Executive De-
partment Of the Government at Washington,
to be denominated the Department of Labor,
which shall aid in protecting it above all other
interests.
Resolved, 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, money necessary
for prosecuting wars should, a. it IL required. |
be assessed and collected from the wealth Of
the country, and not be entailed as a burden |
on Posterity:
ResotDed, That it il the duty Of the govern
ment TO 30 exercise its power over railroads |
and telegraph corporations that the actual |
capital honestly invested therein shall I'm M /