The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-12-28
Platform Of the National 1aIor ONION

We hold that AL political Potr u inhe-
rent in the people, that free ef@nment 10
founded on their authority, and sstblished r
their benefit !" that al citizeus % eqpal IN
political riahta, entitled TO tbs @agest relg-
ious and political liberty comps6t with the
| good order Of society, NJ also the lse and en-
| Ioyment ofthe fruits of their labor nd talents,
and no man or set Of men are snttled TO the
exclusive, separate emolumenta, hvileges or
immunities from the Governmsat, put in con-
alteration Of public services ad any laws
destructive Of these Fundamental principles
are without moral binding force ~ should Be
repealed and we believe that ID evils re-
sulting from unjust legislation tfW affecting
the industrial classes can be rsutssd by the
adoption Of the principles coneined in the
following declarations. Thsrs13 resolved
l. That it il the duty Of the government
to establish just standard of dill nbution to
capital and labor, by providing Purely ma
tional circulating medium. bassdSn the faith
and resources Of the nation, issue directly to
the people without the intervsnSsn Of any
system of banking corporations. vhch money
shall be legal tender in the paeapnt Of all
debts, public and privsts and harchaagea-
BILE At the option Of tie holtier foe Kveminent
bonds, bearing q raas of interest MOTTO exceed
three and sixty five hundreths prrrent sub
feet to future egislation by Consrss.
2 That tn, national debt shout be paid
in good faith according to the origi,a contract
At the earliest option Of the government, with
out mortgaging ths property Of III people,
and the future earnings Of labork enrich .
few capitalists ut home and abroad
3. That justice demands that Oh burdens
Of government should be 90 adiustsshs To bear
equally on all classes aud interest,", and the
exemption from taxation Of government bonda
bearing extOrtionate rates Of intereuais n vlo-
lAtiOn Of all just principles Of revsa9 laws.
4. That the enlightened spizit 4 ths age
demands the abolition of the system II con
tract labor III our prisons and oeheFfeforma-
tory institutions.
5. That the public Lands Of IL United
States belong TO the people, and saeuld not
be sold to individuals nor granted II corpora-
tiOns but should be held As q SACRED trust for
the benefit Of the people, and shouEbe grant
ed free of cost to lAndless settlefs only in
amounts not exceeding 100 acres ea.a
8. That Congress should modify tariff 90
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 a.
ance-a assist in further developing tho resour-
ces Of the country.
I. That the presence in our contry Of
Chinese labOrers, imported by capitalists IL
large numbers for servile use, is an sylentail-
ing want and its attendant train Of misery
and crime on all cslasse Of the Americn peo-
pie, and should be prohibited by legilation.
=. That we ask for the enactment u q Law
by which all mechanics and day laborrs en-
ployed by or on behalf Of the Government,
whether directly or indirectly, thronA per.
sons, firms or corporations, contractiR with
the State, shall conform to the reduced stand
ard Of eight hours per day recently adrsted b,
Congress, for national employees, and also Al
amendment to the acts of incorporation fol
cities and towns by which all Iabos,rs and
mechanics employed at their expense, shai
conform to the same number Of hours.
g. That the protection Of life, hbeity AnC
property are the three cardinal princples o
government, and the first two are more acreC
than the latter therefore, money neekd fo
prosecuting wars should as it is requied, b,
assessed and collected from the wealth u tn
country, and not entailed a. burden % pos
terity
10 That it is the duty of the government
To 80 exercise it's power over railroads an,
telegraph corporations, that they shMI NO
in any case be privileged to exact such rate
of freight, transportation OF charges by What
ever name, as may bear unduly OF inequaabl
upon the producer or consumer.
H. That Is both history and expsenc
teach us that power ever seeks tn perpstlAt
itself by every and all means at its command
and that its prolonged possession in the hand
OF one person is always dangerous to tn
/ HbsrtV of a free IpeoDle and lreleivinU N /.