The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-11-23
Platform of the National Labor Union.

We h"lh that all political power Is lnhe-
rent IN the people, that free government is
founded on their authority. and established for
their benefit that all citizens are equal in
Pohtieal rights, entitled to the largest relig-
ious and political liberty compatible with the
good order of society as also the use and en-.
Ioymcnt ofthe fruits II their labor and talents,
and no or set Of meH are entitled to the
exclusive, separate emOluments, privileges or
ImmunItlcs from the Government but in con
slieratI"n Of public services and any laws
destructive 81 these fundamental principles
are without moral binding force AMI should be
repealed , aud we believe that the evils re.
sultIng from uaJust legislation now affecting
the industrial classes can Ice removed by the
adoption Of the principles contained in the
following declarations Therefore resolved.
l. That II Is the dHtN uf the government
- establish lu>t standard OF distribution to
capital AMI lAi-'r. by providing purely ma
tunal circulating medium. based ON the faith
and res.'nrcrs Of the nation, issued directly to
the people without the intervention OF any
y stem 81 banking corporations. which money
shall lie : i,eal tender Ia the payment of all
debts, PublIe and private and interchangea-
hle at the option of re holder for government
h1nss. ls-aring a rae IT interest not to exceed
three and SIXTY 1--WE hundreths per cent sub
i,-.t to future ! -glslatIon BY Congress
= That Tia national debt should be paid
go.-i faith according u the orpinal con tract
at the yafi'.-t option IT tIsr government. with
.''t mnrt-al-ing tre property OF tie people
and the fatar. eos l.ings ii labor To enrich a
few capitalists Al nome amt abroad.
3 That justice demands that the burdens
Of government should h. So adjusted As to bear
equally on all classes and interests and the
exemption from taxation Of government bonds
Z
latIon ~ all just principles Of revenue laws
4 That the enlightened spirit of the age
demands IA, abolition Of the system of con
tract labor IN our prisons and other reforma
tory institutions.
.. That the public lands Of the United
states belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals aOr granted t0 corpora
tons, hut should be held As a sacred trust for
the benefit 81 the people, and should he grant
eel free Of cost t. lahdltSs settlers only ia
amounts not exceeding 100 acres each
g. That Congress should modify tariff 50
As To admit free such articles Of common use
As We can neither produce grow, and lay
duties for revenue mainly upon articles of lux
ury and upon such articles Of manufacture as
Will-we having the raw material In abund.
ance assist in further developing the resour-
ces of the country
Z. That the presence IN our country az
Chinese laboFers. imported by capitalists ir
large numbers for servlle use, Is an evil entail
ing want and it's attendant train of misery
and crime On all classes of the American peo-
pie, and hould be prohibited by legislation
5. 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 per day recently adopted by
Congress, for national employees, and also All
amendment to the acts Of incorporation for
cities and towns by which all labOrers and
mechanics employed at their expenses 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, money needed for
wars should, AZ it is required. be
assessed and collected from the wealth Of the
and not entailed as a burden on pos
terity
TO- That it is the duty Of the government
to So exercise its power over railroads and
telegraph corporations, that they shall not
in any case be privileged to exact such rates
Of freight, transportation charges by what
ever name, Is may bear unduly or inequitably
upon the producer or consumer
ii. That as both history and experience
teach us that power ever seeks to perpetuate
itself by every and all means at its command,
and that its prolonged possession in the hands
of one person is always dangerous to the
liberty of a free people, and believing that
the spirit Of our organic laws, and the stabili-
ty and safety of our free institutions are best
Obeyed on the one hand and secured on the
other by regular constitutional change |
in the Chief Executive of the country at |
each quadrennial election therefore we are
in favor Of limiting the occupancy Of the
presidential chair 10 one term.
II. That there should lie such reform in |
the civil service Of the national government |
As viii remove it beyond all partisan influence,
and place it in the charge and under the d. |
rection Of intelligent and competent business
men.
IL. That we are in favor of granting UNI
versal amnesty and restoring the Union at
1hce on the basis Of equality Of rights and
privileges to all, the impartial administration
# justice being the only true bond Of union
70 bind the States together and restore the
affections the people 70 the government.
a. That we deem it expedient for Con-
yress to revise the patent laws % ~ to give
Aborers more fully che benefits Of their own
IDEAS and inventions.
10. That fitness and mot political or person
i considerations should be the only rscem-
20 public Office, either Appointive
" elective, and any or all laws looking 70 the
Of this principle are heartily
approved.
l6 That we demand the subsection Of the
military 10 the civil authorities, and the
confinement Of its operation TO national pur-
noses alone