The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-11
Platform of the National Labor Reform
PARTY.


We hold that ''all political power is inhe-
rent III the people, and free government
founded on the r authority and established
ior their benefit that all citizens are equal in
political rights. and entitled to the largest re-
lsious ami political liberty compatible 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, separatIye emoluments,
privileges, or lmnunItIes from the Govern
ment hut IN consideration If public services T.
and any laws destructive of these fundamen-
tai principles. are without moral binding
force, end should Ne repealed; and, believing
that a. evils rcsu' n from unjust legislation,
now affecting the industrial classes, can he re-
moved hy the adoption Of the principles con
tanned in the following declarations, therefore
be 1t
Resolved, That it is the duty Of the gov
cmment to establish a just standard Of distri-
button to capital and labor by providing a
purely national circulating medium, based on
the faith and resources Of the nation issued
directly to the people, without the interven-
ton 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
est not to exceed 3 65-l00 per cent, subject
to future legislation by Congress.
!. That the national debt should be paid in
good faith. according 70 the original contract,
ut the earliest option Of the government, with
out mort ga.iug the property of the people or
the future earnings ~ labor to enrich 4 few
capitalists at home and abroad
3 That Justice demands that the burdens
Of the government should be 50 adjusted as to
bear equally on al classes and interests, and
that tie exemption from taxation Of govern
meat bonds bearing eXtortiondte rates Of in
tcrcst, 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
he sofa to individuals or granted to corpora
t"ns, but sh"uld be held sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people and should be grant
Ell free OF cost to landless settlers only, in
amounts not exceeding 100 acres of land.
;. That Congress should modify the tariff
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 I'VE having the raw material in
abundance will assist in further developing
The resources Of the country
.. That the presence in our country Of Chi
nese laborers, imported by capitalists in large
numbers for servile use, ia an evil entaiing
want and its attendant ira in Of misery and
crime on all classes of the American people
and should lie prohibited by legislation.
!. That we ask for the enactment of a law
by which all mechanics and day labOrers EN-
ployed by or on behalf of the government
whether directly or Indirectly through per-
sous, firms, or corporations contracting with
the State, shall conform to the reduced stand
ard Of eight hours a 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.
I. 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 neccs-
sary for prosecuting wars should, as it is re-
guIred, be assessed and collected from the
wealth of the country, and not entailed as a
burden Of posterity.
. That it is the duty Of the government to
So exercise its power over railroads and tele-
graph corporations that hey shall not in any
case he privileged to exact such rates Of
freight, transportation or charges, 10y whatso-
ever name, as may bear unduly or unequally
upon either producer or consumer.
TO- 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
II. That, as both history and experience
teach US that power ever seeks to perpetuate
itself byany 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 free people and believing, too,
that the spirit of our organic laws and the
stability 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 quadrenuial election therefore, we are
in favor Of limiting the occupancy of the
Presidential chair to one term.
L. That the enlightened spirit of the Aae
demands the abolition Of the system of con
tract laoor in our pii5Ons and other refOrma-
tory institutions.
H. That we deem it ezpedient for Con
gress to revise the Patent laws so as to give
labor more fully the benefit Of its own inven-
tons.
H. That we demand the subsection Of the
militia. to the civil authority, and the con
tineIneno OF its operation to national purposes
alone.
-. That we ERE in favor Of granting gen
eral anne. ty, and restoring the Union a once
on the basis OF equality Of rights and privi-
lege5 q ALL the impartial administration Of
jnstice being the only true bond Of union to
bind the States together and restore the af-
fections Of the people to the government.