The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-01-27
Platform of the National Labor UniOr,

principles, but to e-athIm the same and, for
practical use, enunciate the substance thereof
in 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" 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
sideration Of public services - and any laws
destructive Of these fundamental principles
are without moral binding force, and should b.
repealed To do SO, however is a difficult
work when such laws or usages are interviewer
with pride, prejudice and seltshness Besides,
experience shows that laboring people are more
than others disposed Ito suffer while evils
are siderable than organize for their abO-
htlOn and,
WHEREAS, We are admonished by the i'm
periled rights of labor throughou the United
States to organize and agitate in our behalf
with the decree, In the sweat Of thy face
shalt thou eat bread" and the adage that
" The price Of liberty is eternal vigilance"
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 so necessary
TO cool 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 as measures, 1t was as
sumed, necessary to the life Of the nation,
which are now sought to be perpetuated in the
interest of bondhollers and bankers as means
to subvert the government of our fathers and
establish on its ruins an empire in 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.
ReSo}rcd, 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
lnereassof the national wealth, and oppressive
to the producing classes.
Resojred, That the national banking sys-
TEN, being nimical 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.
ResoIred, That to provide a true national
currency, adapted to the genius of our institu-
lions and the wants of the business Of the
country the circulating notes of the national
banks and the present greenbacks, which are
not full legal tender, should be 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.
Resolred, That the claim Of the bondholdors
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
ness known as $50 bonds, the principal Of
which is legally and equitably payable in law
full money, is dishonest and extortiOnate, 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 obhga-
tons Of the government.
Resolrsd, That the public lands Of the
United States beiong 10 hs peQpie and should
not be sold to indirdSdis nor granted % corpora
tioas, but should be held as a sacred trust for
the benefit of the people, and should be grant
cd free of cost to landless settlers only, In
amounts not exceeding l6O acres of land,
Resolrcd, That Justice demands that the
burdens Of the government should be so adj
iusted as to bear equally on all classes and in
aDI that the ayamntinn from taxation
Of government bonds bearing extortionate rates
Of interest, is violation 0f all Just pT4noiples
Of revenue laws.
Resolred, That Congress should modify the
tariff 80 as to admit free the necessarles OF life
and such articles Of common use as 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 as
i've having the raw material in 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 Gre
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
Resolped, That the National Labor Con
gress earnestly recommend the adoption Of
such measures among all classes Of workmen,
in all sections of the country, 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 laboren in large numbers is an evl!
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.
Resolred 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 ard in protecting it above all other |
interests.
Resolved, That the protection of life, liberty |
and property are the three cardinal principles |
IF government, and the first two NOR sacred
han the latter therefore, money necessary
or prosecuting wars should, as it is required,
De assessed and collected from the wealth OF
he country, and not be entailed as burden /
IN pOsterity.
Resolved, That it is the duty Of the govern.
nent to so exercise its power over railroads
md telegraph corporations that the actual
apital honestly invested therein shall in no
ase realize exceeding six per cent. upon the
mount invested.