Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-13
W0RKINGMEN's LABOR UNION.
PIaff0r - of Principles and what They
Say TO the Uninitiated.
The G.and Tnion of dine WorLinnnen,

city in November, there being tiftv-fopr
delegates N attendance. After the regular
business was disposed of, the new ritual
was adopted as reported BY the committee.
and the following plato. n, u. Oh Tic y i
tional Industrial Congress, also adopted,
to-wit:
Whereas, the recent alarming develop
ment and aggression of aggregated wealth,
which, unless checked, will inevitably lead
to the pauperiZaticn and hopeless degrade
tion Of the toiling masses, render it imper-
alive, if we desire to enjoy the blessings of
the Government bequeathed to us by the
founders of the Republic, that a check
should be placed upon its power and un-
just accumulation, and system adopted
which viii secure to the laborer the fruits
of his toll, and
Whereas, this much desired object can
only be accomplished by the thorough uni
fication of labor, and the united efforts of
those who obey the Divine injunction that
'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread" and
Whereas; while we recognize in the bal
lot-boX an agency by which these wrongs
can be redreSSed when other means fail.
yet the great desideratum' of the hour is the
organization, consolidation and co-opera-
tive effort of the producing masses, as a
Steppirg-stone to that education which will
in the future lead to more advanced action,
through which the necessary reforms can
be obtained; and
Whereas, while we fully recognize the
power and efficiency of Trade and Labor
Unions, local and international, as now or
ganized, in regulating purely trade matters,
yet, upon all questions appertaining to
their welfare as whole, the influence of
these organizations without closer union
must prove comparatively futile; therefore
Resolved, that we submit to the people
of the United States the objects sought to
be accomplished by the Industrial Con-
gress:
|. To bring within the folds of the or
ganization every department of productive
industry, making knowledge a Standpoint
for action, and industrial, moral and social
wOTth-not wealth-the true standard of
individual and national greatness,
2. To secure to the toiler an equal share
Of the wealth which he helps to create;
more OF the leisure that rigldly belongs to
him; more SECRETARY advantages; more of the
benefits, privileges and emoluments of the
world; in word, all those rights and priv
leges necessary to make him capable of en-
joying, approaching, defending and perpet-
uating the blessings of Republican institu-
tiOns.
3. To arrive at the true condition of the
producing masses in their educatiOnal, moral
and financial condition, we demand from
the several States and from the National
Government the establishment of Bureaus
of Labor Statistics.
1. The establishment Of cooperative in
Stitutions, productive and distrihutive.
). The reserving of the public lands, the
heritage of the people, for the actual set
tiers and not another acre for railroads or
spectators.
6. The abrogatiOn of all laws that do not
bear equally upon capital and labor, and
by the adoption Of measures providing for
the health and safety Of those engaged in
mining manufacturing building pursuits.
I. The substitution of arbitration for
strikes, whenever and wherever employers
and employees are willing TO meet on equii-
table grounds.
s, The prophibition of the importation
of all serYile races, the discOntinuance of
all subsidies granted to national vessels
ton. or at least, the modification, of the
Burlingame treaty.
9. To advance The standard OF American
mechanics by the enactment and enforce
ment Of equitable apprentice laws.
10. To abolish the system of contracting
the labor Of cOnvicts in our prisons and re
formatory institutions.
IL. The reduction of the hours of labor
to eight per day, so that the laborers may
have more time for social employment ard
intellectual! Improvement, and be enabled
to reap the advantages conferred by labor
saving machinery, which their brains have
created.
y. The providing of purely National
circulating medium, based on the faith
and resources or the nation, and issued di-
ractly to the people, so Instituted as to con-
stitute a circulating medium of the neces-
sary heXibility, and receivable for all de-
mands, public and private.
We have obtained possession of the fol-
lowing circular, recently issued by the
Grand Secretary, and addressed to the
pninitiated. we give it entire, as follows
10 the Unipitiated;
In answer TO innumerabie letters OF i'll
quiry as to our objects, etc, | would say
our object was to elevate the workingman
morally, socially and politically, so that lie
can and VIII think for himself, and not be
led off by every spread eagle orator who
may get up at any cross road or street cor
ner and tell them that it is to their interest
to dam the Cumberland, and thug anaOunGe
himself as a candidate for Office that he has
no qualifications 10 fill. Nothing is more
absurd than to hear on the stump man
claim that the people have a right and
ought to give him office because he has
been a soldier and fought, bled and died for
his country, or he is a large taxpayer. or
his grandfather killed 2 bear or ga Indian
fifty or a hundred years ago. Offices, it is
true, are shOwered, like the rains of heaven,
upon the just and unjust. The Roman
Augurs that usedsto laugh in each others
faces at the simplicity of the vulgar, were
also tickled with their own guile when
Caesar put the iron heel of the despot on
their neck, and so it was With the French
by the first Sapplean, aud so IL viii be
with us, il We submit to be led astray any
longer by political tricksters. Imbecilitv
is promoted to high places, and shallow
pretence, getting itself pulled into notice,
has invaded all the Sanctuaries, The most
unscrupuIous pariisanship, even ir respect
to judicial trusts, and the most unjust ap-
pomtments Is constantly made, although
every improper promotion, not only cOnfers
one undeserved favor, but may make a hum
dred cheeks smart with injustice. The cOun-
tryis stabbed infrOntwhen there are brought
into the stalled seats who should sink in
to the dim gallery. Every stamp of honor
i'll clutched is stolen from the treasury of
merit. Patriotism is their trade, and their
capital is speech, men born and bred to
betray, their false and slavish habit of cleo
pioneering and begging for Office eliminates
in bribery with office and corruption in Of
flee He who will basely fawn on those
who have Office to beStow will betray like
lscariOt and prove a miserable and pitiable
failure. The people that employ and hon
or such shallow and superficial leaders
will weep tears of blood for their fatal er-
ror. Our aim is to lash such men as they
deserve, ard history make them immortal
iii infamy. TO destroy this upas tree, root
and branch, to paralyze the I'M
hallOwed, blighting influence of the
mOnied power; to establish a true
American monetary system which will
give to the producer, agriculturist, machan-
ic and labOrer the fruits of his toll: in
short, to give us a government, State and
representing the interests of the
perple, and administered for the benefit of
the people and not for the few. Honesty
and merit in our leaders will give this, and
We will support no man who has not the