The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-07-12
Platform the Of National Labor Union

We hold that all political power is inhe-
rent in the people, that free government is
founded on their authority, and established for
their benefit !" that all citizens are equal in
political rights, entitled to the largest reliR-
ious and political liberty compatible with the
good order Of society, also the use and en-.
ioyment ofthe fruits Of their labor and talents.
and no man set Of men are entitled to the
exclusive, separate emoluments, privileges or
lmmunities 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 be
repealed and we believe that the evils re-
sulting from Just legislation now affecting
the industrial classes can be renewed by the
adoption Of the principles contained in the
following declarations Therefore resolved.
1. That it is the duty Of the government
to establish just standard of distribution to
capital and labor. by providing . purely ma
tional circulating medium, based on the faith
and resources of the nation, issued directly to
the people without the intervention Of any
system of banking corporations, which money
shall be legal tender in the payment Of all
debts, public and private and interchangea.
bic at the option of the holder for government
bonds, bearing a rate Of interest not to exceed
three and sixty five hundreths per cent. sub
ject To future sgislation by Congress.
2 Tina. tn , national debt should be paid
in good faith according to the original contract
at the earliest option Of the government. with
out mortgaging the property of the people
and the future earnings Of labor to enrich
few capitalists at home and abroad
3 That justice demands that the burdens
of government should be so djusted as to bear
equally on al classes and interests, and the
/ frnrn I'm attn of. 4
bearing extortionate rates OF interest is a vio-
| lation OF all Just principles of revenue laws
4. That the enlightened spirit Of the age
demands the abolition Of the system Of con
tract labor IN our prisons and other reforma-
tory institutions
). That the public landp OF the United
States belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals nor granted to corpora
tions 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 100 acres each
q. That Congress should modify tariff S.
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 luz
ury and upon such articles Of manufacture A.
will we having the raw material in abund
ance-assist in further developing the resour-
ces of the country.
T. That the presence in our country Of
Chinese laborers, imported by capitalists IN
large numbers for servile use is an evil entail
ing want and its attendant tram Of misery
and crime ON all classes Of the American PEG
pie, and should be prohibited by legislation
s. 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 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 ard
property are the three cardinal principles OF
government, and the first two are more sacred
than the latter therefore, money needed for
Prosecuting wars should, as it Is required, be
assessed and collected from che wealth Of the
GO pantry, and not entailed as a burden ON pos
terty.
10. That it is the duty Of the government
to SO exercise its power over railroads aud
telegraph corporations. that they shall not
IN any case be privileged to exact such rates
Of freight, transportation or charges bN what
ever name, as may bear unduly or in,4iuitably
upon the producer OF consumer.
ii. That as both history and experience
teach us that power seeks t. prrpetuatt
itself by every and all means at its command.
and that its prolonged possession Ia the hands
Of one person is always dangerous To- the
liberty of free people, and beleiying that
the spirit Of our organic laws, aud the stabih-
ty and safety Of our free institutions are best
obeyed Oh the one hand and secured On the
other by a regular constitutional change
ia the Chief Executive OF the country at
each quadrennial election therefore We are
in favor Of limiting the occupancy Of the
presidential chair to one term.
II That there should be such reform III
the civil service Of the national government
a. viii remove it beyond all partizan influence,
and place II in the charge and under the di-
rectlon Of Intelligent and competent business
men.
l3. That we are III favor Of granting uni
yersal amnesty, and restoring the Union at
once on the basis Of equality of rights ana
privehges to all, the impartial administration
Of justice being the ouly true bond Of union
to bind the States together and restore the
affections Of the people to the government,
IA. That We deem it expedient for Con
gress to revise the patent laws So as to give
labOrers more fully the benefits of their own
ideas and inventions.
10 That fitness and not political or person
al considerations should be the only recon-
mendation to public office, either appointive
or elective, and any all laws looking to the
establishment Of this principle are heartily
approved.
IL. That we demand the subsection Of the
military to the civil authorities, and the con
finement Of its operation to national purposes
alone