The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-02-15
Platform of the National Labor Union.

Platform of the National Labor Union.
We hold that all political power v inhe
rent iu the people that free government l.
founded on their authority. and established fur
their benefit that all citizens are equal ~
political rights, entitled % the largest relig-
ions and political liberty compatible with the
good order VI society, as also the use and en-
Ioymeut ofthe fruits Il their labor and talents.
and no man OF set OF men entitled to the
exclusive, separate emoluments, privileges OF
immuntIes from the Government but IA con
sidcratlou 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repealed and We believe that the evils re-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 ami st legislation affecting
the industrial classes can be removed hN the
adoption ot the principles contained m the
following declarations. Therefore resolved
!. That 10 Is the duty of the government
To establish a Just standard 81 distribution to
capital and labor. by providing purely ma
tIuual circulating medium, based on the faith
and resources u the nation. issued directly To
the people without the intervention Of any
system NJ bAnkIlg corporations, winch money
shall be a legal tender III the payment Of all
dcits. public and private; and Interchangea-
de At the option OF the holder for government
honds, hcsring a rate Of interest not to exceed
three and sixty hye hundreths per cent. sub
lr,t u future egislation Ly Congress
2 That tn national debt should be paid
Ia good faith according tothe original contract
az the earliest option vi the government with
out murtgaglng the property Of the people,
and the future earnings Of labor to enrich a
few capitalists at home and abroad
8. That Justice demands that the burdens
| OF government should he So adj uSted is to bear
equally on all classes and interests, and the
exemption from taxation Of government bonds
bearing cNtortionate rates Of interest, il yio-
lauou ut All Just principles of revenue Laws.
4. That the enlightened spirit az the age
demands the abolition Of the system of con
trait 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 nor granted t. corpora
tious hut should be held as a sacred trust for
the benefit If the people, and should be grant
ed free ~ cost tn landless settlers only in
amounts nut exceeding 100 acres each.
8. That Congress should modify tariff SO
As 70 admit free such articles of common use
a. We can neither produce or grow. and lay
! duties for revenue mainly upon articles Of lux
ury and upon such articles Of manufacture as
viii we having the raw material in abund-
luce-asslst IN further developing the resour-
cvs VI the country
Jill inAe the Preseiice " our country W
Chinese laborers, imported BY capitalists il
large numbers for seTvle use. Is an evil entail
! ing want and its attendant train Of misery
and crime on all cslasse OF the American peO-
| pie, and should be prohibited by legislation.
;. That we ask for the enactment If a law
~ "h'h ~ iheeIahles anu day lah'rers en-
P"Hv" "N "r uh renal, n the government =
"Ho'nel 'lAre''iE ~ indirectly thT"u-h Per
snHN ''Ihls uI corporations contracting WIN
'le ol"J', Shal conform u the rtiuced stand
ara "' ei"ht honrs per Gay recently adopted ny
'h-ieSS' Tor national employees. and also an
al. nj 10 tue acts Oh Incorporation Tor
''utS anu towns ny Wh'ch All hhorers and
''e' n"''''N eln PioSea at theH expenses snail
,'iI'iin 7" lhe same hummer q hours.
mat the Poteetloh O NE, hoerty and
property are I'M tIree caruhal principles p
EtfiilhehI' ana tIe hEsl Two are more sacred
.''''ll 'iiv latter 'lertI,ie' money hredeI i"r
ti"Soe eng "%lS SH"uli' a y Is required, De
assessed ana collected from che wealth of the
'.''iy' ana NOT elt'lie' Is " puIueh on pos
..,
l'' Il = III "u1y II 1ie e"''r i'ilieI,
'>''''N' l'' l'"ei "'eI r'l'I'Si ahu
'ft oI- III .''i,l9' 'ii"t 1Le9 ANah TT
=" '"N III ri l''i' 4" e'''' Such 'ateN
'- I1'-N-' l''hNl 1a''"n q charges ~ "hat-
ever name = may Dear uhduly OF hequltahIy
up''ii 'l ne II''niTeI or consumer.
'"S' a. "o'H history anu experience
- '-.''e Po"Ti n q seoAS 70 Petl'etuAte
~ ~ iu1.'iis a. ~ V ., MANI
AT u,,"' ~ P'io'ee'' 'sess'on y lne hanns
L, XII leIs'E / Always dangerous % the
u nee peolie' 4hu DeIevlhe tnat
" II" II H''''o u" !, III" 'he s'a"i'i-
- LII III It'll Il!'.'s III III
lucy 'N VII LIAc JIG Adltl anu stCuLGu on the