The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-24

A >INt n. ALFRED w hkLfSy
4 >,HEutptk, JAMES HNLANp,
K ". CoWslI, JAMES }. MlrcHELL,
Ne hea further Il present the following
Declaration ut Principles
W. hold these truths to be set-evident
that an men are created equal, that they are
endowed bN their Creator with certain ma
htuabie nights that among them are hte,
liberty ANA ,ue PursuItiot happiness that to
secure Jhes, rights governments are instltu-
tea among men. deriving their lust powers
from III, consent ~ the governed
That ti.,rc are but two pure forms Of gov
erum,ut the AutoCratIc and the Democratic,
uutrr IN, former the wlll Of the individual
sovereign D. the supreme law, under the lat
TN tnr sovereignty l. vested IN the whole
people. all other forms beng modification
OF one OF the other Of these principles, ami
that ultimately one or other Of these forms
must pre, All throughout all civilized nations.
ami 1t Is now for the American people 10
determine which Of these principles shall
triumph.
That the design Of the founders Of the Re
luul n W. Nv institute a government upon
The yrucple OF absolute inherent sovereignty
MA ta, people. and that would give to each
citizen Jhe largest political and religious hb-
/ ,rtN Compatible With the good or,ier Of SOIL
c;N 4aa secure % esoh the right 10 ENJOY the
-...s .t ai> labor ami talents that when
avs a., enacted destructive OF these ends.
.l.e, ar, without moral hindlng force, ana 1t
] tAy r.-at ana duty u the people 10 alter,
I amend. % .tohsh them. aud institute such
I others. tulla.nA them uloH the principles Of
I equity. - III theu may seem most hkely to
{ c-r.J theIr prosperity and happiness.
0 PIituc, WI. indeed 5lctAte that Impor-
taa1 avs I.u1 established should not lie
. changed for at and transient causes, and
.Nper1glct has shown that the American
.ig- WY arr more disposed To suffer UhIle evils
4 arr siderable. thAH t. change the forms And
avs IN which thsy have been accIst med.
Y aut = Len a lunA tram VI legislative abuses,
. ..lrsl4l. Arlsbly the same object, eVlnces
3 aesill IL sllNsrJ the sflrt q freedom aud
. es4-A-lty ut-Ul lllh uUT institutions are fuuA-
. l-s. ana reduce them l. a state 81 servltUde,
Y 10 J. t1t.r rl.Lt-lt 4 tAelr duty ~ abolish
2 ,-.a avs ana provide neW guards for their
. -g---. security such has been the patient
.aizr-r- VI tie veAltl-Iroduclng classes li
Tie D-.-e- >Iste,. aud such i nov the neces-
slrv E1lc1 -l1isIlAlus Them 10 pat forth a.
arEallz-l and 4nIIed e-1urT tor maintaining
ln-.r Lat-r7.. rl-1Js- v Inch lInperllIed by
the lL.s.ll 1l4s schemes and ulWaTrAnbed az
-ressIJls " u1scrlp ulOus bankers and usur-
sls . means u 1n~lse zud corrupt I,gIs-
Lals1
wv further hold That Ell property Or
~saltl D. The product u ply sllal and intel
Iect1Al lab-or employed IL productive indus
-ry a-l Il the distribution 10 the productions
u labor tE4t lab0rers ought Of nght, aud
would under Just monetary system, receive
~ retain the larger proportion u their pro
iaetlOus that the wrongs, expressions and
restitution which lAborers are suffering
t-....
AID useful occupation, do not result from IN
surhciency Of production, but from the unfair
distribution of the products If labor between
uon-prOducIng capital and labor.
That money is the medium Of distribution
u non producing capital and producing labor,
the rate Of interest determining what proper
tIon ~ the products Of labor shall be award
ed To capital for its use, ana what to labor
Tor ITS production that the power to make
money ana regulate its value Is an essential
attribute Of sovereignty, the exercise Of
which Is by the Constitution of the United
States wisely and properly granted TO Cong
ress and it Is the imperative duty Of Congress
to institute 1t upon such wide and Just ba-
SIS that shall be directly under the control
Of the sovereign people who produce the val
ue It Is designed To represent, measure and
exchange, that it may be correct and uni
form sJan0Afu OF Ndluey anu ulstTlDuOc Ine
products of labor equitably between caDital
and labor according to the serEe-Ur labor
performed IN their producte5n
That Law en9cting the so-called Nati-
-0na1 Banking system is delegation by Con
gress Of the sovereign power to make money
and regulate its value to a class of irrespon-
sible banking associations, thereby giving to
them the power to control the value of all
the property ia the nation, and to nix the re-
wards Of labor IN every department Of indus |
try, and Is InImlcal to the spirit Of liberty, |
and subversive Of the principles Of Justice |
upon which our democratic republican msti- |
tutions are founded, and without warrant in |
the Constitution justice, reason and sound
policy demands its immediate repeal and the |
substitution of legal tender Treasury notes as |
the exclusive currency Of the nation.
That this money monopoly is the parent of
all monOpOlies-THE VERY ROOT AND ESSENCE |
OF sLAvERY-rallroad, warehouse, and all I
other mOnopohes Of whatever kInd of nature /
are the Outgrowth Of and subservient to this
power, and the means used by 1t to rob the
industrial wealth-producing
classes of the products Of their talents and
labor.
That as Government is instituted to protect
life AMI secure the rights Of property, each
should share its just and proper proportion Of
the burthens and sacrifices necessary for its
and perpetuity, and that the
from taxation Of bank capital and
government bonds, bearing double and bank
rupting rates Of interest, is a species Of dan
gerous and unjust class legislation opposed to
the spirit of our institutions, and contrary To
the principles Of sound morality and enlirht
ened reason.
That our monetary, financial and revenue
laws are in letter and spirit opposed to the
principles of freedom and equality upon which
our democratic republican institutions are
founded, that there is in all their provisions
nanIfestly studied design to shield non-pro
iucIng capital from its just proportion of the
Durthens necessary for the support OF the
government, imposing them mainly on the
Industrial wealth-producing ylasses, thereby
'Ondemning them to lives o. unremunerated
oil, depriviDg them of the ordinary convent
,ncies and comforts of life +; Of the time and
means necessary for social eT jOyment, intel
ectual culture, aud moral improveme and
Ultimately reducing them to q state of prac-
ical servitude.
We further hold that while these UPRIGHT
'Oas laws of distribution remain in force, la
DOrers cannot, by any system Of combination
II operation, secure their natural rights
That the first and most important step to-
Yards the establishments of the rights Of L.
'or, is the institution of q system Of true CO. !