The Labor-reform Platform

The followiug is the platform ad at the Xutioniil Couti ation of the LaborReformers, held at Coluinbus, Ohio, on the 22d uit. : We hold that all politioal power is inherent in the people, aud tree governinent foniided on their autbority and estabQghed tbr their benefit. That all oitizens are equal in politinal rjghts, ontitled to the largest religious and politioal liberty compatible with tbegood order of society, as also the usn n i. l ( njoyment of the fruits of their lubor nnd liilcnts: and no man sot of men is entitled to exclusive separablb endowments and privileges, or iminunitios from the governniont, but in consideration of pubi: .; umi nny laws deatruotive of these fundamental principies uro without moral binding torce, and should be repealed. And believing that all thu cvils resulting from unjust legislation now affecting the industrial classes din be removed by the adoption of tlie principie oontainod in the following declaration j therefore, l: wfaed, ïhat it is the duty of the govornment to establish a just standard of diatribution.of capitftl and labor by providing a pniely national oiroulating medium, basc-d on the f.iith and resources of the nation, issaed direotly to tho people without the intorvontion of nny System of banking corporations, whioh monoy sliall be legal tender in the payment of ail debts, public and private, and intorchangeable ut tho option of the holdor for governui' :i bonda bearing a rate of st not to exceed '! (i" per cent, iubjeot to future legislation by Congroas. ■ , That fb" nationul debt should bc paid in good faith according to tho original contract, at the earliust option of the government, without mortgaging the property of the peoj)lo or the future exigencies of labor to fiirich a few capitalists at homo and abroad. Resolved, Ihat jastice dumnnds that the bnrdens of government should be so adj usted as to bear pqually on all classes, and that the pxcinption from taxation uf governnii'jit bonds bearing extravagant rates of interest is a violation of all just principies of revenue laws. Resolví ', That the public lands' of the United States belong to the people, and should not be soM to individuáis nor granted to corporations, but should be held as a sacred trust for' the benefit of the people, and -liuiid. bo grantea to landlcss settlers only, in amounts not exceeding 160 acres of land. Raótved, ïhat Congress should modify i ,-i rifl" so as to adiuit free such articlea of common use as we oan neither produce nor grow, and lay duties for revenue mainly upon artioles of luxury, and upon su'-h artides of manufacture as will, we having the raw materials, assist in furthcr developing the resources of the country. Resolved, That tho presence in our country of Chinese laborera, itnported by capitalista in large numbers for servile in (vil, entaüing want and its attendant train of niiscry and crirne on all elassos of the American people, and thould bo probibited by legislat on. lienolced, That we ask for the enactment of a law by whieh all mechanica and day laborera employed by or on behalf of tho goverument, whether directly or indirectly, through persons, ilrms, or corporntions, contraoting with the State, shall reform to the reduoed standard ot' eight liours a day, recontly adopted by Congress for natioual employés, and also for an amendment to tho acts of incorporation for citios and towus, by which all laborera and mechanica einployod at their expense shall conform to the same number of hours. liesolted, That the enlighteued spirit of tho ago domando the abolition of tho system of contract labor in our prisons and other reformatory institutions. Retohed, That the proteotionof üfo, liberty, and propurty aro the three cardinal principies of governnient, and the first twO are more Bacred thanthe latter ; therefore, monoy ueeded for xirosecuting wars should, as it is required, be assessed and collccted from the wealthy of tho country, and not entailed as a burden on posterity. . Retofoed, That it is the duty of the govornment to exerciso its power over railróada and telegraph corporations, that they shall not in anyoaee beprivileged to exact such ratos of freight, transportation, or charges by whabvir nam may bear unduly or uncqually upou Urn producer or consumer. Resolved, Tliat ñtness, and not poliücal or personal considera tions, should bo l !u: only rocoiumendation to offico. All laws tonding to sucure tho establishment of this principie shall meet with our hcarty oommeudatáon. Resolved, That as both history and exporionceteach us that powor ever seeksta perpetúate itsolf by every and all incans, and that its j)iolonged posseseion in tho hands of one person is always dangerotu to the intorests of a 1 1 , and bolieving that the spirit of ourorganio laws and the stability and safety of our free institutions are bost obeyed on tho one hand, and socured on tho other, by a regular constitutional chango in the obief of the country at each electiuri ; tharefore, we are in fav.or of limiting tho occupaucy of tho Prcsidential chair to ono torm. ResoL'Oil, That wo aro in favor of granting general amnosty and restoring tho Juiion at once on tho basis of equality of riAts and privileges to all, tho impartdal ftrtmi .liatratdon of juatice bcinpr tho only triio bo.vid of union to bind the States togetüer aud restore the peoplo of the govoiinnei.it. Itesolöb.'l, Tlat we deern it expediont for Congress VO rev-Nc tho Patent Laws, to give laborera more fully tho benefit of their ideas ana inveiu'Ons. Reaohi'tl, That wc dem'Uia the Bubjeo. tion of tho military to tho íávil authorities, and the confinemont of iis powers to uational purposos.