The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-18
p;ailp Arg,,s.
THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS DE-
NOCRACY

AOCnACI.
Resolved, That the happiness of the American
people and the protection of their liberties are
MOI to be found in q splendid government sup
ported by powerful monopohes and aristoeratic
est adjustments, but, in the language of our great
| lsadsr, jack scn,-'.In a plain system, devoid of
pomP, protecting ali, and granting favors to
none, dis oentlng Its blessings liAe the dews OF
heaven, unseen and uDteit, save In the freshness
and beauty they CONT ibute to produce :" that il
| is the mission of the democracy, in accordance
"ith ats tlDehonOred prineI Iles TO reiusta the
| administration of the government in these il.
ancient ways and, by the restoration of the prsc
toe OF the virtues of frugalIty, honesty, ana de-
votlon To TIE ublic veal, to place the country
again upon that course the pursuit of which can
alone render 1t for the ages come united, pros
porous and free.
ResotUed, That we in favor of free trad
on principle, and while oonceding the legality OF
tariff for revenue simply, We aenounce a pro-
tic:ive tariff as not authorized under the federal
constitution, destructive of he best interests
OF our people, and az enriching the few at the
expense OF the many;
That We are op osed to monopolies and to
subsdizing corporations by the of the peo-
PIES money and the peoples lsnds
That the bonds issued by the federal govern
ment should be subjected to the federal Ia xatiOn
except when otherwise explicitly provided by
Jaw;
That we are opposed to the present system of
nstion al banks, ana all legislation of every kind
which exalts capital at the expense Of the people
and the government;
That the national debt should be paid at the
earliest practicable moment consistent with
such reduction of taxation as the necessities OF
our people req .ire, and to this end we insist
upon the s,rictest economy in public affairs the
careful outstanding of the pubic resources, and
the rigid accountability OF all public servants.
kssu{red That W demand the overthrow OF
the party in power-because 1t stands committed
the destruction Of the legitimate rights of the
state. to the subversion OF the executive and
Judicia departments for partisan ends, and 10
he erection of a consolidated government upon
tue ruins of the federal system; because II IL
Piled ged to the policy of protection, which it ba,
enforced by oppressive legislation for the last
ton years, the continuance OF an enormous
and sggrsvating system of internal revenur
taxstion, to the pOstponemeht OF the payment
of the national debt, to the wholesale surrender
TO the spectators of the public lands, an to he
fostering of schemes of private sggrandizemept
because it is extravaganza, wsstefu and corrupt.
-ustaining and sustained by ring legislation, its
most distinguished leaders unblushingly open to
bribery and using the power of their official
positions for private purposes because, desti-
tute of Pr neiple, it is held together solely by the
cohesive power of public plumber.
Resolred, That, in view Of the administration
Of our own state alta rs we declare that the pres
ent administration has been mors reckless il ex-
penditure of the public money than any that ever
yet exercised the power Of the state, and proof
Of this need say nothing more than call the at
tention of the taxpayers to the fact that the ap
preparations of the last republican general
sembly have forced the auditor of state to raise
The levy of state taxes from six mills and five
tsnths TO thirteen mills on the dollar, to meet
| these corrupt and prof gate expenditures that
all this is done by the party in power while pro
nf
lie business
That we are opposed to the present manage
ment OF the state penitentisry, which we declare
has cost the taxpayers of the state for the last
three years nearly, If not quite, 81 geo per day,
| and which enor nous sum we believe to have been
either squandered or stolen by the persons in
charge OF the same; that this sxper diture and
should be avoided, and the prison made self
supporting.
kesotrcd, That the democratic party now
ever profoundly sympsthizes with the efforts OF
| he people every here to be free;
That the great republic of the nited States
necessarily occupies sposition of perpetua antag
onism toward the despotism of the world. -
| position which the democrsy have no disposition
| to disavow, but which, on the contrary, they
openly act knowledge, and will unhesitatingiy
| maintain;
That the republic of France receives our hearty
welcome into the family of free nations that its
| people, sndcared to Us by traditional ties, have
| our sincere sympathies In their release from
thrslldom; that we commend the administration
f the federal oyernment for the recognition so
far accorded TO the French republic, and demand
that the moral aid of it's support be given to the
fullest extent in behalf Ofthe rule of the people
inaugursted upon the overthrow Of sll imperial
iynssty;
That the inhabirants Of Germany have our
heartiest good wishes in their endesvor to bring
,bout united country that we congratulate
Them on their gallant con duct IN the pending
<ar and trust that the liberty y hlch the defeat
If the emperor has given their sister state will
re Indicated IN their own persons, and grand
German republic be the glorious result Of their
Efforts;
That the island of Cuba has long languisbed
Inder the incubus of foreign despotism, and
every effort of this country should be bent 70 the
stain ment of it's liberia ion. that its people msy
Dartske of that free dom for which they long,
md share IN our fortunes if they 60 elect;
hat are not unmindful If the people Of
ireland, and, fully recognizing the wrongs they
have been called upon to endure, We trust that
he tocsin Of liberty now sounding hAs st uok
he hour of their redemption;
That. while thus declaring unalterable
letter lina ion to require the whole weight of the
government to be thrown in behalf of republican
Institutions we protest against this country be
NJ drawn into taking sides in the qUarrels OF
lespots and condemn the leaders of the OF
position for their desperate attempts, from un.
worthy motives, to commit our nation to the
ause 0 any potentate claiming to rule PEG
ole by divine right