The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-25
pailu ARGUS.
THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS DE-
NOCRAGY,

Resolced, That the happiness of the American
people and the protection OF their liberties are
MOI 60 be found IN splendid government sup
ported by powerful mOnopulIes and sristocratic
establishments, but, III the language of our great
leader, Jackson,-"'II plain system, devoid of
pomP, protecting all, and granting favors to
mono, dis 2ensing its blessings lAe the dews OF
heaven, unseen aud uDfelt, save In the freshness
and beauty they contribute TO produce !" that is
Is the mission of the democracy, in accordance
with Its time-honored prins PIES, to rsinstate the
administration of the government in these its
ancient wsys, and, by the restoration of the prsc
tiee of the virtues of frugalIty, honesty, and de-
votion to the ublic veal, TO place the country
again upon that course the pursuit of which can
porous and free.
Rssotred, That We are in favor of free trade
on principle and while oonoeding the legality OF
q tariff for revenue simply, We denounce q pro-
tie:ive tariff not authorised under the federal
constitution, as destructive of the best interests
of our people, and a. enriching the few at the
expense OF the many;
That we arc OPP osed to monopolies and to
substituting corporations by the use of the peo-
pes money and the peoples lands;
That the bonds issued by the federal govern
ment should be subjected TO the federal taxation
except when otherwise explicitly provided by
Jaw;
nation al banks, and 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 rs the necesslties oil
our people reqa ARE, and to this END we insis'
upon the strictest economy in public affairs, the
careful outstanding of the public resources, ana
the rigid accountability OF al, public servants.
kesotued, That We demand the overthrow oil
the party in power-bscause it stands committed
TO the destruction of the legitimate rights Of the
state, to the subversion of the executive ana
judicia departments for partisan ends, and to
, he erection of u consolidated government upon
the ruins of the federal system because il If
pied ed to the policy OF protection, which it bs
enforced by oppressive legislation for the last
ton years, to the continuance of an enormous
and sggravating system of internal revenu'
taxation, to the postponement of tue payment
OF the national debt, to the wholesale surrender
to the spectators of the public lands, an to The
fostering of schemes of private aggrandizement;
because it is extavsgsnt, wssteful and corrupt,
sustaining 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 Or ncple it is held together solely by the
cohesive power of public plumber.
ResoIred, That. in view of the administration
of our state affairs We declare that the pres
ent al Illustration has been mOrs reckless in ex
penditure of the public money than any thstsver
vet exercised the power of the state and in proof
OF this we need say nothing more til an call the At
tention of the taxpayers to the fact that the ap
preparations of the last republican general as
sembly have forced the auditor of state to raise
the levy of state taxes from mills and five
tenths TO thirteen mills on the dollar, to meet
these corrupt and orofigate expenditures that
oil this is done by the party in power while pro
Teasing economy in the management OF the pub
lie business;
That we are opposed to the present manage
ment of the state peniten tisry. which we declare
has cost the taxpayers of the stat- for the last
three years nearly, if not quite ST. 900 per day.
and which enormous sum We believe to have been
either squandered or stolen by the persons In
charge the same; that this e1per diture can and
should be avoided, and the prison made self
supporting.
kesolved, That the democratic party now q.
ever profoundly sympathizes with the efforts OF
the p. ople every " here to be free;
That the great republic of the United ststet
necessarily occupies position of perpetual antag
opism tow ard the despotism of the world, "a
position which the democrsy have no disposition
to aisAyow, but which, the contrary, they
openly acknowledge, and viii unhesitstingly
maintain;
That the republic of France receives our hearty
welcome into the family of free nations; that its
people, eDdeared TO us by IrAdltionAi Ties, haNe
our sincere sympsthies In their release from
rhrsIldom; that we commend the administration
f the federal government for the recognition so
far accorded to the French republic, and demand
that the moral aid of its support be given to the
fullest extent in of the rule of the people
inaugursted upon the overthrow of all imperial
dynasty;
That the inhabitants of Germany have our
heartiest good wishes in their endeavor to bring
about a united country; that We congratulate
them on their gallant conduct in the pending
war and trust that the liberty which the defeat
of the emperor has given their sister state will
be indicated in their own persons, and q grand
German republic be the glorious result of their
eff rts;
That the island of Cuba has long languished
under the incubus of foreign despotism, and
every effort of this country should he bent to the
attainment of its liberation that its people .y
partake of that freedom for which they long,
and share N our fortunes if they so elect
hat we are not unmindful of the people of
Ireland. and, fully recognizing the wrongs they
have been called upon to endure, we trust that
the tocsin of liberty now sounding has st uck
the hour of their redemption
That, while thus declaring our unalterable
determine ion TO require the whole weight of the
government to he thrown in behalf Of republican
institutions, protest against this country no
ing drawn into taking sides in the quarrels of
despots, and condemn the leaders of the oP
position fer their desperate attempts, from un-
worthy motives. to commit our nation TO the
cause o. any potentate claiming TO rule PEG
Inv Twin