The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-08

THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS DE.
EOCRACY.

| 10CRkCY
| Resolved, That the happiness of the Amer;c.n
people and the protection of their liberties ar,
NOT 10 oe loGhd IN splendid government sup
| ported py powerful monopolies and sristucrnIic
esta eiishments, but IN the language of our grea,
ieaaef' 'aekson,-'In plain system, devoid OF
poihp' projecting ali, and granting favors to
none, ais 2ensing Its blessings like the dews OF
heaven, unseen and uDteIt, save III the freshness
and beauty they contribute to produce :" that is
Is Tue mission OF the democracy, in accordance
win It's tlne-honOred principles, reiustate the
adm lhlstrstion of the government in these tie
ancient ways, and, by the restoration of the prxc
tce OF the virtues of ffugality, honesty, ana de-
votion to the ublic veal, to place the country
again upon that courre the pursuit Of which can
alone render 1t for the ages 10 come united, pros
porous and free.
Rssoteed, That we in favor of free trad e
on princip e, and while conceding the legality OF
tariff tor revenue simply, We oenounce a pro-
tic.ive tariff as not authorized under the federal
constitution, destructive Of he best interests
of our people, and as enriching the few at the
expense OF the many;
That We are op osed to monopolies and to
subsidzins corporations BY the use of the peo-
pes money and the peoples lands
rba, the bonds issued by the federal govern
ment should be subjected 10 the federal tn xation
except when otherwise explicitly provided by
raw;
That We are opposed to the present system OF
nation al banks, aud 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 suictest economy in public affairs, the
careful outstanding of the public resources, and
the rigid accountability OF ali public servants.
kesotued, That we demand the overthrow OF
the party in power-because it stands committed
the destruction Of the legitimate rights of the
state, to the subversion of the executive and
Judicial departments for partisan ends, and to
he erection of consolidated government upon
the ruins of the federal system because it il
pledged to the policy o. protection, which 1t has
enforced By oppressive gislation for the last
ten Year,, to the continuance OF an enormous
and Aggrayating system of internal revenu,
taxation, TO the Postponement OF the payment
of the national debt, to the wholesale surrender
the spectators Of the public lands, an to he
fostering Of schemes OF private aggrandiEement;
tecause it is extrayagsnt, wAstetul and corrupt,
ustaining and sustained by ring legislation, ats
most disti' guns he'd leaders unbiushingly open to
bribery ana using the power of their official
positions for private purposes because, desti-
tute of pr ncple it is held toge her solely by the
cohesive power of public plumber
hesOtreG, That. In view Of the administration
of our own state alta rs We dec are that the pres
cot administration has been more reckless in ex-
penditure of the public money than any thstever
yet exercised the power of the state, and in proof
of this we need say nothing more than call the at
tention of the taxpayers to tha fact that the ap
preparations of the last republican general
sembl, have forced the auditor of state TO raise
the levy Of state taxes from six mills and five
tenths to thirteen mills the dollar, TO meet
these corrupt and orofiigate expenditures that
. iS ~, b. In 10
Teasing economy in the management Of the pub
lie business;
That we are opposed to the present manage
ment of the state peniteutisry, which we declare
has cost the taxpayers of the tate for the iasl
three years nearly, If cot quite, $1,000 per day,
and which enor nous sum we believe to have been
either squsndered or stolen by the persons il
charge OF the same; that this pes diture and
should be avoided, and the prison made self
supporting.
hesotred, That the democratic party now as
ever profoundly sympsthizes with the efforts OF
The people every where to be free;
Tuat the great republic of the United States
necessarily occupies position OF perpetus antag-
onism toward the despotism of the world, -
position which the demoersy have no disposition
to disavow, hut which, on the contrary, they
openly scs nowl.dge, and will unhesltatingly
maintain;
Tb.tthe republic of France receives our hearty
people end ear ed to by traditional ties, have
our sincere sympathies In their release from
thralldom; that 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 beh alt of the rule of the people
inaugurated upon the overthrow of all imperial
dynasty;
That the inhabitants of Germany have our
hear tiest good wishes in their eDdeavor TO bring
about un tied country that we congratulate
them on their gallant conduct in the pending
var, and trust that the liberty which the defeat
of the emperor has given their sister state will
he indicated in their own persons and a grand
German republic be the glorious result of their
Efforts;
That tue island of Cuba has long languished
1nder the incubus of foreign despotIsm, and
every effort of this country should be bent to the
attainment of its liberia ion. that its people may
part Ike of that free dom for which they long,
and share IN our fortunes if they elect
hat we are not IN mindful 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 uok
the hour OF their redemption;
That, while thus declaring our unsltersble
deter nina ion to require the whole weight Of the
government to he thrown in behalf of republican
institutions, we protest against this country be
ing drawn into taking sides in the qUarrels OF
despots and condemn the leaders of the op
position for their desperate attempts. from IN
worthy motives, to commit nation TO the
cause o any potentate claiming to rule a peo-
pie by divine right.