The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-19
pailD
THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS DE-
NOCRACY

H0CRAGY.
Resoired, That the happiness of the American
people and the protection oil their liberties are
not To be found In y splendid government sug-
ported by powerful Inonopolies and sristocrstlc
shments, but, III the language of our great
lesder, Jacksoa,-"In a plain system, deyo,d of
pomP, protecting eli, and granting fayors to
none, dispensing its blessings La the dews of
heaven unseen and uDfeit, save In the freshness
ana beauty they contribute TO produce - that is
ID the mission of the democracy, in accord q noe
with ITS tme-honored pRauei pies to reipstate the
NATURALIZATION Of the government in these ts
ancient WAYS, and, by the restoration of the prac
toe OF the virtues OF ffugaiIty, honesty, ana de-
Voiion to tse ublic veal, to place the country
again upon that course the pursuit Of which can
alone render 1t for the ages 70 come united, pros
porous and free.
kssotsed, That we in favor of free trade
on prinosrte, and while conceding the legality of
a tariff Tor revenue simply, We denounce a pro-
ucsive tariff rs not authorized under the fe deral
constitution, as destructive of the best interests
of our people, and rs enriching the few at the
expense OF the many;
That We are op osed to monopolies and to
subsidizing 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
law;
That we are opposed to the present system of
nation al banks, and all Legislation of every kind
which exslts capital at the expense of the people
and the government;
That the national debt should DO paid at the
earliest practicable moment consistent with
such reduction of taxation as the necessities of
our people req lire and to this end insist
upon the strictest economy in public affairs, the
careful outstanding of the public resources, and
L.. =. n.
kesotred, That demand the overthrow OF
the party in power-becsuse it stands committed
to the destruction of the Legitimate rights OF the
state, to the subversion of the executive and
judicial departments for partisan ends, and to
1 be erection of q consolidated government upon
the ruins of the federal system because it is
pledged TO the policy OF protection, which it has
enforced by oppressive egislatiOn for the last
ton years, TO the COZ tinuance of an enormous
and sggrsvating system of internal revenue
taxation, to the postponement 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 aggrandizement
because 1t is extravagant, wsstetul and corrupt.
-ustaining and sustained by ring legislation its
most distinguished leaders unblushingy open to
oriber, and using the power of their official
positions for private purposes because, desti-
tute of pr ncple it is held together solely by the
cohesive power of public plumber.
Resolred, That, in view of the administration
of our state afa declare that the pres
ent administration has been mOrs reckless in ex-
pendture of the public money than any that ever
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 the fact that the APP
preparations of the last republican general :
sembly have forced the auditor of state TO raise
the levy of state taxes from mills and five
,cnths to thirteen mills on the dollar, 10 meet
these corrupt and profligate expenditures /; that
all this is done by the party in power while pro
Tossing economy in the management of the pub
lie business;
That We opposed to the present manage
ment of the state penitentiary which We declare
has cost the taxpayers of the tate tor the last
three years nearly, If not quite, 81 GOO per day,
and which enor nous sum we believe to have been
either sguardered OF stolen by the persons in
charge OF the same; that this expet diture ald
should I've avoided, and the prison made self
supporting.
kesotred, That the democratic party now as
ever profoundly sympathizes with the efforts Of
he people every " here to be free;
That the great republic of the United States
necessarily occupies position of perpetual antag
ouism toward the despotism OF the world, "a
position which the demOcrxy have no disposition
TO dissvow, but which, on the contrary, they
openly acknowledge, and VIII unhesitatingiy
maintain
Thatthe republic of France receives our hearty
welcome into the family of free nations; that its
people. sndeared to us by Traditional ties, have
our sincere sympathies in their release from
thralld 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 it's support be given TO the
fullest extent IN behalf of the rule of the people
inaugursted upon the overthrow of all imperial
iynasty;
That the inhabitants of Germany have our
hearties good wishes in their epdesvor to BRING
about a un tied 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
De indicated in their own persons, and n grand
German republic be the glorious result of their
efforts;
That the island of Cuba has long langushed
Inier the incubus of foreign despotism, and
every effort of this country should be bent To the
attainment of Its liberia ion. that its people N
Dart,ke of that free dom for which they long,
and share IN 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 uok
the hour of their redemption;
That, while thus declaring our unalterable
deter nina ion to require the whole weight of the
government to be thrown in behalf of republican
institutions, protest against this country be
ing drawn into takin sides in the quarrels of
iespots and condemn the leaders of the or
position for their desperate attempts. from IN
worthy motives 10 commit nation to the
cause o any potentate claiming to rule peo-
pie by divine right.