The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-24
pailp ARGUS.
THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS DE-
MOCRAOY

L
| HOCRAOY
Resolved, That the happiness of the American
people and the protection of their liberties are
not to be found in . splendid government sup
ported by powerful monopolles and arlstocrstic
estaonshments, but, in the language Of our great
leader, Jackson,-'ln plain system, devoid of
pomp, protecting all, and granting favors to
none, dls2eDfing its blessings liAe the dews of
heaven, unseen and unfet, save In the freshness
aud beauty they contribute to produce - that il
Is the mission OF the democracy, in accord noe
with It's time honored prinei PIES reinstate the
administration of the government in these its
ancient ways, and, by the restoration of the prsc
tce of the virtues of frugality, honesty, and de-
votion to the ublic veal, to place the country
| again upon that oour.e the pursuit of which
alone render it for the ages come unitea, pros
porous and free.
| Rssotred, That we are in favor of free trade
on princp e, and while oOnceding the legality of
| q tariff for revenue simply, We denoupce q pro-
tc:ive tariff rs not authorised under the federal
constitution, destructive of he best interests
of our people, and as enrichng the few at the
expense of the many;
That we are OPP osed to monopoles and to
| substituting corporations BY the use of the peo-
pies 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;
That we are opposed to the present system of
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 as the necessities OF
our people REQ sirs and to this end insist
upon the strictest economy in public affairs, the
| careful outstanding of the public resources, and
the rigid accountability of ali public servants.
dam md oyarthroW of
the party in power-because il 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
The erection of a consolidated government upon
the ruins of the federal system because it is
pledged TO the policy of protection, which it has
enforced by oppressive legislation for the last
ton years to the continuance of enormous
and aggravating system of internal revenue
axation, to the postponement of the payment
of the national debt, to the wholesale surrender
TO the Spectators of the public lands al to he
fostering of schemes of private ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
because it is extravaganza, wasteful and corrupt,
sustaining and sustained by ring legislation, lite
most distinguished leaders unbushingly open to
bribery and using the power of their official
positions for private purposes because, desti-
tute of pr ncipls, it is held together solely by the
cohesive power of public plumber.
Resoiued, That, in view of the administration
of our state affA we declare that the pres
emit administration has been mors reckless in ex-
penditure of the public money than any that ever
yet exercised thepowe of the state, and in proof
of this need say nothing than call the at
tention of the taxpayers TO the fact that the APP
preparations of the last republican general as
s.mbly have forced the auditor of state TO raise
the levy of state taxes from SIX mills and hve
tenths to thirteen mills on the dollar, TO meet
| these corrupt and proiligate expenditures that
all 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 peni,entisry, which We declare
three years nearly if not quite 81 900 per day,
either snusndsred or stolen by the uersons in
charge of the same; that this ex De dture can and
should be avoided, and the prisop made self
supporting.
ksso{red That the democratic party now as
ever profoundly svupathizes with the efforts of
the psople everywhere 10 be free;
That the great republie of the United States
necessarily oecupies position of perpetualau,ag
opism toward the despotism of the world. "a
nosition which the demoeray have no d,sposltion
70 1isxvow but which on the contrary they
onaplv .c.noxl,doe and will unhesitatinyly
MAINTAIN.
Tb.r the republic of Francerecerves our hearty
xeIcone into the family of free nations that it,
people. .ndeared to us BY traditional ties. have
our sincere svmpathies in their release from
tbralIG that we commend the administration
f the federal government for the recognition so