The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-11
gailp ARGUS.
THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS ne
k0CRACY.

4n6 6AhlkVhW OF INK ILLINOIS DE
k0CRACY
Resofued, That the happiness of the American
people and the protection Of their iibertie. mr.
no. To DC found IN spiendjd government SUP
ported by powerful monopUhes and sristocrnti
estnoHshinents, but, III the language of our grea
ie@uef' 'aoAs"n,-'In = plain system, devoid o
PomP' protecting all, aud granting isvors {,
none dis PensIhg its blessings li.e the dews O
heaven, unseen aud uDfeit, save IN the FRESHNESS
ana beauty they contribute to produce :" that il
10 the mission OF the democracy, in accord no,
Win lts timehonored primer fles, to reinstate III.
adininistratiOn OF the government in these il,
ancient ways and, by the restoration of the pr.c
toe OF the virtues OF fIugaiIty, honesty ana de
Votion To the ublic veal, to place the country
again upon that course the pursuit of which can
sione render it for the ages to come united, pros
porous and free.
kssotred, That we are in favor of free trad g
on princip e, ana while conceding the legality Of
a tariff tor revenue SIMPLY, We aeneunce u pro
ticsive tariff rs not authorized under the federal
constitution as destructive OF the best interests
of our people, and enriching the few at the
expense OF the many;
That we are op 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 20 the federal Ia xation
except when otherwise explicitly provided by
Jaw;
That we are opposed to the present system of
nation al banks, anu 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 strictest economy in public affairs, the
careful outstanding of the public resources, and
the rigid accountability OF ali public vsnts.
kesotped, 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 eubversion of the executive and
judicia depar tments for partisan ends, and To
he erection of consolidated government upon
the ruins of the federal system because il lie
pledged to the policy OF protection. which it has
enforced by oppressive legislation for the la7t
ton years, to the continuance of an cnormo Gus
and sggravatipg system of internal revenu,
taxation, to the postponement of the payment
of the national debt, TO the wholesale surrender
10 the spectators Of the public lands AT to he
fostering of schemes of private ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; ;
because 1t is extravagant, wastei III and corrupt
ustSinins and sustained by ring legislation, its
most disiinguis he'd leaders unbiushingly open to
bribery and using the power of their official
positions for private purposes becsuse desti-
lutte of pr ncipe it is held together solely by the
cohesive power of public plunder.
Nesoiced, That, in of the administration
of our own state affs RS We declare that the pres
ent administration has been more reckless in ex-
penditure of the public money than any that ever
yet exercised the power of the state and in proof
of this need say nothing more than call the st
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
tenths to thirteen mills on the dollar to meet
those corrupt and profiigate expenditures ; that
all this is done by the party in power while pro
Tossing economy in the management of the pub
lie business;
That are opposed to the present manage
ment of the state penltentisry, which we declare
cost the taxpayers of the tate tor the last
,hree years nearly, If not quite, 81 900 per day,
and which enor nous sum we believe to have been
oither squandered or stolen by the persons in
charge OF the same; that thi. expet diture can and
should be avoided, and the prison made self
supporting.
hesoIred, That the democratic party now a,
ever profoundly sympsthizes with the efforts OF
ne people everywhere to be free;
Tnst the great republic of the United States
necessarily occupies position of perpetua antag
onism toward the despotism of the world. -
position which the democrsy have no disposition
to disavow, hut which, on the contrary. they
openly aes owl-dge, and will unhesitatingy
maintain;
That the republic of France receives our hearty
welcome into the family of free nations; that it.
people, endeared to Us by traditional ties, have
our sincere sympathlos In their release from
thra Ildom; 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 exteni in behalf ofth rule of the people
lnauguratsd upon the overthrow of all imperial
iynasty;
That the inhabitants of Germany have our
hea rtiest good wishes in their endesvOr to bring
about un tied country; that We congratulate
them on their gallant conduct in the pending
var, and trust that the liberty " hich the defeat
of the emperor has given their sister state will
ne indicated in their persons and a grand
German republic be the glorious result of their
efforts;
That the island of Cuba has long languisbed
1nder the incubus of foreign dcspotism, and
every effort of this country should be bent TO the
attainment of its liberia ion. that its people may
partake of that freedom for which they long,
and share ID our fortunes if they so elect;
hat we are not uumndful Of the people of
ireland. and fully recognizing the wrongs they
have been called upon to endure, we trust that
I he tocsin of liberty now sounding has ST uck
the hour of their redemption
That, while thus declaring our unaiterable
deter nina ion to require the whole weight of the
government to be 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 our nation to the
cause o any potentate claiming to rule PEG
pie by divine right.