The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-09-17
THR PRESENT ISSUES.
The Enormous Profiga-
cy Of the Radical
Administration.
COST OF GADICALISM ONE YEAR
MORE THAN $500, 600, 900.
The Radical Pretence Of Eco
nemy Exposed.
FACTS AND FIGURES FROM THE
RECORDS.
Whole Empires Given Away TO
Spectators.
The wssteful Extravaganza of
Radicalism In I'll nois.
Speech Of Hon. s. 8. Marshall,
Speech Of Hon. s. 8. Marshall,
at the Democratic State Con-
vention, in Springfield,
Sept. l4th, 1870.

After Some congrstulstory remarks upon
the harmony and enthusiasm of the conven-
ton and its declarations Of principles, Mr.
MARSHALL said:
MR. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS
The Issues which have divided parties and
agitated the country for many years are
rapidly passing away Whether they have
been settled wisely or not. it were bootless
for US now to discuss. We all have our
opinions in regard thereto, but the time for
profitable disputaton thereon is passed; and
time and the judgement of posterity must
settle this question for US New and living
issues rapidly coming to the front, and
Wa must prepare to meet them as men
and 10 discuss them in the spirit of free
men.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
But while temporary issues change and
pass away, it should never be forgotten that
the fundamental principles of the demo
cratic party never change and never die.
They are as eternal az the everlasting hills,
and as immutsble as the DEGREES of fate
We may prove false and recreant to them
but they will assert themselves everywhere
and at oil times, arrayed on the side of the
people, vindcsting the rights of labor, and
batting against corruption, and the concen
trstion of power and capital in the bands of
the few. Ii il this that constitutes the
wonderful vitality of the democratic party,
which has survived disasters, storms, and
hurricanes that would have crushed out e
thousand parties founded upon passion, pre-
JUDGE, and mere temporary expedients.
The laboriDg masses feel and know in
stinctive!y that the democratic party is the
party of the people; and when the storm of
passion have passed away, and the dark
mountains of prejudice are allayed, they
turn TO Us naturally, as certainly and uner
ringlv as the magnet turns to the pole.
That the democratic party will again assume
control of the destinies of this country is as
certain that truth is immutable and
eternal. Whether this will be as soon as
the people can assert their power by a
change OF rulers, or be postponed to q later
day, will depend mainly upon ourselves. We
must approach this holy trust with pure
and unsullied hands. We must not permit
any of the tortering corruption and democrat
izstion that have spread SO alarmingly all
over the country during the last ten years
TO cling to our skirts. We must honestly
array ourselves of the side of labor, and
battle with al our might against the con-
centration OF power ana wealth in the hands
of the designing few. We must oppose
fes-less!y the further robbery OF the people
by cunningly devised schemes of tariff and
taxation. We must array ourselves as a wall
of adsmant against the further squandering
of the peoples inheritance by grants of lands
to organized rings Of public plunderers We
must insist upon the mort perfect good faith
: 10 &c liz
creditors and to her own people. We mus,
insist upon the most rigid economy in the
management of our public affairs, and the
strIctest accountability on the part of those
who handle the peoples money.
Unless we are prepared to do all this,
honestly, boldly, and without equivocation,
l will frankly admit that do not wish to
see the democratic party succeed. If this
sIckenIng corruption, and decentralization,
and wsnton extravaganza in public expendi
tGTe are to cOntinue,-lt the people are still
70 be plundered by swindling tariffs, and the
inheritance OF the unborn homeless myriads
of our people is to be given away to mon
ster corporations,-let it be done By the
party that inaugurated these infal les. Let
not the early and glorious record of the
democratic party be furnished by future
follies and crimes. Let i. rather now go
into history, with its record of 60 years
administration of our government, during
which time the wilderness was subdued and
made to put on the garb of civilization; the
boundaries of our republic were extended
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific our flag,
honored and respected everywhere, whiten
ed every sea, was saluted by every wind
under the whole heavens, and visited every
isle that gems the bosom of the ocean the
people in peace and in war were free, pros
porous, and happy; labor was lightly bur
dened, and the federal tax gatherer was
unknown in the land. Two great foreign
WARE were successfully prosecuted, and our
flag and honor indicated, without incress-
ing perceptlbly the burdens of the people
Liberty, regulated By law, prevailed every
where: freedom Of speech, freedom of reli-
gion, freedom of the press, and freedom of
person remained involate. All these grand
results were effected without having erected
a single prison or arrested single prisoner;
without having shed one drop Of human
eye for political offence. Political prison
ers, military arrests, and state bastiles were
unknown in the land. and government like
the dews of heaven, dispensed its blessings
equally and alike to ALL
Better die now, and go into history with
this record, than to enter upon power with
unholy or iustful hands But. gentlemen, |
do not fear the result You will be true to
your convictlons, true to the people, and
true to yourselves. Nominate everywhere
Tor ohce men whose past lives are guar
ah'ee OF their future fidelity and unques
TONED honesty; fling your banner to the
"'ee ~e with your principles boldly distinctly,
ana nnequivocaly inscribed thereon: organ.
ize thoroughly, and appeal to the honest
unbiased hearts and judgments of the peo
ple' and Victory-a grand, glorious victory
must reward your efforts.
PRESENT ISSUES.
The people, turning aside from the mas
sions and prejudices of tn. past are bag;r-
ming to inquire how their estate ia being
managed by their public servants; why suc6
enormous sums are wrung from them from
year to year; and what becomes of this
money; what disposition is being made of
their public lands acquired for homesteads
for our people; and who it is that has fas.
tened upon them q tariff system that is rob
bIng them of their substance impoverishing
their children, for the benefit of mea already
rolling in wealth.
In short. questions Of tariff, taxation,
finance, public expenditure, and the DISPOSE
"0n OF the public lands arc the questions Of