The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-31
ylailu argus,
THE PLATFORM OF THE ILLINOIS DE-
HOCRACY

Resolved, That the happiness of the American
people and tho protection of their liberties are
not to be found in q splendid government sup
ported by powerful monopolies and aristocrstic
establishments, but, in the Language of our great
leader, Jackson,-"'In a plain system, devoid of
pomp, protecting all, and granting favors to
| none, dispensing its blessings like the dews of
heaven, unseen and upfelt, cave in the freshness
and beauty they contribute to produce; !" that ii
is the mission of the democracy, in accordance
with its time-honored principles, to reinstate the
administration Of the government in these its
ancient ways, and, by the restoration of the prse
tioe of the virtues of frugaity, honesty, and de-
votion to the public veal, to place the country
again upon that course the pursuit of which can
alone render it for the ages come united, pros
porous and free.
Resotped, That we are in favor of free trad
on principle, and while conceding the legality Of
a tariff for revenue simply, We densunce pro-
tic:ive tariff not authorized under the federal
constitution destructive of the 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
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
law;
That we are opposed to the present system of
nation al banks, aud all Legislation of every kind
which exsits 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 rsQsirs, and to this end We Insist
upon the strictsst economy In public Affairs, the
careful outstanding Of the public resources, and
the rigid accountability Of all public servants
Resotred That We demand the overthrow OF
-, -tx- han fsra md m mi
TO the destruction of the legitimate rights of the
state, to the subyersiOn CT the executive and
iuiicia departments for partisan ends, and 20
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
ten years, to the continuance of en- enormous
and .ggravating 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 DIS, an to the
fostering of schemes of private ACKNOWLEDGMENT;
bersuse it is extravagant, wssteful and corrupt,
sustaining and sustained by ring legislation, its
most distinguished leaders unblushingly open to
bribery and ueirg the power of their official
positions for private purposes ; because, deSti-
tute pr nciple il is held together solely by the
cohesive power Of public plumber.
Resoiced. That in view Of the administration
of our own state affairs we declare that the pres
emit administration has been more reckless in OK
penditure of the public money than any that ever
vet 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 as
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
these corrupt and profigate 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
nent of the state penitentisry, which we declare
has cost the taxpayers Of the state for the last
three years nearly, if not quite, 81 eco per day
and which enormous sum we believe to have been
either sausndered or stolen hy the persons in
charge of the same; that this ex erditure and
should be avoided, and the prison made self
supporting.
kesolred That the democratic party now as
ever profoundly sympathizes with the efforts OF
the people every where to be free;
That the great republic of the United States
necessarily occupies sposition of perpetual antag
onism toward the despotism of the world, "a
position which the democrsy have no disposition
to disxvow, but which, on the contrary, they
openly acknowledge, and will unhesitatingly
maintsn;
Tha,the republic of France receives our hearty
welcome into the family of free nations that its
people, endesred to us by traditional ties, have
our sincere sympnthies in their release from
thralldom; that we commend the ADMINISTRATION
of 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 ofthe rule of the people
inaugursted upon the overthrow of all imperial
dynasty;
That tho inhabitants of Germany have our
beartiest good wishes in their endeavor to bring
about a united 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
be ind Gated in their own persons, and grand
German republic be the glorious result of their
efforts;
That the island of Cuba has long languished
under the incubus of foreign despotisn, and
every effort of this country should be bent TO the
attainment of its liberation, that its people may
partske of that freedom for which they long,
and share in our fortunes if they elect;
That we are not unmndful of the people Of
Ireland, and, fully recognizing the wrongs they
have beea called upon TO endure, We trust that
the tocsin Of liberty now sounding has ST uck
the hour of their redemption;
That, while thus declaring our unsltersbs
deter u alton 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 |
d. spots, and We condemn the leaders of the OPP
position for their desperate attempts, from IN
worthy motives, to commit our nation to the
cause o. any potentate claiming to rule peo-
pie by divine right