The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-01
hen recopnized has heen limited to the

WIlcu recognized, mas Deeu ilullUcu " I1c
property owners of the State, but in recon-
structlng the South suffrage was made uni
versal to all except those whose estates were
to bear the burden OF government.
| Strange craftsmanship, indeed. If suffrage
was necessary to the Freedman, to protect
him in his person, wa 1t not necessary to
the master, to protect him in his estate !!
| If persons unrepreseDted might become
, slaves, was not property unrepresented sure
! to be cOnfscated, what result other than the
utter destruction of the material Interests OF
the South could have been expected.
| How long could society exist in our own
favored State, under sucn system as this
Military Governors appointed at the close OF
| the war to superiHtend reconstruction were
clothed with most extraordinary powers.
Not only were the Registrars appointed by
them to ascertain and enroll those entitled
to suffrage itself. but ballots when cast could
only be canvassed and the results of cleo
tons declared by the same high authority.
Power was thus furnished with the means
to perpetuate itself. A system so peculiarly
adapted to secure party ascendency obtained
great favor with party leaders of the
South and has been the cause of unnumbered
woes. Louisiana is to. day the victim of such
a foul conspiracy against right. Within the
last few days we have witnessed a govern
ment inaugurated by fraud and retained in
power by Federal bayonets disappear almost
in moment at the first expression of popu-
lar dlscontent, utterly powerless to defend
itself or protect its friends; more than this,
we have witnessed the spectacle Of the exec
utlve OF great nation, using military power
to reinstate government which one branch
OF Congress has declared ives an usurpation.
Few governments of the earth could safely
exercise such despotic power as this
While the recent uprising at New Orleans
cannot be defended, the condition of the
people of Louisiana is such as to excste the
sympathy OF all. 1t was only after the peo-
| pie of that State saw that by means Of a
| registry from which there was no appeal,
they were to be denied the power
TO protect themselves at the
| ballot box that they appealed to arms and
the President, by sustaining Kellogg in his
clreer of tiffany, has denied to thousands
OF people in that State the right of suffrage.
| The people of this co untry are urged to
sustain this administration in work of re-
construction, which has debauched the
black man and crippled the white man, and
bankrupted every State subject to its rule.
Is this Republicanism or is it Despotism
At the breaking out of the rebellion,
throughout all the Northwest thousands of
men rushed to arms, determined that the
navigation of the Mississippi should be free
from st. Paul to the Gulf To-day power
more destructive than an army holds Lou
isiana in bondage and levies tribute of foyer
81, 900 on each vessel that finds its wav to
and from the ocean.
Is it not time to ask why are these things
so! How long will the people Of this State
consent to be represented by men who up
hold such gigantic crimes and sacrifice in
terests so important to our welfare
The Platform
The committee on platform reported
the following resolutions, which were
adopted:
WHEREAS, The special occasion which
brought the Republican party has long since
ceased to exist; and there Is not now and
has not been for years any central, animating
principle or purpose in that party except the
cohesive principle of public plumber, and q
settled purpose to retain power by any means
aud at all hazards; and
WHEREAS, 10 perpetuate its hold upon
office, that party has formed an alliance with
the capital and organized monopolies
of the country, and together
they purpose to run the Federal and State
governments III the interest OF favored
classes, by exempting them In all bur-
dens and restraints, aud castin& The whole
crushing weight of onerous taxation upon
Tic IIlSSScS Vi the people,
THEREFORE, We, the representatives of
the people of the State of Minnesota, who
demand a reform in the administration of
our State and Federal government, having
assembled without regard to former partisan
distinctions, hereby proclaim the following
platform OF principles:
l. Believing the present disastrous condi-
ton ot the Southern States to be largely due
to the corrupt rule OF carpet-bag politicians
who have plundered and impoverished the
people, intensified the preiudices 0. race and
driven the communities to the verge OF civil
war knowing that this state OF affairs has
! been developed during the administration
OF President Grant and been fostered bv the
course of the Republican party: and des-
pairing OF relief except through radical
change of policy-we demand the mainte-
nance OF just and impartial policy towards
the people OF the South, whereby both races
will be protected in all their rights, the ex-
pulsion of the thieves, and perfect equality
before the law tor all persons, without re-
gard to race, color or political opinion.
2. A return to gold and silver as basis
OF the currency OF the country, and resump-
ton OF specie payments as soon as public in
terests will allow
.; a tarlf Tor revenue only--consistent
with an honest administration. None for
protection. No Government partnership
with protected monopoies.
4. Home rule to limit and localize most
zealously the few powers entrusted to pub
lie servants, municipal, State and federal;
no Capitalization.
5. Equal and exact Justice to all men: no
partial legislation; no partial taxation.
8. Free press no gag laws.
z. Free men; uniform excise laws: no
sumptuary laws.
s. Official accountability, enforced by
better civil and criminal remedies; no PR
vate use of public funds by public officers.
9. Chartered corporations by the State
always supervisable by the State in the in
terest of the people.
III. The party in power responsible for
the administration ofthe government while
| in power.
Resolved, That the nomination by the Re-
publicans Of q noted salary grabber in the
First Congressional District-of an apologist
and defender OF that outrage in the Second,
and Of one of the most Inscriptions Con-
| gressional lobbyists in the Third--show the
| utter hollowness OF all Republican promises
of reform:
Resolred, That the startling exposures OF
corruption in the Offices OF State Treasurer
| and Auditor, concealed through so many
years of Republican administration, cause
just alarm to all good citizens, and demon
strate anew the impossibility of reform with
in the Republican organization.