The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-30
The Decatur Platform,


For the information of those who may
be in some doubt as to the main principles
which will probably govern the new Peo-
Piles independent Party, we republish the
platform adopted at Decatur, Illinois, last
December, and which will probably be the
basis of the new party, as follows:
l. That the preservation of our ma
tional life imperatively demands that every
American voter should attend with care
all primary nominations and elections. so
as to insure the election of competent and
honest men to all Offices in the gift of the
people.
2. That the recent record of the old
political parties of this country is such as
to forfeit the confidence and respect of the
people, aud that we are, therefore, absolv-
ed from all allegiance to them, and will act
no longer with them.
3. That we demand the unconditional
repeal of the salary grab law, the repeal
| to be retroactive In its action, and this
without restoration of the franking priv
| lege.
| 4. That we do not recognize any neces-
sity that public officers should receive ex-
travagant salaries to the end that they may
conform to the demand of expensive and
| fashionable tastes, which in their very ma
ture are antagOnistic to republican princi-
! pies, and we demand reduction of official
| salaries.
3. That we demand the immediate re-
form OF abuses in the civil service, through
which the patronage of the Government is
dispensed as a reward for partisan service
rather than with regard to the public ne
cessities
6. That we are in favor of improving
and perfecting the navigation of our lakes
and rivers and water connections as soon
as it can properly be done.
7. That we are opposed to a protective
tariff
s. That we deprecate any further
grants of public lands or loans of the pub
lie credit, and of National, State or local
subscriptions in aid of corporations.
.. That we favor the repeal of our ma
tiOnal banAing law, and believe that the
government should supply legal tender
currency directly from the Treasury, inter
changabe for government bonds bearing
the lowest possible rate of interest.
! 10. That we hold that our patent laws
are too often made to subserve the interest
of monopolists, and that they should be
carefully revised and restricted.
IL. That we are opposed to a construc-
ton of the State Constitution which will
Justify, under any pretext whatever, annual
instead OF biennial sessions of our State
! Legislature
u. That the existing railroad legisla-
ton of this State should be sustained and
enforced until thoroughly tested before the
| that yVa pnnnSa a,,1- Il l.
! Congress, under the plea of regulating
commerce between the States, which shall
deprive the people of their present con
trolling influence through State legislation.
l3. That the right of the Legislature
to regulate and control the railroads of the
! State must be indicated, established and
maintained as an essential attribute of
State government; and that those holding
the doctrine that railroad charters are
contracts, in the sense that they are not
subject to legislative supervision and con
troll, have no Just appreciation of the nee
essary powers and rights Of a free govern
ment and we will agree to no truce, sub
NIT to no compromise short of complete
yindiCation and the reestablishment of the
supremacy of the State government in its
right through its Legislature to supervise
and control the railroads of the State in
such manner as the public interest shall
demand
IA. That We uncompromisingly con-
denim the practice OF our public officials in
receiving free passes from railroad mana
gers
-. That we demand reduction of all
public expenditures, to the end that taxa
ton may be reduced to the lowest possible
limit
10. That we condemn the action of oul
Legislature in adinurning the regular SEES
sion, thereby practically defeating the pro
vision of the Constitution providing bien
I NAL session.