The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-09
SHALL THERE BE A DEMOCRATIC STATE
CONVENTION
Some Suggestions from one member Of the
State Committee.

Several whilom Democratic newspaper
in this State are calling for Democratic
State Convention. One paper has "nC
doubt but that the chairman of the com.
mittee, Mr.. Mccormick, will soon call the
committee together, who will call such con
vention." Another calls on the State
Committee to come out Of their holes and
report" Another agrees that prelimn-
airy action of some sort by the committee
should at once be had" &C., &c.
Happening to be the member Of the
State Committee (if the said committee
has any oxistencel for this congressional
district, we will say that Mr.. Mccormick
securing even meeting of the committee
nor do we perceive any necessity for
such action West of Ohio there is no
such party in the field as the Democratic
party and if convention were to be call
ed there would probably be as wide differ
ences Of opinion upon the financial ques-
ton as have been seen in all the other con
ventons which have been held. In fact we
know Of some Of the meanest sort of inha-
tionists and repudiationists who style
themselves Democrats - To call con
vcnton and straddle the fence on that
question would do more harm than good.
One of the editors who demands a CON
vention, wants "a convention that means
business without lodging any of the vital
questions or other foolery" What he
considers vital questions" he does not in
form us, and where to find him on these
vital questions we do not know. As to
lodging loolery' we rather favor that
course. Another editor wants
A sound and just platform of principles,
the incorporation of which, into our ma
tional and state polity, will do justice alike
to the capitalist and the operative, to the
| farmer and the manufacturer, and alike
to all worthy classes of society and bust
ness which will prevent the erection of un-
gust mon0poies anywhere and everywhere,
and bring confidence to the business of the
country 1t the democrats and liberals
and all DESTROYS OF placing the civil service,
the tariff, the finance, aud all leading qucs-
tlons on faircr and better basis than now,
will thus unite, success will crown their eff.
| forts. Always provided, of course, that
| they lnaugurate bold platform, square
up to western ideas and western interests
not to the detriment of other sections OF
the country, however, but to the guaran-
| ~ that tbp ba,ra n.,,,I IL
with the east on all questions of finance, |
tariff, Ne.
This is perfectly lovcly-but what does
it mean? Nobody can tell. 1t is the oil
jugglery Of Jimmy POLK ''iudicious tar
! III over again.
But, the idiots are not all dead yet. A
good many of them are lying around loose
and want to find something or other that is
labelled /" Democratic. They have very
confused IDEAS Of what the word means.
Some OF them perhaps think Ii is some.
thing good to eat or drink probably the
latter, Others may think it is something
that will kill potatoe bugs But that it.
has reference to any well-defined principles
or pollcy-such principles as they could
recognize anywhere and in the platform of
any party, they have not the least idea.
If they can find a platform and a ticket
with the old trademark Democratic"
stamped on it in large letters they will nev-
er stop to inquire what ii contains or what
kind OF men are running on it. Men who
could not recognize Democratic principle
when advocated by Horace Greeley, and
who don't want success unless it is achiev- |
ed with nobody aid except the men who
voted for Gen. Jackson, ought to form a |
Nasty club and affiliate with nobody else. |
1t might be well for the committee to call
convention for such sort of people-but |
il one is to be called we are in favor of |
plainly setting forth certain principles in
the call and of inviting only the co. operation
OF delegates who believe in those principles. |
That is the only way to keep ont repudia-
tors and secure harmony. Let the call in
yitc tor instance, only those who are in IA
vor OF the following principles:
|, The immediate abolition of the in
jqnitous national banking system.
, The immediate resumption Of specie
payments.
,. The furnishing of Treasury Notes
Tor circulation, payable in specie on pre-
sentatlon at any sub-treasuryin the United
States
/. Free trade-or in other words, q
tariff for revenue only. U
.. Eternal hostility to monopoles and i
lass legislati1n-lcgislation to be general, c
and for all alike. Ii
e. Home rule. Opposition to all legis
alton by Congress- which can be done by -
he States. "
:. Opposition to any legislation regu- n
ltins the habits or restraining the free 30
ON Of the people, except for crime. n
These we cali. vital principles, md p
call is to be issued we would invite the lc
cooperation of no one who did not sub u,
tribe to them in advance. Il,
\ platform embodying these principles, d,
nd then the nomination of Messrs. Gore M
nd Etter would carry the State. \ ~ -,
ishy washy, non-committal platform, and he
lothcr set Of candidates would simply III
axe the Democracy" an ally Of the Re a.
lbIican ticket already in the field, aud in VI VI
ire its success. i,
Ii Mr. Mccormick wants our opinion we au
y-haye u, meeting of the committee