The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-06-20
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION

J
, Cullom. late speaker of the house, wa
chairman, with dozen or two OF vice pres'
dents and secretaries The convention pro
cceded without much ceremony to the nom
nation of candidates, and on the third bailc
nominated Thos. S. Ridgway, of Gallatii
county, for State Treasurer; and also on TN
third ballot, nominated II. NJ Wells, of Ogl'
county, for superintendent of public instruc
ton. For this Office there were ten candidates
q Miss Willard, Of Chicago, leading of witt
the blgges. vote on the first ballot. Wells
coming next, getting 100, and Baldwin next
getting 1O2. On the second ballot, however
4 Miss Willard dropped down to 40, an( Bald
win TO rs On the last ballot, all the othel
candidates having backed of, the vote stood
Wells 302, Powell 294.
The great battle IN the convention, OF
course, was on the currency question, and the
problem presented was, how to endorse Lo
gan, Oglesby and imitation, and at the same
time not censure orQuarrcl with Grant. Logan
was on the ground to attend to his case in
person; Grant was on hand with q host OF
office holders, but personally remained al
Washington. The result was, Grant was
scooped and: Logan came off but little bet
ter The platform adopted, which is giver
below, although most singular combination
of inexplicably jumbled phrases on the tinan
cial question, was construed by Logan him
self in his speech at the close Of the conven
ton as an unreserved Endorsement of himself
and Oglesby, while Grant, his administration
and policies, are worse than damned with
faint praise, being treated with contempuou'
sllence-ln a word, wholly ignored.
The platform, correctly paraphrased, is
simply this; /. That it would be unwise al
present to cancel or retire any of the $3.50,
100000 treasury notes now issued 2. Thai
banking should be free, so that as much more
paper as possible in the shape of national
bank bills may be got into circulation; 8
That we re-atfirm the declaration of the re
publican national convention Of 1872 in favor
Of return to specie payment at the earliest
practicable day; But, 4, to put off that period
as far as possible, we are opposed to the re
tirement of any of the present issue of green
backs
This last clause becomes emphatic, from
the fact that the convention struck out the
latter half of the 4lh resolution, thus in terms
condemning the Grant policy of retiring the
sreenbacks at the rate OF $40 to every new
800 of national bank bills issued
Aside from this financial tumble, the plat
form is meaningless hyfaluun and swash.
The following is the platform as adopted
except that the 4th resolution was amended
as indicated above:
THE PLATFoRM. ...
We the delegate representatives of the re
publican party of Illinois, declare the fol
lowing to be substantially our belief:
/. That emancipation and enfranchisement
having being secured by the 18th and 10Th
amendments to the constitution of the United
States, and by appropriate legislation for
their enforcement and equality of civil
rights having been guaranteed by the !4th
amendment such guaranty should be en-
forced by appropriate statutes, so that the
broad agis of freedom may be over black
ana Wnlte clllZenS alike.
2. That, as one of the consequences of the
late civil war, about $685., 100000 Of non,in
terest bearing treasury notes were issued TO
and are now held by the people, as safe and
convenient currency, ii would be unwiso
and ineXpedient, in the present financial con
dition of the people, to attempt the policy OF
immediate cancellation Of any portion OF
such treasury notes.
3. That the laws for the establishment of ma
tional banks having secured to the states
and territories the best system of bank cir
culation ever before offered to the people, lis
issuance should be no longer confined to 4
privileged class, but should be free TO all
alike, under general and equal laws; the az
grcgate volume of currency TO be regulated
by the untrammeled laws of trade
4. That we reafiirm the declarton of tho
national republican convention of 1872, in
favor of n return to specie payment at the
earliest practicable day. That we are op
posed TO any increase in the amount of legal
tender notes, and favor the gradual retirement
Of the same, as the volume of the national
bank notes shall be increased
8. That we commend the measures which
have passed the popular branch of congress
looking to the cheapcning and perfection OF
interstate railway transportation, and the
of the Mississippi river
9. That we are in favor of an amendmcn
of the constitution of the United States, pro
v:dIng for the election of president and VIC
president by the direct vote the people
without the intervention of the electoral col
lege.
Z. That the republican party respect.
the rights reserved by the people to themselve:
as carefully as the powers delegated by then
to the state and federal governments; and j
will aim to secure the rights and privilege.
of the citizens, without regard 10 nativity OF
creed; and it opposed to interference by law
with the habits, tastes OF customs of indi
viduals except to suppress RIGHTEOUSNESS oil
to preserve the peace and safety of the citi
zens of the state.
s. That while we accord to the railway com
yanes of this state the fullest measure OF
property rights, We also demand for the PEG
pie reasonable charges and rigid impartial
NY in the transportation of passengers anC
| freights; such guarantees to be secured by
appropriate state and national legislation.
| Ralvinu inon the forpUoinp declaration nj