The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-15

on a protective tariff for home labor, and
also on the principle which lies at the basis
of free trade, for they rejected the propo-
sition TO let public contracts to the lowest
bidder. On the railroad question thee onven
t;on declared itself for the most unlimited
nower of the State over the management
of railroads, and the fixing of passenger
and freight tariffs. The remainder of the
platform consists Of generalities in regard
to economy and honor declarations about
honor side by side with an Endorsement of
a fraudulent national bankruptcy y, in re-
gard to improvements of navigable waters
without adding whether at the expense of
the Federal or State government), and a
revision of the Patent laws without Civ
ing any indication of the manner in which
they are to be improved.)
In regard to the question of personal
liberty Temperance laws), the sentiment
of the Convention was unconditional in IA
vor of forced Temperance, so much 40
that person must have had brazen
brow to have ventured to take the oppo-
site side Every reference to the demands
of the Germans in regard to this point was
met by the cold-water farmers with that
malicious and contemptuous scorn which
the rougher American displays against ev-
erything which he can dispose Of with the
word Dutch"
For paper money, against the protection
of home industry, and for temperance and
Sunday laws this is the brief summary
of the whole Farmers platform. We GER
tainly need not say to our readers that we
spit on such platform. No man who is
capable Of reasoning will believe that anv
person-even if he swore it with a hun
dred oaths-whO asserts the Germans will
accept such monstrosity Of a platform
acts from honest conviction and upon rea-
sonable cause. For he would attribute to
the Germans nothing less than the allow.
ing themselves to be struck in the face, the
declaring all their honest and sincere con-
victions lie and a swindle, and the placing
themselves meekly under the slavewhip of
fanatical water muckers
In our opinion, the practical significance
J Of the Farmers Convention is, that the
new party will draw its main support from
the Republican party, and thereby so weak
en- 1t that a reasonable opposition party,
colnclding with the just views and de-
mands of the liberal minded Germans can
obtain plurality in the State The Dem
ocratlc party organization should consider
itself called upon to take the initiative in
the organization of such party. Let the
Democratic State Central Committee issue
a call for a meeting of all those indepen-
dent and honest minded citizens Of the
State who are sick of corrupt Republican
rule-who wish to see the honor. the good
name, and the welfare of the nation pre-
served by the speediest and directest re-
turn to specie payment, and who regard
with disgust the unworthy restraints upon
trade and conscience imposed by temper
ance laws of all kinds If, in the call for
the convention, its aims and objects are
those clearly and distinctly set forth. so
that all disputes and bubbles may be
avoided, such a convention can aud will Gre
ate and organize party SO glorious and
powerful that ii will be certain Of victory
over the Republican party, weakened by
the detection Of a great number of farmers,
The Democratic State Committee need not
fear petty jealousies on the part of those
independent voters who have cut loose
from the Republican party, -assuming al.
ways that the committee keeps itself free
from all ambiguity and from attempts tc
carry water on beth shoulders concerning
these most Important issues.