The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-17

just claims to the careful study of public
beneActors and Of private capitalists. The
subject is PROFESSIONALLY arouslng new
interest in the minds of men.
That electrical blast of political honesty
which went forth from the assembled farn-
ers at St-Louis. a few days ago, has scarcely
reverberated through the country when a
counter peal is heard from the masssd re-
formers of Iowa. Wherever the peopls
come together this year there is q wholesome
sound of honesty and high purpose of re-
form as unmistakable as it is essential for
the preservation of anything like govern
ment of the people. The declaration of
principles put forth by the grangers at St.
Louis will do for perpetual pledge of good
government if proper men are entrusted
with the execution Iowa is the first to re-
spond openly to that general demand for in
dependence and reform. A great popular
mass meeting was held the other day
and the declaration Of independence put
forth which is in thorough keeping with the
Changers proclamation a noble and out-spo-
ken demand for thorough reformation ofall
political abuses. The beginning of the re-
form movement in Iowa, was a surprise and
the results of its first campaign awaken
ing to the whole country. The present atti-
tude of the independents is best illustrated
by the text of the declaration put forth at the
assembly, which says simply and directly:
In order to define OR position, we, in con-
vention assembled, sui mit to a candid pub
lie, as basis of our political action, the
following resoIutionSs
First-That the primary objects of free
republican government is the proper pro-
lection of persons and property, and that
fewer and simpler laws faithfully admins
tered will best secure this end.
SecOnd-That we sre in favor of political
reform, and to that end we den and honesty
economy, and purity in official life.
Thlrd-That we repudiate the doctrine that
'to the victors belong the spoil, but instead
! thereof we are in favor of a true system Of
civil-service reform, making honesty and
capacity the only valid claims for public
employment.
Fourth-That in a protective tariff we re-
cogniZe a monopoly, and we are therefore
opposed to it. and that we demand free iron,
steel, salt, lumber, and wooden fabrics. and
that a tariff on importations is iustiiable for
| revenue purposes only.
Fifth-That all corp6rations are subject to
legislative control; that those created by
congress should be restricted and controlled
by congress. and that those under state laws
should be subject TO the state creating them !;
that while we recognize the value of rail-
ros6s, and will in all proper ways encourage
their construction, yet, while enjoying valu-
/ able franchises, they should bear their full
burden of taxation, and receive on the CAPT.
tai invested no more than Just and lawful
interest, and should charge only just and
equitable rate for transportation and travel.
Sixth-That we favor such notifications
of our banking system as will extend its ben
etits to the whole people, and thus destroy a
monopoly now enjoyed by favored few.
Seventh-That we are opposed to all grants
flands to railroads or other corporations,
and believe that what is lett of the public
domain should lie held sacred for the actual
settler.
Elgnth-Tnat the pretended repeal of the
back-salary law, after the appropriation Of
the grab, both before and after services per-
formed by many members of congress, and
the failure to apply to the president, Is a
gross fraud upon the public, and nothing
short of an unqualified repeal will satisfy the
Just demands of the people.
| ,Ninth-That we deny the alleged neces-
sity Of state printer and binder, or a
party organ supported by public patronage
and demand that all public work, both
State and county, be let by contract to the
lowest responsible bidder.
Tenth-That the election of over sixty
members TO the General Assembly, with an
incomplete organization, is complete de-
monstration Of the justice of our cause, a
promise of its early triumph in the State
and nation.
Eleventh-That in the Tammany steal, the
credit mobilier fraud, the congressional SAL
any swindle, and official entertainments, and
the hundreds of other combinations, steals,
frauds, and swindles by which the demo-
cratic and republican legislators, congress-
men, and officeholders have enriched them
selves, defrauded the country, and impover-
ished the people, we find the necessity of in
dependent action and the importance of uni
ted effort, and cordially invite all men, of
whatever calling, business, trade, or voca-
ton, regardless of past political views to
join US in removing the evils that so seri-
ously affect us all.
There, any body who can't take up his march
on that line won't have any particular bust
ness in this country for some time to come
The language of these statements are very
simple and there needn't be any time wasted
in constituting them. They mean that we
must stop this baleful business of centrali-
zation by which the republican party has
kept itself in power far beyond its
usefulness. They mean that we must select
men tor public trust upon the same princi-
pies that govern all we'll regulated business
affairs. That we must obliterate the robbery