The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-01-30

at the annual meeting Jf the Illinois Farm
ers' Association, held at Springfield, H.,
on January 18th, 20th, and 2lst:
Whereas, Through the departure from the
primary principles Of our government as pro
mulgated by its founders, and through the
imprudent exercise Of that highest preroga-
tive Of the freeman, the Iight Of suffrage, we,
the farmers Of Illinois. in common with the
wealth and food producers Of these United
States, have, through our past action, acqui
esed in q sy stem Of class legislation which
makes the great majority slavishly subservi
ent TO asmall minority and,
Hhereds, This condition is clearly traceable
to the fostering protection which has been &C
corded by our legislative bodies, both state
and national, to financial, mercantile, manu-
featuring, and Incorporating interests, enab-
ling them to accumulate an undue proportion
IT this national wealth, and encouraging them
in the exercise Of the corruption Of lobby influ-
ences which have become inseparable from
our legislative system; therefore,
Resolved, l. That the preservation Of our
national life imperatively demands that every
American voter shall attend with care all pri-
mary nominations and elections, 50 as to in
sure the election Of competent and honest
men to all the offices in the gift of the people.
parties Of the country is such as to forfeit the
confidence and respect of the people, and that
we are, therefore, absolved from all allegiance
to them and should act no longer with them.
| 3. That we do not recognize any necessity
that public otficersshould receive extravagant
salaries, to the end that they may conform
| to the demand Of expensive and fashionable
caste, and which, in their very nature, are an
tagonistic to republican principles, and there
fore we demand q reduction Of official salaries,
including that Of the president Of the United
States to it's former basis, rs soon as it can
sonstitutionally be done.
J 4. That we demand the immediate reform
| of abuses in the civil service through which
patronage Of the government is dispensed as a
reward for partisan service rather than with
regard to the public necessities
). That we are in favor Of improving and
perfecting the navigation of our principel
lakes and rivers and water connections, and
we urge the immediate improvement Of the
mouth Of the Mississippi river.
6 That the right to exchange the products
Of labor is extensive with the right Of own
ershlp We submit to all needful taxation
for this support of the government. but de-
nounce all taxation levied for the benefit Of
special classes. We hold that the existing
duties on clothing, lumber salt, iron, and
steel are not only unnecessary to the success
| full prosecution of these industries, but Op-
pressiVe 70 laoor' anu tenu 20 create monopo-
hes, whiie AZ the same time tney furnish
presext Ior eA'r~VSgSn' chSrges ior railway
'rsns r'ssio"
q; mat we uePrecate any iurIner granSs 0,
puDhc lsnas OF loans OF tne Puohc credit' ana
OF hauohal seS'e' OF local SUBSCRIPTIONS 10 a'u
of corporations.
O. lhat we demand tne rePeai q the ma
tional banking ia"' anu 'ha' 'he government
snah supply hAtlona' paper money uirecSiy
from the treasury nlaue Iuil legai tenuer
III al ueoes, Puo'ic snu prlvS'e' nn1iuuine
uutes ON imports 10 nc in.ercn@nge~oie lor
registered Oonus' bearing 90 per cent annual
htereSs
~ lhA. lns'eAa ol lncre~sins she revenues
h Sne naslons' so.cl"n,ons a = me- .ne
Penui1ure'' "e 80 - '~'O' ~ 'ou"0ne 'ne
revenug
| ~ Ahas Se noiu on~s ~ Pieseh' ia"s ~
zoo o,.eh n'Aue a. ene i,i1erese ., mo-
noPohsCs; ana snouiu dc cAre'ully revised ana
rest1icIeu'
~ ihse VIC a. opPoeou ~ oons'.uccoh im
Oh Ine sC~'e oohssiSuSion . winch "uI !us."y,
unuer any PrcsoAV ",huSi ihsScau
OF nennl@l SESSIONS u our sS1ee leglsiS1uie'
IL. mat tne sAse'ng Iah"sy ir9iSlation OF
the staee snouio De sustained ana enforced
until tnorougniy ceseec oeIore the courts f;
tnas we Oppose any ieeisia.lon Dy congress
unuer .ne ples y esuia'lIs commerce oe-
tween the states, ~nicn shail dePrlVe tne pee
pie OF thelr present con'rolilng influence
shrougr M ssa.s lselslA.on
10; lhA' sne .'en. VI .ne legisiasure 70
reguiate anu conerul Sne rSurosas OF the state
must De vlnulcAseu' .A.p eseApn.ned ana man
Salneu' - an essenslN S'sflouCe oi sta'c govern
nen', aau 'nA' .nose nol"ing the doctrine
shse rallIoau cnarSes III contracts ~ the