The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-05-20
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS,


gates. Peter Cooper failed to put In an APP
pearance to preside, and Thos. }. Durant, OF
Washington, was made president OF the con-
vcntion. After spending all OF Wednesday
in speech making and wrangling IN commit
tee over platform, the convention finally got
to work on Thursday morning, when the iol-
lowing platform was adopted;
I The independent party is called into exls-
! fence nv the necessities of the people, whose
industries are Frustrated, whose Iaoor IS ue'
prived of its Just reward by a ruinous poilcy,
which the republican and democratic parties
refuse TO change; and in view of the lal'ure
~ Hose nartics to furnish relief to the de.
messed industries of the country, thereby
disappointing the Just hopes ana expectations
| of a suffering people, we declare our primer.
| nIes and invite all independent and patriotic
men To ioin our ranks in this movement Tor
| financial reform and industrial emancipation
/ We demand the immediate and uncon
diuonal repeal of the specie resumption act
of Jan a. 1875, and the rescue of our INDUS
tries from the ruin and disaster resulting from
its enforcement, and we call upon all patrl
otto men to organize in every congressional
district in the country, with the view OF eject
ing representatives TO congress VINO VIII car
ry out the wishes ofthe people in this regard
and stop the present suicidal anu obstructive
policy of contraction.
2. We believe that "a United States note, Is
sued directly by the government, convertible
on demand into United States obligations
bearing less rate of interest, not exceeding
one cent . day on each 800, and re-eX-
changeable for United States notes at par,
will afford the best circulating medium ever
devised. Such United States notes shall bea
full leCal.tender for all purposes, excepting
for the payment Of such obligations as are by
existing contracts expressly made payable in
coin. and we hold that it is the duty OF the
government to provide such circulation Tor
the nation to whom it belongs.
g. 1t is the paramount duty OF the govern
ment in all its legislation, to keep IN vie"
the full development of all legitimate busl-
ness-agricultural mining, manufacturing
and commercial.
A. We most earnestly protest against any
further issue of gold bonds tor sale in foreign
markets, by which we would be made, Tor
long period, hewers of wood and drawers OF
water to foreigners, especially as the Amcri-
can people would gladly and promptly take
al par all the bonds which the government
may not need to sell, provided they are made
payable at the option OF the holder, and Bear
ing interest at 365 per cent. per annuni, or
even lower rate.
8. We further protest against the sale OF
government bonds for the purpose OF purchas-
ing silver TO be used as substitute for our
more convenient and less tluctuating frac
tional currency, which, although well calcula-
ted to enrich the owners of silver mines, yet
in its operation, will still further Cypress, in
taxation, an already over.burdened people.
Then about a dozen of names were pro-
posed for presidential candidates, including
Gov. Allen, Judge Davis, Gen. Singleton, Pc
ter Cooper, Alex. Campbell, Gov. Curtin,
Robert F. Wingate, and various others Ste
venson, of Illinois, said there was no use in
nominating Davis, for he would't accept
Ohio delegates said the same of Bill Allen.
Singleton spoke for himself and refused TO
take the nomination, and so did Wlngate
There being nobody else left, the convention
nominated Peter Cooper tor President, and
then Newton Booth tor vice president,
Several additional resolutions were adop
ted, one protesting against further land grants
to railroads, another in favor of paying the
coin debt of the nation in silver, and another
calling grand national ratification meet
ing at Philadelphia on the Ash Of July, and
then the convention adjourned.
The Ohio democracy held state conven-
ton at Cincinnati on Wednesday to appoint
delegates to the st. Louis convention. There
was a hot contest between the friends ofThur.
man and Allen over the platform, the Alien
ties coming out ahead. The delegates only
for the state at large were appointed, the 9th.
ers beng appointed by the congressional dis
tric,s. All were REQUESTED to vote for the
nomination of Allen at ST. Louis. The com
mit,ee on platform presented two reports, one
by the majority and the other by the minor
ity-bOth substantially the same, except on
the currency question: the majority, or Thur
man wing, declaring in favor Of return TO
specie payment "as soon as the same can be
done without seriously disturbing the bust
ness of the country" saying nothing about
the resumption law or national banks. The
minority, or Allen wing, demand repeal of
the resumption law, the substitution of green
backs for national bank bills, and "sound
currency, equal in quantity TO the wants of
trade, and to be regulated with gold by judi
cious Legislation" Aud this platform was
adopted by 36S to 300.
The Iowa Democrats met i'll state conven.
ton at Des Moines on the same day and ap.
pointed delegates to the St LOUIS convention,
sending them without instructions, but are
understood TO be in favor of Tilden The res
olutions on the financial question declare IN
favor of an early return TO specie payment
and the repeal of the Sherman forced resump
ton law.
Unhappy England, that insists on having a
gold basis for It's currency and all CONNER
cial transactions! Surely there must be
pinchiug times there and dreadful! scarcity
of cash, when even in unhappy America,
D 4. 4