The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-31
MASSACHUSETTS.

BosToN, Aug. 30.-Gen. Butler, in a
card accepting the nomination of the voters |
who signed paper expressing a wish to |
choose him governor of Massachusetts |
says: s+~- s |
/ take the trust with all the cares, and |
will devote all of the intelligence, of labor,
forethought and energy which in me hes |
and use all power which they and those
who think with them may give me to re-
lieve the peoples burdens and bring about
a more equal and efficient administration
Of the laws of this commonwealth which
they wish. As We have no organization.
platform of party principles, either state or
national, it may not be inappropriate to set
forth the principles which will guide my
political measures, as well as the conduct
OF the governmental functions which may
b entrusted to me: Equal rights, equal
duties, equal powers, equal burdens, equal
privileges. and equal protection by laws to
every man everywhere under the govern
ment, state or national. The laws of tax
alton should be made so plain, so direct
and Efficient, and be so faithfully administ
cred that all of the property of every kind
in the commonwealth should be taxed just
once every year, and no more, as lightly as
possible-equally fairly and so that none
can escape the public burden. A law reg
u!ating the rate of interest is advocated.
| The repeal of the law against usury has in
many cases ruined both the borrower and
the savings bank. which ia legal tender.
1t certainly has shaken to its foundation
oar savings bank system. The result may
teach the managers of these institutions
that when the Almighty thundered his few
laws for his chosen people from Mount
Siani. the only fiHaucial law delivered to
Moses Take thou 20 usurry of thy
brother or increase, but God" was omni-
potent wisdom. Let us abolish and fear
lessly set aside as far as we can the boards,
commissioners and unconstitutionally ap-
pointed officers and sinecurists with their
relatives and employees now living upon the
substance of the people. extorted from
them by taxation, No political party,
coming to power as such, can make or
carry out necessary reformation with a
J Swarm of hungry Office seekers surround
possible to abolish a needless Office or to
stop the leak in the treasury from which
J hungry politicians are fed. We have nc
political machinery, no political wire
workers who can make claim on US. We
are directly from the people, of the people.
nay, the people themselves; let the people
: interpose just this once between the gov
| erning ring and the people without the
| middle men of a convention or regard to
. political issues, the legislative and execu
+; tive departments of the state In the com.
I ing year can not effect the administrator
{ OF national affairs in any way, and if theJ
0 do their full duty to the people and do th,
! work of the neople instead OF thrusting i
upon boards and committees, and atteUt
10 the reforms needed at home. they viii
have iull employment for all their time
We do not ask, therefore. those who &C
with US to pretermit, change oralter any
: political opinion whatever upon any sub
@ ject, but any one seeing the necessity, a
a we see it. of relieving the peoples burden
: aud to bring about a more equal an
a efficient administration of tn
a laws of the commonwealth
q to act with us to that enc