The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-05-29
DAVID DAVIS.

| OAvAO OAVAos
After conceding the impossibilty ss well a,
unwisdom of the nom ination OF Tilden at Gin
cinnati, and that. IN fact, there Is no eastern
democrat available who can command the con
Of the whole country as the democratic candi
date for the presidency all eyes seem TO be
turning with increasing hope and confidence
towards David DAVIS of Illinois In tins at
titude the following letter of Mr.. Davis, clear
| ly expressing his views on the prominent pc.
lltical topics of the day, will naturally be read
with interest. 1t was drawn out by n letter adj.
dressed to him by Hon, O. II. Browning, OF
Quincy, Ill.,, whose letter propounded certain
inquiries the character of which is sufficient.
ly indicated in the answers to each In the or
der as presented. These answers, il will be
observed, are in every case to the point and
unmistakable and such as cannot fail to com.
mand the unqualified approval OF every demo
crat. Indeed, they place Judge Davis-where
in fact he has stood ever since he entered the
senate-squarcly upon the democratic plat
torm-so that, not only on the score of his
great ability, his answering purity and in
tegrity of character and lofty craftsmanship,
but also on that OF his genuine democracy, the
entire party of the nation can support him, IN
case he should get the Cincinnati nomination,
with zeal and carncstncss which weapprehend
can he united on no other man. Following is
his letter
L. 5. SENATE,
WASHINGTON, May IT.
Ny Dcur Sh,-I have had the pleasure to re-
Ceiyc your letter Of the 9th inst. As 1t COnStltu.
ent friend and honOred citizen or Illinois, You
have perfect right to ask for my views ON pub.
lie questions, and have no hesitation in express.
ing them. Taking the inquiries in the order pre-
scntcd
Peace in the Union-Pcrmancnt prosperity and
fraternal fellowship are only to be attained by ST..
lencing sectional strife, and faithful adherence
to the constitution and all the amendments a
strict observance Of the laws in conformity there
with, and equal rights and equal protection for
every citizen III every part of the republic, Will
soon end the discords that have too long veXcd
the country and injured its material welfare. The
people are weary Of the agitation and want peace.
Ccntralization-Thc constitution wisely defines
the respective limits Of the federal aud state gov
ernmcnts, under happy and harmonious sys-
tenn, wherein each Is independent in It's appro-
pirate sphere, and both operate concurrently to
protect the integrity and stability of the Union.
Any encroachment on the distinctive domain of
the Other necessarily ulslocates inc machinery VI
the constitution, and involves danger to The
whole body polite. IN fact every departure nom
the great charter OF liberty and law Is attended
with peril The demand made by the adherents
Of one of the great parties for strong govern
ment means substantially, u centralized govern
ment, destructive OF home rule in the states, and
the very reverse of what Mr.. Lincoln well de
scrbed rs "a government of the people, by the
people for the people" Carried to its logical
conclusion, such change would finally over
throw the republic.
The Third Term-Aninnoyat upon the sane
titled traditions of the Presidency, first estab-
lished by the example OF ashingtoh, is urgent
ly demanded by powerful interest in the Re
publican party. II the limitation of two terms
heretofore universally accepted be destroyed, the
way to a self-perpetuating Presidency will he
opened by the use and abuse of an enormous pub
lie patronage. Break down this barrier and an
end of the experiment OF republican govern
ment looms up darkly as the cost of fatal con
cession.
Great CorporatOns-The rapid growth Of the
corporate power, and the malign influence which
it eXerts by combinations on national and state
legislatures, is a well grounded cause of alarm.
A struggle is impending in the near future be-
tween this Overgrown power, with its vast ran-
ticalions all over the mon, and nara grip on
much Of the political machinery, Oh the one
hand, and the people, in an unorganiZed condi
ton on the other for the control of the govern
ment 1t will be watched by every patriot with
intense anxiety.
Civil Service--Ncither the laws nor the com
missioners created under them Will enectuaiiy
remove the many and glazing abuses of the civil
service The former who have been constantly
eyaded and the latter are powerless for good. An
honest executive, bent on real and not simulat
ed REFORM has abundant authority to make it
effective everywhere, if he has the capacity to
see his duty and the courage to perform it,
Neutrality-suspicious. has demonstrated that
subsidies in any form are sources of corruption
and ought to be forbidden. Private enterprises
that depend for success upon legislation procured
by venal agencies do not deserve pubic favor
Public Lands-More than $5O,0O0,0OO, prnci-
pal and interest, have been voted by Congress to
railroad corporations. The remaining lands
should be sacredy reserved for the cultivators Of
the SOIL so that the laboring man shall have a
49,, =, = ;r,nrora bis cond;tion and IN omen a