Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-19
The National "Liberat, Leaque.

CHICAGO, Sept. 18.-In the morning session
of the national liberal league, j. Grover made
long address recommending that the league
take political action. Garfield was in favor
of strong government which was enough to
call for opposition from the league to his elec-
tion. He denounced the national bank system.
His address was referred to the committee on
resolutions. Mr.. McCrogan of Michigan, said
it was an insult to the convention. he favored
strong government and centralization of pow
er, and intimated that if any party should be
arraigned it was the one which did violence to
large number of citizens in his section. The
chairman declared these remarks out of order.
Mr.. McCrogan said Michigan could poll 20, 600
liberal votes. Recess.
In the afternoon the report of the committee
on nominations was adopted. .fIt makes Eleazur
Wright, of Boston, president, and long list of
vice presidents headed by R. L. Ingersoll. A.
L. Rawson, KY, secretary; L. Coleman,
New York, assistant secretay, L. B. Wakeman,
New York, treasurer. directors: Eleazur
Wright, T. @. Leland, T. 3. Wakeman, a. L.
Greene, Z. G. Spencer.
Secre tary Rawson addressed the meeting and
reported on the visit to the free-thinkers at
Brussels. BE said they were making converts
rapidly in most of the nations OF Europe.
Louis Wllhem read an address of union rad
icals of Milwaukee, denouncing existing par
ties and recommending liberal league.
The greater part of the afternoon and even
ing was occupied in discussion of the platform
of principles and report presented by the
committee on future work. It provides for
total separation of church and State by law
and by constitutional amendment taxation
Of church property, secularization of schools,
abrogation Of chaplaineries, sabbatarian laws
and other similar means; national legislation
to protect citizens in equal political industri-
al and religious rights, regardless of race or
sex; universal education the basis of universal
suffrage; and a constitutional amendment re-
quiring every State to maintain thoroughly
secularized public school system, and to edu-
cate every child within its borders.
The platform was then read. 1t declares,
among other things that there should be NO
legal political or social disabilities on account
of religious belief, or of the absence thereof;
that all laws requiring religious tests in order
to qualify any person to sit on jury, testify,
vote, hold Office or do any public acts, should
be repealed as relics of barbarism, and that all
laws regarding marriage, which is a civil con-
tract, and divorce, births and burials, should
be placed on purely secular and scientific
basis, and have their justification only in their
use to society. Also, that the Comstock laws
should be repealed forthwith and altogether.
Col. Ingersoll undertook to correct the i'm
preston that the league favored the circulation
of obscene literature, and said it was only
aimed to discriminate in suppression and pun
ishment between those who wilfully and ma
hciously circulated such literature and those
who did SO without evil motive. The plat
form involved the league in discussion
which was still in progress at midnight, and
which brought out much hostility to certain
of its planks, because of their assertion of the
States rights doctrine.