The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-09-09

pBnoCnATIc STATE CONVENTION.
Tho Democratic State Convention met al
Springfield on Thursday, oil the counties
n the state sending full delegations ex7
cept eight which were in part represented
BY democrats present from those counties
Hon. w. A. J. Sparks was made temper
airy president, who, on being escorted to
the cnair, mado an eloquent speech, AZ
raiening the republican party for Its cor
ruption and extravaganza, and on the
prohibition question maintaining that the
democratic party believed In the liberty OF
tho individual man and would not attempt
to dictate what man should eat drink or
wear.
After appointing the usual committee On
credentials and organization, the conven-
ton took recess to 2 o'clock.
On re assembling the committee on Gre
dcntlals reported all the delegates in at
tendance regular. The committe on or.
ganlzation reported IN favor of John NJ.
Palmer for permanent chairman, and was
accordingly unanimously elected. w. j..
Mize of Moultrie, was elected secretary
with j. j. Crowley Joseph G. Mackin and
Phoclon Howard as assistants. Governor
Palmer's speech on taking the chair was
short but pointed and energetic. He
branded the republican party, with its ex-
travagant appropriations and Hubbel
assessments, as no better than company
of bandits, while Arthur was disgracipg
himself by going abou, followed by
snobs.
Then Baptist minister was invited to
invoke the Divine blessing on the proceed
ings, and this was his prayer
o Lord, we beseech Thee to save us from
the devil. o Lord God, We bcseech Thee
TO save us from the star route and other
thieves upon our public treasury. Lord
Almighty, we beseech Thee to save us from
Republlcanism. For Chrlst's sake. Amen.
For State Treasurer Major Alfred Oren-
dori, of Springfield, was nominated by &c
clama,ion. For School superintendent
eight candidates were presented, the choice,
on the second ballot falling upon Professor
Henry Raab, of st. Clair. Frank Hall re
ceived but 80 votes. The truth is, the
NOMINATION of Raab who Is splendid
man, was made largely to help Col. Morri-
son IN his fight for congress in the
st. Clair district.
A state committee was appointed, con
sistIng OF one member from each congress
sional district "a. j. O'Connor from
this distrIcD, and the following for the
state at large: w. G. Mize, j. Ii. Oberly,
s. Corning Judd, Vim. II. Green, Herman
Lieb and j. W. Coppinger. The commit
has appointed J. II. Oberly chairman, and
Fixed its headquarters at Chicago.
The platform (Which we shall publish in
full in our next, reafiirms the fundamental
principles of the democratic party as those
of equal rights for all, free speech, free
press, etc.; declares IN favor OF an honest
civil service reform denounces the reck.
less extravaganza of the republican party
in the state and nation; expresses sympathy
for the Irish people; declares IN favor OF
reduction Of federal and state taxation and
revision OF the present tariff; an. on the
prohibition question resolves as follows:
That, while we have no purpose to in.
tcrfere with just laws in force in Illinois
for the regulation of the traffic in inioxi-
eating liquors, and concedlng the right OF
the people to an amendment, il necessary.
OF such laws, to prevent or correct the evils
to society growing ont of the abuses IN the
use Of intoxicating liquors, this convention
declares thai ii is not the legitimate prov
ince OF government to control the habits,
tastes, appetites and liberties of the people
so long as they are peaceable and orderly,
and do not encroach upon the rights of
others or of society; and we therefore de-
clare that prohibition, by constitution or
ny general laws, Of the manufacture or sale
of vinous, spirituous, or malt liquors
would be IN violation of individual and
personal rights, and contrary to the funda-
mental principles Of free government.