The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-02
THE PLATFORM.

ResOEued /. That the democratic party of the
of Illinois, in convention assembled, reafirm
the great principles which the foundation OF
free government, among which are equal rights 10
all and exclusive privileges to none, protection of
the weak against the encroachments of the strong,
equal taxation, free speech, free press, free
Schools and first of all free and incorruptible bal
lot.
2 That we favor honest reform for the civil ser
vice. and denounce the eXtortion of large sums of
money from office holders to corrupt the ballot and
control elections the most threatening as 1t is the
most insiduous danger that besets free govern
ment, and the shameless resort to such methods by
the national republican committee, and by the re-
publican Reputation coalition in Nireinia .eyRces
the inter abandonment of principle and mleetsso our
unqualified condemnation.
g. That we denounce the reckless extravaganza
and profigacy of the republican party in the appro
praton of the public treasurey manifested during
the last session of congress, which increased ME
appropriations for the current fiscal year over those
of the past year made by democratic congress to
the enormous extent of SIS, 0Oo,000.
q. That we extend our heartiest sympathy to the
Irish people in the struggle for their rights in which
they engaged, and recognize in their per
sistent efforts obtain their freedom despite the
dungeon and all other infamous appliances charac-
teriStic of British rule over Ireland, love of lib
erty which is unparalleled in history, and sheds a
ray of glory upon the Irish national character,
mending it to the respect, admiration and support
of freedom loving people throughout the world
5. That it is incumbent upon our government to
protect its citizens, native born and naturaized. at
home and abroad, and we denounce and condemn
the present republican administration for its neglect
in the ails of Ireland by the arbitrary action of the
British government.
taxation to the lowest point consistent with the
wants of the government under an honest and eco
nomica administration OF its affairs, and that such
taxes be so adjusted as to secure equitable dis
tribution of these burdens.
z. The Republican party of the state has proved
false TO the pledges it has made to to the people.
With not a cent of bonded debt against the stateS
the taxes for the past year have been one-third'
greater than tn the preceding year. The various
boards of the state institutions have been used
more to advance the interests of the republican
party than for the and comfort of the r1tortu
charge. The various radical state officials sur
rounded by numbers OF unnecessary clerks and at
PENDANTS, whose salaries paid from the state
treasury The humiliating spectacle is presented
of the governor of the state saying I'm his annual
message that the sum of So 900 goo would be ample
to pay all the expenses of the state for two years,
and the same governor approving bills passed by
the republican legislature appropriatng nearly 81,
100000 for such expenses; and the large fund re-
ceived annually from the Illinois Central Railroad
company under the wise provisions of law enacted
by democratic legislature, instead of being util
lied to relieve the people from taxation, has been
misused as stimulus to increased taxation.
s. That the offices of the warehouse and rRilroad
commissioners, now filed by the appointment of
the governor, should be filled by election by the
people.
9. That we demand revision of the present IN
Just, and IN many respects prohlbitory tariff which
vors and fosters iniquitous monopolies. is unjust
of life. The constitution c0nfers congress the
power to raise revenue by duties imports, and
Just and proper exercise of that power we favor
tariff based ON the principle of revenue, which viii
deal justly with existing business relations and with
all legitimate industries, and at the same time dis
courage monopoles and remove the burdens iTlpos-
ed by the present tariff upon all tire laboring people
of the country and we hereby declare that there is
no power given by the constitution to congress to
levy a tariff the people for the purpose Of
protection without reference to revenue.
10. That while we have purpose to interfere
with just laws in force Illinois the regulation
of the traffic in intoxicating liquors. and conceding
the right of the people to amendment If necessa
ry of sch laws to prevention correct the evils of
ciety growing out of abuses in the of ntoxicat
ing liquors. the convention declares that is not the
legitimate province of government TO control the
habits tastes appetites and liberties of the people
long as they are peaceable- and orderly. and do
not encroach upon the rights of others of society
and we therefore declare that the prohibition by the
constitution or by general laws of the manufacture
sale of vinous, sprituous malt liquors would
be in violation of individual and personal rights and
contrary to the fundamental principles OF free gov
eminent.
IL That we appeal to the people of this state,
without regard to former political affiliations, to
unite with us at the coming election In carrying
into effect the foregoing principles.