The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-11
Concluded firm First Page J

With profound regret we have been
apprised by the venerable statesman
through whose person was struck that
blow at the vital principle of republics
(acouiesence in the will of the Majority
that he can not permit us again to place
in his hands the leadership of the Demo
cratic hosts, for the reason that the
achievement of reform in the administers
ton of the Federal Government is an
undertaking now too heavy for his age
and failing strength.
Rejoicing that his life has been
prolonged until the general Judgment
of our fellow countrymen is united in the
wish that that wrong were righted in his
person, for the Democracy of the United
States, we offer TO him in his withdrawal
from public cares, not only our respectful
sympathy and esteem, but also that best
homage of freemen, the pledge of our
devotion to the principles and the cause
now inseperable in the history of this
republic from the labors and the name
of Samuel j. Tilden.
With this statement of the hopes,
principles and purposes of the Democratic
party, the great issue of reform and
change in administration is submitted to
| the people in calm confidence that the
popular voice will pronounce in favor of
| new men, and new and more favorable
conditions for the growth of industry,
the extension of trade, the employment
and due reward of labor and of capital,
and the general welfare of the whole
country.
The platform was read by Mr. Morrison,
of Illinois. who was frequently interrupted
by loud and continued applause. Before
moving its adoption, Mr.. Morrison said he
| would allow Gen. Butler thirty minutes
to discuss his report. fifteen minutes to
Mr. Converse, of Ohio, and five minutes
to Mr.. Watterson. of Kentucky.
Gen. Butler said that most of the things
| in the platform he agreed to. Something
ought to be added to it and one thing
specially onght to be changed that he
would submit to the better Judgment of
| the convention He asked the clerk to
read his report.
The clerk commenced enunciating
slowly and very distinctly the words
General Buffers platform, which caused
a great laugh. General Butler then pro
ceeded to address the convention He said
he appeared with great diffidence Most
thingsin the platform he agreed to. Those
which had just been read were submitted
and not agreed to. There was one thing
on which there was the most radical diff
ference between the two platforms. Both
agreed that there was no constitutional
power to raise revenue beyond the neces-
sary wants of the government; that il
should be raised according to the doc
trines of the fathers, and that no lax
should be laid on necessaries of life moi
produced in this country. He came here
as no mendicant. no beegar. He came
here representing more than 1, 800, DOC
laboring men. He had brought their con
dition before the committee, and demanded
not that it should give them anything but
that. When taxing the people the tax
/ should be taken where it would hurt
them the least. Was not that reasonable
demand? Did they think they could ge
along without that? He objected to the
tariff plank in the platform of the com
Il
thirty six hours to frame it, and it tool
: those able gentlemen so long to frame i
and get it in form there must be somt
, reason for that. If they could not fine
out in thirty six hours what they wanted
how were the laboring men to find ou
u what 1t meant? There was radical diff
ference between the committee and him
n self. The very able chairman of tn,
committee, Mr.. Morrison, thought Their
, should be no such thing Cor could be M
such thing) as protection to American
labor by taxation. He (Butler) believe.
that there should be such protection
such fostering, such cherishing Mr.
0 Morrison could not Weld hi
conviction and he (Butler) could no
. yield his, and therefore the COMMITTEE
: had to spend all that time TO say som
things that meant one thing one way ant
another thing another way He aske,
the delegates to read that tariff plank AM
r see if they could find out exactly what
did mean. 1t did not mean protection
| If it it did Col. Morrison was too homes
ela man to bring it here and yet it was S
twisted that it might mean protection
The democracy had in its platform il
. 1880 plank of tariff for revenu
= only" and it broke the back of the mos
gallant soldier in the country, and no,
7 they had a tariff plank for public pun
poses exclusively" Where was tn
A difference Exclusively meant only an
only meant exclusively Passing to tn
currency he said he affirmed the doctrin
u of Andrew Jackson that the government
l. alone could issue money, and he woul
r rather be wrong with Jackson that RICH
with the committee. He representa-
II many Greenback men, good and tru
d greenback men like Allan G. Thurman
l. and these men We're willing to come t
f the democracy to root out the corruption
and wrong in the government if tn
democracy would have them. But hoy
h were they received? With plank in th
platform saying, I'VE are in favor o
honest money" as if the greenbacker
were not Who was not in favor of hon
e est money! If there was such man her
J, let him be put out. As to civil service
% reform he ventured to say there was no
a man in the convention in favor of il
4
It Secretary Pendleton had been the autho
OF the original civil service law and b
3 had never been heard of since Georg
Washington himself could not hav
o passed civil service examination for
!. $1,000 clerkship. His early education
J. had been neglected, and in his will writ
II ten by his own hand, he spelled clothe
''cloaths.' For himself, he wanted fire.
quent changes in office in order t
counteract the great tendency to havt
r. aristocratic life offices. If office was
II good thing, then he wanted all the PEG
a pie to have chance at it, and if it wa
bad thing, then it was too hard to pu
= it onto poor fellow for his whole life
time In conclusion he said that if thi
n convention told the workingmen AM
J women of the country that they were d
be (he would not say protected) fostere,
and cherished, then the Democratic part
# would sweep the country; otherwise the
would remain in their shops on election
day and the Democracy would be agai