The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-09

IL Is the nrst duty OF gOOO government 70
protect the rights and promote the interests
of its own people, The largest diversity OF
industry is most productive of general
prosperity and of the comfort and indie
pendence of the people, We therefore
demand that the imposition of duties on for
eign imports shall be made not "for revenue
only,S but that in raising the requisite reve-
nues for the government, such duties snail be
SO levied as to afford security to our DIVERSE
fed industries, and protection to the rights
and wages Of the laborer, to the end that
active and intelligent labor, as well as cap
ital, NAV have its ustreward, and the labor
ing man his full share in the national pros
perity.
Against the so-called economic system of
the Democratic party, which would degrade
our labor to the foreign standard, we enter
our earnest protest. The Democratic party
has failed completely to relieve the people of
the burden of unnecessary taxation by wise
reduction of the surplus.
The Republican party pledges itself to cor
rect the inequalities of the tariff. and to re-
duce the surplus, not by the vicious and in
discriminate process of horizontal reduction,
but by such methods as will relieve the tax
payer without injurlng the labor or the great
productive interests of the country.
We recognize the Importance of sheep
husbandry in the United States, the serious
depression which it is now experiencing and
the danger threatening its future prosperity,
and we, therefore, respect the demands of the
representatives of, Observation-Disclosures
interest, for readjustment of duty upon for
sign wool, in order that such industry shall
have full and adequate protection.
We have always recommended the best
money known to the civilized world, and we
urge that efforts should be made to unite all
commercial nations in the establishment of
an international standard which shall fix
for all the relative value of gold and silver
coinage.
The regulation of commerce with foreign
nations, and between the states is one Of the
most important prerogatives of the general
government, and the Republican party dis
tinctly announces its purpose tosuppoyt such
legislation as will fully and efficiently carry
out the constitutional power of congress over
interstate commerce. The principle of the
public regulation of railway corporations Is
wise ami salutary one for the protection OF
all classes of the people, and we favor legis-
| lation that shall prevent unjust discrimna-
tion and excessive charges for transportation,
and thar snaa secure 0 tine people and the
| raiiN avs al. he the fair and equal protection
| of The laws
! We favor the establishment of a national
| bureau of lahor, the enforcement Of the
| eight-hour law, wise and judi system
| of general education by adequate appropria-
| ton from the national revenues wherever
! the same is needed. We believe that everv-
where the protection to citizen of Aneri-
| can birth must be secured to citizens by
| American adoption, aud we favor the set
| Element of national differences by interna-
| tiOnal arbitration
! The Repubncan party, having its birth in
| hatred of slava labor, an a desire that all
| men may be truly free ami equal, is unal-
| terably opposed to placing our working
| men in competition with aHY form OF seI-
! vile labor, whether at home or abroad. In
| this spirit we denOunce the Importation of
| contract labor, whether from Europe OF
| Asia, as an uffense against the spirit Of
| American institutions. AID we pledge our
| selves to sustain tae present law restricting
| Chinese imnugration and 70 provide such
| further legislation as Is necessary to carry
| out its purpose.
! Reform of the civil service auspiciously
! begun under Republican administration,
| should be complete! Icy the further extern
! sion of the reformed system already estab-
| lished by law, to all tle grades of the ser
! vice to which it is applicable. The spirit
! and purpose of the reform should be OBJ
| served i'll all executive appointments, and all
| laws at variance with the objects of existing
| reformed legislation should be repealed, TO
| the end that tie dangers to free institutions
| which lurk i'll the power of official patronage
| may he wisely and effectively avoided.
pie of the United States, ana should be re-
| served as far as possible for small lUl iingS
| by actual settlers. We are opposed to the
acquisition OF large tracts Of these lands by
| corporations %! individuals, especially where
! sucH holdings are in the hands Of non-Tesidents
aliens, aud We will endaavor to obtain such
! legislation a will tend to correct this evil.
! We demaul Of congress the speedy forfeiture
Of all lana grants which have iapeeI by
| reason of nOn-cOn,p lance with acts Of in
| corporation, IN all eases where there has been
no attempt in GOO faith to perform Jae con-
| ditlOn OF such grants,
The grateful thanks Of the American peo-
| pie are due to the Union soldiers and sailors
| Of the late war, aud the Republican party
stands led gcd to provi suitable pensions for
| all who were disabled, aud Ton the widows
| aud orphans Of those who died i'll the war.
| The Republican party also pledges itself to
the repeal OF the limitation contained in the
| areas act If 1879, 50 that all invalid soldiers
shall share alike and their pensions begin
! with the date OF disability discharge, and
| not with the date Of the application.
The Republican party favorS a policy
which shall keep us from entangling alliances
| with foreign nations and vnicu gives us The
| right t. eNn,c ct that foreign nations shall res
fraiu from medGling il American affairs
the policy which seeks peace aai can trade
with all powers, but especially with those OF
tie western hemisphere.
We demand the restoration Of our navy to
its olG-tilne strength and efficiency, that it
may il any sea prOre., TIE rights Of Alneri-
can citizens and tie interests of American
commerce; and we call upon congress to
remove the burdens III ,er which American
shipping has been depr, sSed. so it may again
be true that we have commerce which leaves
no sea UNEMPLOYED, an a navy which takes
no law from superior force.
Rpsolv d, That appointments by the pres
ident To offices in tue territories should be
made from the bona-fide citizens and resi-
dents of the territories wherein they are to
serve.
Resolved, That it is the duty of congress
to enact such laws as shall promptly and ef-
fectually suppress the system of pc ygamy
from our territory, and divorce the political
from the ecclesiastical power Of the so-callei
Mormon church. and that the law so enacted
should be rlgidly enforced by the civil
authorities, if possible, and by the military if
| need be.
The people of the United States in their
organized capacity constitute nation AMI
| not a mere c1nIed-racl u states. Tie ma
tioLal government Is supreme within the
sphere Oh its national duty, but the states
have reserved rights which should be fa;th.
| fully maintained. Escu should be guarGe /
with jealous care, ~ tnat the harmony OF