Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-26
ROCK ISLAND, SATURDAY. MAY 26, 1883.
The Platform =.

The full text of the platform adopted
by the democratic state convention at
Springfield last Wednesday is as follows;
The Democracy of the state of Illinois,
IN convention assembled, earnestly en-
dorse the administrative acts of Presi-
dent Cleveland. They deem him to have
proved himself, by his wise and conser.
vative course and by the faithful and
efficient discharge Of his official duties,
worthy the confidence of all the people,
and entitled to the loyal support of that
political party whose illustrious leader
he is. The public good demands his re-
nomination and reelection to the chief
magistracy Of the nation. We admire bis
candor. and applaud him in voicing in
his recent message upon the report OF the
present tariff the democratic doctrine that
the constitutional tax power OF the gov.
eminent is exhausted when the govern
ment has, by means of il, exacted from
the people a sufficient amount of revenue
to meet the necessary expenses of the
government economically administered.
In the raising of such revenue they insist
that the government lay its taxes in such
a manner as to make, as far as practca>
BILE luxuries rather than the neCessaries
of life bear the burden of the government
expense; that they be not levied in such
manner as TO create class distinction and
promote business favorttism and breed
trusts and monopolies.
Not less urgent, they believe, is the de-
maud for reform in state taxation than in
national. and they call the serious atten>
tiOn of the voters of Illinois to the enor>
nous increase in the expenditure of pub
lie money by the present republican ad-
minlstration for the support of the state
government, in itself cause of the ut,
most concern TO the tax payers. So
alarmngly have the expenditures in
creased that the people were taxed to
raise the sum of "a 22S. 600 for the year
of 1887, sum almost 5 800, 900 in ex-
cess of the former year, u sum so large
that it demonstrates that the longer the
republican party remains in power in the
state the more corrupt and eXtravagant
it grows, and justifies the demands of the
people for change, not only To the end
that such eXtravagaDce shall cease, hut
that a proper investigation may be had
to ascertain if the money has been hon>
estly expended.
The party favors full governmental
inquiry into the causes of the present dis
turbed condition of the industrial world.
and demand such legislation. state and
national, as will remove the unjust burden
from those who labor; and they also
favor laws to encourage and provide ar
biuation in disputes that effect the pub
lie welfare.
The people of Illinois call upon con-
gress to make a provision for the con-
al n U
between the great lakes and the Missis,
sippi river sufficient for the largest in~
land commerce and for the naval defense
as proposed by the waterway convention
held in Peoria, October, 1887, and en-
dorsed and approved by the national
waterway convention held in Memphis,
October. 1887, AMI by the national far
mers' congress held in Chicago. Novem-
Der, 1887; and the democracy of Illinois
requests the national convention to IN Ike
this question part of its declaration and
platform.
They cordially commend the energetic
action and liberal course of the adminis-
tration of Grover Cleveland in admins
tering all pension laws for the benefit OF
the Union soldiers and their families, by
which their claims had been rapidly ad-
justed and comfort and happiness
brought to the homes of thousands who |
by nefflciency and neglect in former ad |
minstrations of the pension laws had |
been wronged and neglected.
ResOEOed, That the democratic party of |
Illinois is opposed to nonresident forN
eign holders of lands in the United |
States. The democratic party favors no
legislation restricting emigration and |
naturalization of honest men who come |
desiring to assume and to discharge the |
duties of proper citizenship.