Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-09
A SOUND PLATFORM.
Re solutions Adopted by the Democratic
Convention at Springfield.

On behalf of the committee on resoiu-
lions Chairman Goodrich of that COM
mi tie presented the following unanimous
report OF the committee:
The Democracy of Illinois, in convention
ass embed, reaffirms its devotion to demo-
era tic principles, and pledges itself to I'M
firing effort for their supremacy. 1t be-
lieyes that the powers delegated by the
peop pie should be strictly construed that
the autonomy of the states and their rights
of local self-government and home rule
sho aid be zealously guarded as essential to
the preservation of our form of govern
ment; that no money should be taken from
the people under any pretext for other
than public purposes; that the strictest
economy should be exercised in all govern
mental expenditures, whether local, state,
or national, and that the legislation should
be confined to the legitimate objects of
/ government.
| We recognize that the tariff is tax, and
that all taxation is burden. Where it is
imposed justly and fairly to meet the
necc ssary expenditures of an econom-
zeal and prudent administration of pub
lie Affairs, it will becheerfully borne
by the people. When levied up
on the suggestion of private greed
A
build up the fortunes of a few beneficiaries
and favored classes at the expense of the
general welfare, it is leavened with injus.
tice and oppression, and burden, is intol-
cradle to freedom and inconsistent with
| every principle of sound government
| The Republican party has sought to fasten
an Ubiquitous and oppressive system of
taxaJion upon the American people. The
| effec5 of its legislation on this subject is
to feCter trade and commerce, those swift
agencie of civilization, and disorganiZe
| and disarrange every element of industry,
to foster injurious combinations, and en-
hancs the prices of necessaries of life, and
to denoralize the public confidence.
We indorse to the fullest extent the
patriotic administered on of Grover Cleve-
land, and declare without reservation our
full and complete approval of the views
contained in his message to congress on
the tariff in 1887.
We demand an immediate revision of
the tariff, free raw material, a reduction
in the duties on the necessaries of life, and
such changes in the shipping and naviga-
ton Jaw as shall restore the American
merchant marine and the supremacy of
the American flag on the high seas.
| We reiterate our allegiance to the his
toric policy of the democratic party, in
favor of honest money, the gold and silver
coinage provided by the constitution of
the United States, and of currency con-
vertible into such coinage without loss to
the holder, and we recommend an invita-
ton by our government to the commercial
powers OF the world for an international
conference for the purpose of fixing a ratio
between the values of gold and silver, so
that parity may be maintained between the
two metals, and all minis be thrown open
to free coinage.
| We denounce the reckless extravaganza
of the billion-dollar congress. controlled
by a Republican majority, and distin-
guished only by the passage of the oppres-
sive NJ cKinley bill and the wicked waste of
the peoples money.
We believe firmly that public officers
should be faithful servants of the people,
and that in every instance of appointm en-
to Office the test should be rather capacity
for efficient public service than past or
prospective political activity.
We are proud of our common school
system and pledge ourselves to uphold and
improve it, for free institutions cannot ex
list without universal education.
WeoenOunce the Republican party forien
acting law which tends to bring the cause
J OF popular education into disrepute; a law
which takes from the parent the right tc
educate his child according to the dictates
OF his conscience; a law which creates g
state inquisition over schools toward which
the state contributes nothing; law which
gives the absolute power to every schoo
board, no matter how ignorant or spitefu
ITS actions, to harass and Pc rsecute a large
class OF people who are among our bes
| citizens and who do THAR fulI Iutu hot
toward the state and their children, and
who, by their labor, their patriotism, ant
Intelligence have contributed very much
to our prosperity and greatness.
Such law is further to be condem nee
, as an invasion of that religious liberty
! guaranteed by the constitution, and in effect
amounts to an interference by the state
with the church. This law is antagonistit
to democratic institutions, and we demand
its unconditional repeal, and we pledg,
our candidates for the legislature to vots
and work to that end.
We favor the election of United States
senators by direct vote of the people
We denounce the creation of trust.
which, however disguised, have for theil
end the sitting of competition and the con
troll OF production and prices, with a view
OF depressing the people; and we demand
|
! gent laws to aid the judicial branch of the
state in stamping out such ubiquitous de
vices of monopolists to defraud the people
We believe that in free country tn,
, curtailment of the absolute rights of the
individual should only be such as is essen
tial to the peace and good order Of tn,
country.
The limit between the proper subjects o
governmental control and those which car
be more fittingly left to the moral sens,
and self-imposed restraint of the either
should he carefully kept in view. Thus
laws UNI ecessarily interfering with tn,
habits and customs of any people which
are not offensive to the moral sentiment O
the civilized world, and which are consist
ent with good citizenship and public wei
fale, are unjust and vexatious.
The constitution of this state provides
"That it shall be unlawful for the commits
sioners Of any penitentiary or other re
, formatory institutions in the state of I'LL
nois to let by contract to any persons o.