Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-26
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the Democrats Of Illi-
nois in state convention assembled at
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In convention assembled. adhering firmly
| to the Cme-honored principles and prac-
, tees of the Democratic party, which seek
| TO secure 20 the great body of the people
| the widest liberty of thought and action
| and the broadest possible power of con-
| troll over governmental action, and be-
lieving that the most important function
of government is to so distribute its bene-
f1ts as we'll as its burdens that they may
| be shared as equally as possible by all
the people, declare our conviction that the
| concentration of power and wealth within
a narrow and constantly contracting cir
| ode, encouraged and fostered by the Re-
publican party, may best be relieved by
| the establishment of the following Demo-
cratic principles which we hereby again
| promulgate and pledge an honest effort to
| carry out:
Free Coinage of Silver First.
The free and unlimited coinage of both
| silver and gold at the present established
ratio of 16 to 1 by independent action of
the United States without waiting for the
consent or permission of other nations.
| Tariff Reform Urged.
| The reduction of tariff duties to a point
| which will provide only sufficient rev.
| enue for the needs of the government
without levying extra tax upon the con-
sumner for the purpose of enriching the al
ready wealthy.
Income Tax Needed.
The adoption of a fair and equitable tax
| on incomes and an amendment to the con-
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| sary to accomplish this purpose.
Government BY Injunction.
That appropriate legislation be enacted
| to more clearly define the duties and pow
| ers of courts in the issuing of writs re-
| straining citizens of their rights without
| trial by jury.
Against the Trusts.
The adoption of national and state laws
that will abolish pools and trusts, which
| unite in unlawful combinations, corpora
lions engaged in the same line OF BUST
ness for the increase of prices and the de-
crease of wages, thereby largely aug
nnenting profits at the expense of both
consumer and laborer.
No Alliance with England.
We reahirm the Monroe doctrine and
again pledge ourselves to abide By the
advice of Washington, to keep ourselves
| free from entangiing alliances with for
eign nations
Bryaa the Great Leader.
We recognize William Jennings Bryan
as the leading exponent Of the foregoing
principles enunciated declaration of
party faith by the Democratic national
convention Of 1885, which acknowledged
| leadership he has justly earned and is uni.
versally accorded by reason of1his great
ability, matchlesS eloqu6nce and Jealous
devotion to the welfare of the whole pee
pie, and we confidently look forward to a
glorious victory for Democrats IN 1900 IN
der his superb leadership.
Republican Party's Failure.
We declare that the Republican party
has utterly and signally failedato carry
out any of its platform promises made in
1895. 1t has made no effort TO reform the
admitted defects in our financial system SO
as to provide q stable and sufficient cur
rency. The Republican tariff law has not
only failed to provide labor the promised
relief from iaenesS and low wages, but
has increased to marked extent the cost
of necessaries, which increase goes into
the bank accounts that were levied upon
IN 1895 for the success OF the Republican
ticket.
Fer AIKEN Laws Repeal.
We denounce the vicious and esrrupt
legislation of the last general assembly
in the passage of the notorious Allen law,
and demand its immediate repeal We
call attention 10 the cowardly evasion of
the Republican state convention on this
vital issue, whereby an attempt is made
to blind and mislead the people OF this
state by false and corrupt promises.
Public ownership.
Recognizing the evils that grow out of
private ownership of public monopolies, we
demand municipal ownership and control
of all public franchises and all other nat
ural Enonopolies which of right belong to
the people.
Governments by tho People.
In the interests of q government of the
people. by the people and fer the people
as against government OF Hannaism, we
declare our faith in the Initiative and ref
eren0un, and demand That steps De taken
upon the assem- bling of our next legisla-
ture for proper constitutional safeguards
to secure the same.
Praises Conduct of the Coal Miners.
That we commend the coal miners Of the
limited States for their conduct during the
suspension of work in 1897 and note with
pleasure that a substantial increase in
wages was the result of their stand, to be
attributed largely to their law-abiding
methods We hope the present OF
good feeling between operators and miners
will continue to grow and that their trade
affairs will be arranged to their mutual
satisfaction.
The Wac Is just.
We pronounce the present war with
Spain justified by every consideration of
Justice and sound national policy We
congratulate the Democratic minority in
congress for their firm stand in demand
ing the redress of our national honor, in
dopse the declaration Of war on Spain and