Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-02
DEMooRAoY,s FIRST PLATFORM.

DEMOCRACY'S FIRST PLATFORM.
At Philadelphia in 1900 the first
democratic platform was adopted. 1t
was promulgated by the fathers and
the founders of the country and of the
party. 1t is well to refresh ones
faith at the fountainhead once in a
while. The State Register needs no
excuse, therefore, for republishing
that platform, which was as follows:
81. An inviolable preservation of
the federal constitution, according to
the true sense in which it was adopt
ed by the states, that in which it
was advocated by its friends, and
not that which It's enemies appre-
hended, who, therefore, became its
enemies.
-. Opposition to monarchizing it's
features by the forms of its adminis-
| traiion, with view to conciliate a
| transition, first to a president and
senate for life; and. secondly, to an
hereditary tenure of those offices, an d
thus to worm out the elective princi-
pie.
80. Preservation to the states of
the powers not yielded by them to the
union, and to the legislature of the
union its constitutional share in
division of powers; and resistance.
therefore. to existing movements for
transferring all the powers of the states
to the general government, and all of
those of that government to the ex-
ecutive branch.
a. A vigorously frugal admin
iistration of the government and the
application of all the possible savings
of the public revenue to the liquida-
ton of the public debt; and resistance,
therefore, to all measures looking to q
multiplication of officers and salaries,
merely to create partisans and to aug
ment the public debt, on the prin
ciple of its being public blessing.
| "5. Reliance for internal defense
solely upon the militia, till actual in
vasion, and for such a naval force
only as may be sufficient to protect
our coasts and harbors from depreda-
ton; and opposition, therefore, to the
policy of standing army in time of
peace, which may overawe the public
sentiment, and to a navy, which by its
own expenses and the wars into which
it will implicate us will grind US
with public burdens and sink US I'M
der them.
tions. political connection with none,
and little or no diplomatic establish
ment.
81. Opposition to linking our
selves by new treaties with the quar-
rels of Europe, entering their fields
of slaughter to preserve their balance,
or joining in the confederacy of kings
to war against the principles of lib
ertv.
IS. Freedom of religion and oppo-
sition to all maneuvers to bring about
legal ascendency of one sect over
another.
SO. Freedom of speech and of the
press, and opposition, therefore, to
all violations of the constitution,
to silence, by force and not by reason.
the complaints or criticisms, Just or
unjust, of any citizens against the
conduct of :heir public agents.
10. Liberal naturalization laws,
under which we'll disposed of all ma
tions who may desire to embark their
fortunes with. us and share with US the
bile burdens, may have that oppor-
tunity under moderate restrictions,
for the development of honest inten
ton, and severe ones to guard against
the usurpation of our flag.
oil. Encouragement of science
and the arts in all their branches, to
the end that the American people may
perfect their independence OF foreign
monopolies, institutions and in
Huences."