Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-14

tOucn even OF the majority, as Tor III
stanse, the right to life, to liberty and
TO the pursuit of happiness, and the
amendments to the constitution have
named freedom of the press and free
dom of the conscience as necessary 20
the preservation of the inalienable
rights of man.
Third-The democratic party is the
champion of local self-government, be
lleving that that government is best
which is nearest to the people and
that the people can act most intell:-
gently upon the subjects with which
they are most familiar.
Fourth-The democratic party, be
lieving in the inalienable rights of the
individual and in the wisdom of local
self-government, insists upon respect
being shown to the constitutional pro
vision which reserves to the states
and TO the people respectively the
powers not expressly delegated to the
federal government or denied to the
states. This balance of power be
tween the state and federal govern
ment is essential to the life of the re
public.
Fifth-The democratic party be
lieves in the exercise by the federal
government of its delegated powers in
such way as 10 protect the interests
of all the people without giving favo.'-
itism to any part of the country
equal rights to all and special priv
leges to none being its motto.
Sixth - The democratic party, be-
lieving that governments rest upon
the consent of the governed, is in ia
vOr of such improvements in the
| methods of government as will make
| the government more directly respon-
sible to the people and more respon-
| sive to the will of tie people. II
naturally favors the election of sena-
tors by direct rote of Il e people, the
direct primary and the initiative and
referendum
Seventh-1n taxation the democratic
party believes that the burdens of gov
eminent should be collected in such
way that each citizen will contribute
| in proportion to the benefits received
under the protection of the govern
ment. Carrying out This theory of
| taxation. it has opposed a tariff levied
purely for the purpose of protection
, and has urged the income tax as a
| means of equalizing taxation.
Eighth-The democratic party be-
lieves in economy in public expendi-
| lures. Taxation being not blessing.
but necessary evil, should be limited
to the needs of the government eco
lnomically administered
Ninth-The democratic party being
the foe of special privilege. is the
natural enemy of the private monopo-
ly. 1t has presented the only SQUAD
and CONSTANT antitrust platform in
declaring that private monopoly x
indefensible and intolerable.
| Tenth-The democratic party b.
| lieves that the corporation created By
law should ever be subservent to the
law. 1t would insert in each corporate
charter Remember thou thy creator
not only in youth but throughout its
existence
| Eleventh-The democratic party i'll
its efforts to secure the equal treat
ment of all the people according to
their merits, naturally takes the part
of the laboring man in his opposition
to government by injunction and IT.
his demands for arbitration and an
eight hour day.
Twelfth-The democratic party is
opposed to Imperialism at home CT
abroad, and denies that republic can
consistently hold colonies and admins
ter governments outside of and in
conflict with the principles of the con
stitution of the United States.
| Thirteenth-As might be inferred
from the foregoing, the democratic
party is opposed to swollen fortunes
and it would relieve the country u
the menace of such fortunes by with
drawing the special privileges which
have enabled these fabulous fortunes
to be accumulated in so short a time
1t would restore in society Gods la2
of rewards so far as government i:
able to do so. Gods law. as shown il
nature, suits the reward to the con
ftribution one makes in energy, indus
try and intelligence If the govern
ment would cease to permit few I,
monopoliZe that which belongs to ali
there would be no fortunes SO swol
len as to veX the country.
The club also asks what issue vii
be paramount. No one can speak wis
accuracy so far ahead. but it seems
evident that the trust question vii
occupy a prominent place, and as i
is more intimately connected with tn,
tariff question and the railroad queS
ton, it can hardly fail to attract
large share of public attention mex
year. The contest between predator
stealth on one side and the lynor
ganized masses on the other cannot b
put off, although it is impossible t,
say in just what form the issue wi
! present itself.
; The young man who is seeking :
|, use his influence for the promotion .
| the welfare of the common DeOnla wi