564 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



imprudent exercise of that highest prerogative of the freeman the 

 right of suffrage we, the farmers of Illinois, in common with the 

 wealth and food-producers of these United States, have, by our past 

 action, acquiesced in a system of class legislation which makes the 

 great majority slavishly subservient to a small minority ; and, 



WHEREAS, This condition is clearly traceable to the fostering pro 

 tection which has been accorded by our legislative bodies, both State 

 and National, to the financial, mercantile, manufacturing, and trans 

 porting interests, enabling them to accumulate an undue proportion 

 of the national wealth, and encouraging them in the exercise of the 

 corrupting, lobby influences which have become inseparable from 

 our legislative system ; therefore, 



Resolved, That the preservation of our national life imperatively 

 demands that every American voter should attend with care to all 

 primary nominations and elections, so as to insure the election of 

 competent and honest men to all offices in the gift of the people. 



Resolved, That the past record of the old political parties of this 

 country is such as to forfeit the confidence and respect of the people, 

 and that we are, therefore, absolved from all allegiance to them, and 

 will act no longer with them. 



Resolved, That we demand the unconditional repeal of the salary 

 grab law, the repeal to be retroactive in its action, and this without 

 a restoration of the franking privilege. 



Resolved, That we do not recognize any necessity that public offi 

 cers should receive extravagant salaries to the end that they may 

 conform to the demand of expensive and fashionable tastes, which, 

 in their very nature, are antagonistic to republican principles, and 

 we demand a reduction of official salaries. 



Resolved, That we demand the immediate reform of abuses in the 

 civil service, through which the patronage of the government is dis 

 pensed as a reward for partisan service rather than with regard to 

 the public necessities. 



Resolved, That we are in favor of improving and perfecting the 

 navigation of our lakes and rivers and water connections, as soon as 

 it can possibly be done. 



Resolved, That we are opposed to a protective tariff. 



Resolved, That we deprecate any further grants of public lands or 

 loans of the public credit; and of National, State, or local subscrip 

 tions in aid of corporations. 



