552 



MICHIGAN. 



cumstances may they yield anything of Bepublican 

 principle. While we are willing to waive personal 

 preferences, our delegates must never consent to com- 

 mit Eepublican principles to any standard-bearer of 

 doubtful position, or to one who does not, in his 

 own character, afford an assurance of practical econ- 

 omy, honesty, and purity, in all matters of admin- 

 istration. 



The convention of the Democratic party, to 

 appoint delegates to the Democratic National 

 Convention at St. Louis, assembled at Lan- 

 sing, on May 24th. A majority and a minority 

 report were made by the Committee on Reso- 

 lutions. The majority report was adopted by 

 a vote of 157 to 70. The report was as fol- 

 lows: 



The Democrats of Michigan in convention as- 

 sembled, considering that, by a departure from the 

 principles on which our nation was formed, the 

 Government of the country is being changed from a 

 Federal Union of States to a centralized oligarchy ; 

 that the powers and trusts conferred by law, instead 

 of being used for the benefit of the whole people, 

 are used by officials for their private and personal 

 benefit ; and witli a view, so far as is in our power, 

 of correcting these evils ? declare that we recog- 

 nize the following as principles held by the constit- 



NEW STATE CAPITOL AT LANSING. 



uency we represent, and we personally pledge our- 

 selves to labor for their general adoption, viz. : 



1. That the officers under our system of govern- 

 ment have and should exercise only such powers as 

 are conferred upon them by law, and these should 

 be used only for the good of the whole people, with- 

 out reference to party. 



2. We utterly repudiate the idea that there can be 

 any spoils of office for victors in an honest adminis- 

 tration of the Government. 



_ 3. We repudiate the idea that candidates have a 

 right to manipulate conventions and thrust them- 

 selves into nomination. 



4. That the use of money to influence elections is 

 demoralizing to the people, and any candidate who 

 will seek by the use of money to influence nomi- 

 nations or elections is unworthy of support. 



5. That while political parties are necessary agen- 

 cies in administering the Government, yet the Tove 

 of party should always be subordinate to patriotism, 

 and if unfit persons are nominated such action is 

 not binding. 



6. That no party deserves success at the polls ex- 

 cept upon the basis of unselfish devotion to the best 

 good of the whole people. 



7. Leaving details to legislators, we reassert that 

 coin is the only money recognized by the traditions 

 of the Democratic party as warranted by the Con- 

 stitution. 



8. That when a party has been in power so long 

 that the principal part of its' office-holders have be- 

 come corrupt, it is impossible to obtain genuine re- 

 form within the party. 



a. We recommend to all local Democratic con- 

 ventions to place in nomination such men only as 

 are known to be honest, capable, and efficient men, 

 who have the confidence of the community, and 

 who, if elected, will strive to lessen the burden of 

 taxation ou the people. 



10. That we have confidence that our delegates to 

 the National Convention will support only those 

 who are proper representatives of the foregoing 

 principles, and we leave them free to exercise their 

 discretion as to the choice of men best fitted to bring 

 about thorough reform in the administration of our 

 national affairs ; that in the interest of pure govern- 

 ment outraged, free institutions imperiled, and to 

 redeem the American name 

 from the stigma attached to 

 it by the corruptions of the 

 party in power, we cordially 

 invite the cooperation of all 

 honest men, irrespective of 

 former party affiliations. 



The Republican Conven- 

 tion to nominate candi- 

 dates for State offices as- 

 sembled at Lansing, on 

 August 3d. The following 

 nominations were made : 

 For Governor, C. M. Cros- 

 well ; Lieutenant-Govern- 

 or, Alonzo Sessions : Sec- 

 retary of State, E. G. Hoi- 

 den ; State Treasurer, W. 

 B. McCreery ; Auditor- 

 General, Ralph Ely ; Land- 

 Commissioner's Office, B. 

 F. Partridge ; Attorney- 

 General, Otto Kirchner ; 

 Superintendent of Public 

 Instruction, H. S. Tarbell. 

 The resolutions adopted 

 were substantially as fol- 

 lows: 



The first affirms allegiance and fidelity to the dec- 

 larations of principles and the nominees of the Ee- 

 publican National Convention, and declares that the 

 letters of acceptance of the candidates are a sure 

 guarantee that the party's record in the future, as in 

 the past, will be distinguished for the preservation 

 of the Union, faithtunless of its financial engage- 

 ments, protection to all in the equality of civil and 

 political rights, and a prompt and efficient reform 

 in the Government service. 



The second resolution declares that the history 

 of the party appeals to the patriotism of to-day : 

 that, with a" Treasury exhausted in 1861, it created 

 unlimited financial credit ; that, with eleven States 

 defying the national authority and a gigantic rebel- 

 lion inaugurated, it boldly met the crisis with a pa- 

 triotism and energy unequaled in history ; that, 



