Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-20
The liberal Movement in Mis-
gOurf

souri,
The first fruits OF the Missouri Policy,
n promulgated by the st. Louis Republican,
have taken form in the shape Of an address,
aud . call for State convention by the
liberal Republicans Of the State Of Mis-
souri,. Aware that our Radical neighbor
has not sufficient liberslity of principle to
lay this document before the liberal minded
OF his party, we have published it elsewhere.
II is signed by Eve State officers, three State
senators, twenty one members Of the House,
and by other prominent and influential citi-
zens and, in substances, transfers the lib
erAl movement of 1870, TO the national
contest in 1872. We do not see how these
liberal Republicans could we'll avoid taking
this important step, if they we're honest in
their professionsin ls70-then they labOred
70 enfrGnohiss ctizsns-nov to enfrsnchise
the state, loosen the grasp of despotism
upon the rights Of the people and check the
onward march Of centrslizstion. Success
crowned their efforts in 1870, and, there 10
every reason TO believe that, with an honor.
able alliance with the Democracy, success
will follow in 1872. This address, with the
names Of its signers, who by this step have
Demonstrated their honesty Of purpOse, and
are therefore entitled to q hearing before the
bar Of public opinion, completely relates the
repeated assertion Of Radical journals,
that the liberal movement iss dead past
resurrection. No dsab, its sasosss in Mis-.
souri, in Tennessee, in Virginia and where
tried in larger cities makes them wish IL
dead buI all the Federal patronage to
bribs, aud All the executive prescription
and royal anathsmas to frightsn and in-
timidats have bOen unable to kill it; and II
we may credit the signers OF this Address with
knowing whereof they speak, then the num-
Der who endorse their principles is greater
than IN 1870. This address ia the first
strong card that has been played for the
Missouri policy, and must clsim the careful
consideration of ell Democrats, to shom il
is addressed IS much as to liberal Repubh-
cans, for without the hearty cooperation OF
the Democracy they will be as powerlsss to
remedy existing evils, as is the Democracy
to accomplish the same result without their
assistance. These men are willing to drop
their party pride so far as to attempt the
dsfeA, Of their party, and, certainly, the
Democracy oSn do no less than lay aside ell
that pArtissnship which has characterized
it in the past snd contributed so forcibly to
It's defeats, so long as none of the vital prin
ciples of the party are lost sight of by the
alliance. While we cannot expect these
Republicans TO stultify their past action
by openly enrolling themselves under the
old time Democratic banner, We shall never
consent 10 the abject surrender of the De-
mocraoJ. A party that numbers nearly
three million voters cannot be Withdrawn ss
this ,Addres calls for but /, can, a, this time
IN its career of defeat, afford to wait and see
what this movement means, what strength
il deyelopes and what bases Of alliance i
proposes, before il shall act independently
Of men who have shown, to say the least
an honesty of purpose, to be found in poll
tioS only when the life of the nation is il
danger To this end we lay the address
before our readers, In the full light Of th'
tighiensd grasp Of the Radical party upoI
the rsins of government; federal byonet
supprsssing reforms, dispensing convention
and interfering a, peaceful elections; g rad
ioSl majority in G ,ngross licensing thiever,
and robbery and prohibiting ell investigs
tion-ln the light Of All these and kindre
evils that tend to a centralized despotisr
with Grant NJ the head, let every thinking
honest patriot who loves country bette
than party and principles more than spoil
give heed to oil that bears upon this gres
question Of reform or in any way points t
redress.