Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-24

/ We, the i4leers! Republicans OK The nIted
| States, IN national convention assembled 81
/ Cincinnati, proclaim the following principles
as essential TO Just government;
! /. We recognize the equality Of al men
/ be fore the law and hold that il Is the duty OF
government, IN It's dealings with the people,
/ 10 mele cut equal Sud exact justice 10 ell,
/ of whatever nativity, race, color or persua
sion, religious or political.
2. We pledge ourselves 10 maintain the
! union Of these states, emauci patton and eu-
/ frsch isenent, and TO oppose any re-opening
OF the questions settled BY the thirteenth,
! fourteenth and fifteenth amendments OF the
constitution.
3. We dem and the immediate and sbso
| lutte removal Of all disabilities imposed on
account Of the rebellion, which vas finally
subdued seven years ago, believing that uni
versal amnesty will result IN complete pscl-
fcation in all sections of the country.
4. Local self-government, with impsrtiA
Suffrage, will guard the rights Of all citizens
more securely than any centralized power.
The public welfare requires the supremacy
of The civil over the military authority, and
the freedom Of person under the protection
of the hdJeds corpus. We demand for the
Individual The largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the state self-governmeut
and for the nation g return TO the methods
of peace and the constitutional limitations
of power.
S. The civil service Of the government
has become g mere instrument of partisan
tyranny and personal ambition, and an OBJ
ject Of selfish greed. 1t is & scsndsl and
reproach upon free Institutions, aud breeds
a Decentralization dangerous 10 the perpetur
ty OF Republican govern ment.
9. We therefore, regard E thorough re
form Of the civil service one of the NOS
pressing necessities of the hour; that hon
estv, capacity, and fidelity constitute the
only valid claims 10 pubic employment
that the offices Of the government cease Il
be h matter of arbitrary fayoriusm and pat
ronage, and that public station shall become
again place OF honor. To this end 1t II
impeTGtIEely required that 10 Presiden
shall be candidate for re election.
7. We demand & syBtem of federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily interior,
with the industry Of the people, aud whiel
shall provide the means necessary to pa
3 the Elk penses of the Government, economi
oRlly administered, the pensions, the iuteres
on the dubIic debt, and moderate annus
reduction Of the principal thereof; snt
recognizing that there are. in cur midst
I honest bat irreconciable differences Of opiI
! ion with regard to the respective systems {
protection and free trade, we remit the dis
cussion of the subject to the people in thej
congressional cistricts, and the decision {
I Congress thereon, wholly free from executiy
/ interference or dctatioD.
y s. The public credit must be sacred
msintaiued, and We denounce repudistio
IL 10 every form aud guise.
9. A speedy return to specie paymen
+ is demanded alike by the highest considers
!. lions of commercial morality and hone
government.
90 10. We remember with gratitude ii
heroism and sacrifices of the soldiers al
sailors Of the Republic, and no act of oui
n shall ever detrsct from their Justly esrne
fame or the full rewards of their patriotism
oo II. We are opposed to all further gran
to Of land to railroads or other corporation
=. The public domain should be held sacred
actual settlers.
p II. We hold that it is toe duty of Il
on government IN its Intercourse with fore2
to nations TO cultivate the friendships of pea
By treatiag With all CO fair abi equal term
regarding it alike disbounrsbls 20 Gelnat
~haJ is not right or subnil so ~6as
= wrong.
Is For the promotion aad saceess
these vital principlrs, and lbe support Of q
candid ates nominated b this conveutio
We invite and cordially welcome tbs co-ope
alton Of all ostrIotic oitizeDs without reg"
to previous political aifIauon.