The weekly clarion., 1872-05-09

ton OF the local governments or the SOUTH
ern States, which itself had been instru-
mental in building up--to military control,
its nepotism, corruption, extravaganza,
oppressive taxation and bungling man
agement of foreign relations-TId have
declared in favor of a new departure of
Peace and Restored Prosperity-have
had successful termination of their de-
liberations at Cincinnati
The movement which originated in the
comparatively small beginning in the
Missouri campaign two years ago, under
the lead of Gratz Brown, Schurz and
other Republicans, aided by the absten-
ton of the Democratic party in the mat
ter of nominating, and by their activity
when it came to voting and which re-
suited in the enfranchisemento of seventy
FIVE thousand prescribed citizens in that
State, and the blessings of wise and
Just Administration-has swollen to the
stupendous proportions Of the national
we're given by this mammoth Conven-
ton.
We live in practical age whose
thoughts are directed more to What is to
Be than What has Been. The remark
apPlies-or should apply especially to
the people of the South, who, seven
years after the close of desolating war,
find themselves in sea of troubles with
clouds and darkness overhead ; and who
should seek for present safety, rather
than occupy themselves with past mis-
fortunes. The antecedents of men and
parties are of little moment at this juno
ture. Their present attitude, and what
they propose to do in the future, are the
Aaron's rod which swallows up all other
considerations. We must leave the dead
past to bury its dead, and move on to the
real issues of the present and the future.
If our inclination led us to review the
antecedents of the Cincinnati nominees,
their careers have been so prominent
that we would find the task no less easy
than profitless. Both are bold men who
have made deep impressions in the polit-
ical history Of the country. Both are
pioneers of movements and builders of
parties. Horace Greeley was perhaps
the ablest and most influential of all the
champions of the party which was led by
Henry Clay. When that party went
out Of existence, he founded on its ruins
the Republican party. And now we
find that he who originated the policy of
Universal Suffrage and Universal Am:
nesty, is in the forefront of the move
ment whose distinctive ideas and objects
were set fort in the New York response
to the Liberal plan for the rescue of the
Government from the grasp of the
Usurpers and Corruptionists in authority
The ideas of his associate, Gratz
Brown, have been no less pronounced
and emphatic on all questions The lat
ter, like Mr.. Greeley, was professionally
a journalist, and anything but trim
ming one. Originally Democrat, he
quit his party to become a champion of
Free Soil in the slave State of Missouri
A Republican advocating equality of
rights, civil and political, he raised the |
standard of revolt two years ago against !
the constituted authorities of his party |
because they were violating this principle
by the practice of a remorseless and saw
lge war of Prescription upon the white
people Of the South-defed the power
# the Administration its
'erhdy and usurpations-and went into
he Office of Governor of Missouri with
orty thousand majority at his back.
His faith was demonstrated by his works.
n a short time after he was installed as
Governor of Missouri, the shackles fell
rom seventy-fve thousand taxpayers
Tho had been compelled to bear the bur-
ems OF government which denied them
ne right to vote. Nor did not the re.
movement which accomplished
lis result operate to deprive the newly. ,
colored citizens of a single !
rivilege which had been conferred upon
lem.
As the Liberal movement was designed 8
) an aggression upon the usurpations of $
Ie Administration, for the rescue of the
ghts of the States to their local admin
tratiOns and of their maintenance sacred r
ON outside interference, and of the per- q
nal freedom of each and every class of J
e people thereof, it was meet that it
ould select for its representatives, not I
ere drift to float upon the popular wave, c
It men of talent, courage and sincerity, .
40 are imbued with the spirit of the e
ganization and who possess the will y
d the capacity to direct it. v
m
he Address and Platform Of the "
Liberal Republicans.
That our readers may not be at
in doubt as to the meaning and
lects of the Independent Republican : !:
'vement which has just eliminated in
; Cincinnati Convention, we have pub
ned copIous extracts from the ad- -
9sses OF its temporary and permanent
siding officers, which were received su
h appreciation by the body; and what a a.
more important and significant still, p
Declaration of the causes of their t;s
ion and of the Principles and Policy fir
heir organization. tb tIt
Their revolt itself against the Admin au
alton which they had been instru- Isl
ntal in putting into power. was itself