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

We, the Liberal Republicans OF the [ nlted |
States, IN national convention assembled at
Cinclnnstl, proclaim the following principles i
as essential to just government:
l. We recognize Ihe equality OF al men
before the law and hold that it is the d0tv Of
government, IN It's dealings with the people, /
to mete out equal and exact justice to all, .
of whatever nativity, race, color or peFsus-
sion, religious or political.
2. We pledge ourselves TO maintain the
union Of these states, emancipation and en-
frachisement, aud TO oppose any re-opeping
of the questions settled by the thirteenth
fourteenth aud fifteenth amend nents of the
CONSTITUTION.
. We deln aud sLe immediate aud sbso
( Lutte It moval Of all dlss blilties im posed on
accUuu. O. The rebellion, winch WAS tosliy
subdued seven years ago, believing that ubi-
versai amnesty viii result 10 complete psc!-
/ Ecstion in all sections Of The country.
/ L. Local elt.government, with in psrtiA
suffrage. will guard the rights Of all citizens
more securely Than sny centralized power.
/ The public welfare requires the supremacy
of the civil over the military authority, and
the freedom Of psraon under the protection
of The hGbeds corpus We demand for the
! ind vldual he largest liberty consistent with
/ public order FOR the state seiE-governmeut,
and for toe nation a return to the methods
of peace aid the Constitutional limitations
of power.
g. The civil service OF the governn ent
has become u mere instrument Of partisan
tyranny aud personal s,n DItIon, aud OBJ
ieet o! selfish greed. i; is scandal aud
Ireprosch upon tree institutions, and breeds
a decentralization dangerous TO the perpeia'-
ty Q. Republican government.
u. We therefore, reea ard "A thorough re
form of the civil service 40 one OF the most
pressing necessIsies Of the hour; tbst hon
esty. capacity, and fidelity constitute the
onlv vaId claims TO pa5hc employment ;
that the offices Of the government cease to
be h matter OF arbitrary favoritlsm and pat
, ronaCe, eud that pubic station shall become
again place OF honor. To this end it is
imperatlvely required that DO President
shall be candidate for re election.
:. We demand system of federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily interfere
with the industry Of the people, and which
shall provide the means necessary to pa
the ex psnses of the Government, economi
csly administered, the pensions, the interes
on the dublic debt, and q moderate anDuR
reduction of the principal thereof; and
\ recognizing that there are, in our midst
| honest but irrecouoilable differences Of opin
. ion with regard to the respective systems 0
protection and free trade, we remit the dis
| cussion of the subject to the people in thei
! congressional districts, and the decision @
lCongress thereon, wholly free from executiv
h interference or dictation.
&. The public credit must be sacred
r maintained, and we deuounce repudiato
10 10 every form aud guise.
)" 9. A speedy return to spseie payment
is demanded alike by the bghest considers
Is tons Of commercial morality and homes
government.
rs 10. We remember with gratitude tn
y" heroism and sacrifices of the soldiers an
90 sailors of The Republic, and no act Of ouI
to shall ever detract from their justly eGrne
fame or she full rewards of their patriotism
se IL. We are opposed to all further gran
- of land TO railroads or other corporation
on The public domain should be held sacred I
ny actual settlers.
10 u. We hold TIM: it is The duty of Il
government IN it's intercourse with foreig
: nations to cultivate the friendships of peat
. By treating With all on fair and equal term
regarding it alike disboporAbls to demo
what is not right or submit to ~
wrong.
IL For the promotion p "A erooess
these vital principles, and the s,,rort Of :
candidates. nominated ,b;s cenvarti,
we invite and cotd' Al, we1coma the coon
/, a'ion 0. 81 pa" otto citizens without reg'
q 10 previous olilical sfiliatiou.