Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-09
Uatlp argus.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
CT THE
Liberal Republican Convention,
HELD AT
Cincinnati. May 1, 2, and 3.
OFFICIAL COPY.
To the people Of the United States

y
The Administration now 10 power has
rendered itself guilty Of wanton disregard of
the laws of the land, and of usurping DO Rers
not granted by the constitution it has act
ed as if the laws had binding force only for
these who are governed, and not for those
who govern. Il has thus struck blow at
the fundamental principles Of constitutional
government and the liberties of the citizen.
The President Of the United States has
openly used the powers and opportunities of
his high Office for the promotion of person
al ends.
He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men in places ofpower and respon-
sibility, to the detriment of the public inter
ests.
He has used the public service of the gov
eminent as a machinery Of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfered with
tyranical arrogance in the political affairs Of
states and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and lu-
crative otficies men who had acquired his ia
vOr by valuable presents, thus stimulating
the decentralization of our political life by his
conspicuous example.
He has shown himself deplorably unequal
to the task imposed upon him by the neces-
sites of the country, and culpably careless
of the responsibilities of his high office.
The partisans of the administration as
samiug to be the Republican party, and con
trolling its organization, have attempted to
Justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
10 the end Of maintaining partisan ascend.
| sncy.
They have stood ia the way of necessary
| Investigations and indispensable reforms
| prete nding that NO serious fault could be
found with the present administration oil
| public affairs, thus seeking to blind The eyes
of the people.
They have kept alive the passions and re-
sentiments of the late war, to use them foI
,hei. own Advantage they have resorted to
arbitrary measures in direct conflict with
the organic law, instead of appealing to tht
better instincts and latent patriotism of The
southern people By restoring to them these
rights, the enjoy ment OF which is indlspen
sable to a successful administration of thei
local affairs, and would tend to revive a pa
trio,ic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves and The
name of their party, once justly entitled t.
the confidence of the nation by base syco
phsncy to the dispenser Of executive poTe
and patronage, unworthy of republican free
meu they have sought to silence the voIc
of lust criticism, and stitle the moral sens
Of the people, and to sutjogate publ
opinion BY tvrannical party discipline.
They are striving to maintain themselve
in authority for selfish ends by an unscrupu
lous use of power the which rghtfull
belongs to the people, and should be en-
ployed only in the service of the country.
Believing that an organization thus le
and controlled can no longer be Of service
the bests interests of the republic, we hav
resolved to make al Independent appeal /
the sober judgment, conscience, and patrio
ism of the American people.