Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-25
THE MISSOURI LIBERALS.
Definition OfTrue RepublicaniSn
National Mass Convention Called
To Meet in Cincinnati May /

Liberal Republican Mass Convention me-
in the hall of the House of Representa- iYeE
at noon, and is one. of the largest ever as
sembled. Various committees were ap-
pointed for facilitating business, and, after
a stirring speech by Hon. G. p. johnson, Of
st. Louis, the Convention took recess till
2o'clOck. The Convention is not only
large in point of numbers, but contains a
majority of the leaders of the Liberal Re-
publican party of Missouri. Apparently it
is composed of about the same men who
figured in the boiling Republican Conven-
ton that nominated b. Gratz Brown
for Governor. Some surprise is noticeable
a. the character Of the American element
la the convention, 1t being much greater
than was expected, while as lockers on,
there are several prominent gentlemen
from otEer States, as Senator Fowler, OF
Tennessee, Judge Oliver, of Ohio, ScOville,
of New Jersey, and many others who seem
TO be measuring the extent of the Grant
opposition in the Republican ranks here.
Nearly every county in the State is repre-
Sented, and the convention has been well
worked up, considering it is merely for
consultation and a comparison of views.
A large number of people have arrived by
the midday trains, and the hotels and pub
lie resorts seem quite as well filed as the
State House.
On re-assembling, the Committee on
Resolutions reported through their Chair
man, Col. Grosvener. The reading of the
platform called forth repeated and very en-
thusiastic applause, and general storm OF
cheers followed at the close. The resolu-
tions, which were adopted without any dis
sent, are as follows:
Resolved, That we, the liberal Repuh-
icans of Missouri, faithful now as we were
in the dark days of the civil war to the
vital principles of true republicanism, by no
act or word will endanger the rightful
sovereignty of the Union, emancipation,
equality ofcivil rights or enfranchisement To
these established facts now embodied in the
Constitution, we claim the loyalty of all
good citizens.
Resolved, That true and lasting peace
can come only from such a profound recon
ciliation as enfranchisemeDt has wrought in
this State; nor can those governments be
pure or great in which the Taxpayers have
no active part. We therefore demand with
equal suffrage for all, complete amnesty for
all, that the intellect and experience of
every State may be welcomed to active SER
vice for the common welfare.
Resolved, That no form of taxation is
Just or wise which puts needless burdens
uWon the people. We demand genuine
re form of the tariff so that those duties shall
be removed which, in addition to the reve-
nue. yielded TO the Treasury, involve an in-
crease in the price of domestic products,
and a consequent tax for the benefit of
favored interests.
Resolved, that the shameless abuse Of
Government patronage for the control Of
conventions and elections, whether in the
interest of an individual faction or party,
with its consequent corruption and demOr-
alization of political life demands thor
ough and genuine reform 0f the public SER
vice. Those who would suppress investiga-
ton forget that they owe higher duty to
the country than to any party. We honor
those Senators whose courageous course
has compelled the disclosure of grave mis-
deeds and they deserve the thanks and
hearty support Of all good citizens.
Resolved, That local self government,
with impartial suffrage, will guard the
rights Of all citizens more securely than any
centralized authority. 1t is time to stop
tive power; the use of coercion or bribery to
ratify treaty; the packing Of Supreme
Court to relieve rich corporations; the seat
ing of members Of Congress not elected by
the people; the resort to unconstitutiOn-
al laws to cure the Ku-KluX disorder, ire
ligion or intemperance, and the surrender
of individual freedom to those who ask
that the practice or creed of some shall be
the law ofau. We demand for individuals
'the largest liberty consistent with public
order, for State self government, and for the
nation a return to the methods of peace
and constitutional limitation efpower.
Resolved, that true RepubliCanism makes
it not less our duty to expose corruption,
denOunce usurpation of power and work
for the reforms necessary for the public
welfare. The times demand an uprising
of honest citizens TO sweep from power the
men who prostitute the name of an honored
party to selfish interests. We therefore in
vite all Republicans who desire the reform
herein set forth, to meet in National
Mass Convention at the city of Cincinnati,
the first Wednesday of Nay next, at II NJ,
there to take such action as our convictions
Of duty and the public exigency may re-
quire-
The Committee on Resolutions reported
an additional resolution, recommending the
Liberal Republicans of Missouri to see that
they are fully represented in the Convention
this day called, and that thirty persons be
specially designated to present the resolu-
tions here adopted to that body, the said
thirty persons to be selected by a committee
of five, appointed by the chair.
Df hnt ta1 20 ID
dress the convention, spoke of the enCroach-
ments and abuse Of power by the federal
administration, by which, he SAID, the ma
ton had been humiliated and the people
oppressed. lie thought the Democratic
party, as a political organization, was no
longer potential to accomplish the reforms
the people demand.
Letter from Carl Schurz.
Senator Schurz writes from Washington,
Jan. Is, that the same principles which the
liberal Republicans of Missouri inscribed
on their banner in 1870, are now in issue
on the larger field of national politics. The
removal Of political disabilities is still
subject of controversy, and the liberal Re-
publicans may point with pride to their
wise and conciliating action. While no.
where the civil war was carried on with
more ferocity, there is no State to day
in which more unbroken peace
and order prevails, or in which
the new rights of the emknCipated
have been more completely respected and
in which the revival of fraternal feeling is
more general. When the same spirit in
spires Congress we may hope to see similar
results accomplished, even in those unfOrtu-
nate communities where the remembrances
Of the civil war are still kept alive by violent
disorders caused in a great measure by the
exclusion of numerous class of influential
men from the management of public affairs.
Jos. 8. Fowler,
Ex-senator Fowler, Of Tennessee, writes
from Nashville, Jan, q, that he looks for
ward to this convention as the harbinger of
a brighter day for the Republic than any
that has dawned since the declaration of in
dependence was signed. He says the times
demand a new political party Of dignity
and personal integrity, a knowledge
Of the constitution and the nature of the
Government, and a reverence for the rights,
interests and character Of the people. The
tone of the Executive Department must be
elevated. The principle of loyal selfgOV-
ernment must be maintained and respected.
The functions of society must not be sup
nIanted nv stzf1te laws The tariff on