Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-05-22

We shall rspublisA il from the New York ,
Tribune a. soon 90 We receive copy Of ii
in tina. Paper .
CINCINNATI, May 3. o
Hon. HoHAcH GREELEY:-Ths National
Convention Of Liberal Republicans Of the
United States have instructed the under
signed, President, Vice Presidents and
Of the Convention to inform you ;
that yoa have been nominated o. candidate
OF the Liberal Republicans for the Presi-
dsnoy Of the United States. We also sub
nit 70 you the address and resolutions I'M
Animously adopted BY the convention. Be
pleased TO signify to US your acceptance Of
lhs platform and nomination and believe
us very truly yours.
o ScHuRz, President, 30.
GEo. W. JuLIAN Vice Pres't
WIN. f. Mclean, JNo. G. Donaldson, j.
H. Rhodes, secretArisS.
REPLY OF Nh. GREELEY;
NEW YoRK, May 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN II delayed replying 10 yours
OF the Sd inst. until could learn how the
work OF your convention Was received in all
parts Of our great country and Judge
whether that work was approved and rat-
fed by the mass Of our fellow citizens.
Their response has from day TO day reached |
me through kilograms, letters and com
msnis Of journalists, independent OF Official
patronage and indifferent TO the smiles or
frovns Of power. The number and char
AotsT Of these lnconstrAined, unpurchased,
unsolicited utterAncss satisfy me that the
movement which found expression 81
Cincinnati has received the stamp of public
approval and been hailed by . majority OF
our oouutrymen a. . hArbiuger OF . better
day for the republic. l do not misinter-
pref this approval A. especially compli-
msnIAry to myself or to the chivalrous aud
Justly esteemed gentleman with whose name
/ thank your convention for assooiating
mine. receive aud welcome il rs spou.
tAneous and deserved tribute to that admira-
Bile platform of principles wherein your con
vention so tersely, so luoidly, so forciblY,
set forth the conviction which impelled and
purposes which guided its course, platform
which casting behind il the wreck and
rubbish Of worn out contentious and by
gone ieuds aud embodisS in fit and few
words the needs and aspirations Of to-day,
Though thousands stand ready TO coademn
your every act, hardly . syllable Of criticism
or cAvil has been aimed at your platform,
Of which the substance may be fairly epito-
mized as follows:
lSL All political rights aud franchises
which have been acquired through the late
bloody oonvulsion must and shall be guar
Anteed, maintained, enjoyed and respected
evsrmore.
2ud. All political rights and franchises
which have been lost through that convul
sion should and must be promptly restored
I'D .a-.at.k1..L.l a. L
hsuceforth no prescribed class snd no dis
frsnchised caste within the limits Of our
Union whose long es,rAnged people shall re-
unite and fraternlzs upon the broad basis Of
universal amnesty with i'm partial suffrage.
3rd. That subject 10 our solemn oonsti.
tutiouAl obligations 10 maintain equal rig hts
Of all citizens our policy should aim at local
self government and not at Capitalization,
that civil authority should be supreme over
military, that the writ Of habeas corpus
should be jeSlously upheld as the safeguard
Of personal freedom, that individual oin.
zsns should enjoy the largest liberty
consistent with public order and tina, there
shall be no federal subversiou OF the iutsrua
policy Of the several states aud munioipAli-
ties, but that each shall be left free to
enforce tbeirighss and promote the we'll
being OF its inhabitants by such means as
the Judgment Of its own people shall pre-.
scribe.
18th. There shall be real and not merely
simulated reform 10 the civil service Of the
republic, 20 Which end il is indispensable
that the chief dispenser of its vast Official
patronage shall be shielded from the
temptation TO use his power sel6shly BY a
rule inexorAbly forbidding and preoludlpg
his re election.
9th. That raising oil revenue whether BY
tariff or otherwise shall be recognized and
treated as the peoples immediate business,
70 be shaped and directed BY them through
their representatives. in Congress- whose
action thereon the President must neither
override BY his veto, attempt to dictate, nor
presume TO punish BY bestoWing office only
on those who agree with him or withdraw
ing Il from those who do not.
9Th That the public lands must be
saeredly reserved for the occupation and &C
QUESTION by oultvators and not reoklessly
aqnandersd on projectors Of railroads for
which our people have no present need and
the premature construction OF which is an
nually plunging US into deeper and deeper
AbysseS Of foreign Indebtedness.
It'll. The achievement of these grand
purposes OF universal benefieence are ex-
peoted and sought at the hands of all who
approve them, irrespective of past Afia-
tionG.
9Th. That the public faith must at all
hazards be maintained and the national
credit preserved.
9th. That the patriotic devotedness and
inestimAble services of our fellow citizens
who as soldiers or sailors upheld the flag
and maintained the unity Of the Republic
shall ever be gratefully remsm bsrsd and
honorAbly rsquited.
These propositions so ably and foroibly
presented in the platform of your conven-
zion nave already fixed the attention and
commanded the assent Of large majority
OF our oouutrymen who joyfully adopt them
As do a. the basis OF true and benefic.
eni reeonstrucsion and a new departure from
the JsGlousies sIrifes and wrath which have
no longer adequate motive or even plausible
pretext, into an atmosphere of peace, fra
tsrniiy and mutual good will. 10 vain do
the drill sergsants Of decaying organizations
flourish mechanically their truncheons and
angrily inaist that the lines shall be closed
and strengthened. In vain do the vhippers-
IN of parties, once vital because rooted in the
Vita needs Of the hour, protest against
strayIng and boiling, and dsnouuce men
noNiSe their interiors, as traitors and rene
Rades and threaten them with infamy and
ruin. | am confident that the American
people have already made your cause thei:
own, fully resolved that their brave hear,s
and strong arms shall bear IL on TO triumph.
10 this faith, with the distinct understanding
that if elected shall be President not Of a
party but Of the whole people, | accept your
nomination in confident trust that the
masses Of our countrymsn North and South
are eager to clasp hands across the bloody
ohGsm which has too long divided them, for
getting that they have been enemies in the
joyful consciousness that they are and must
henoeforth remain brethren.
Yours gratefully,
HORACE GREELEY,
z-
The poet Whittier, who calls Mr.. Greeley
our "lAter franklin in oue of hia yeFaes