Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-20
Daily Argus.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE tt'
Liberal Republican Convention,
HELD AT
Cincinnati, May 1, 2, and 3.
OFFICIAL COPY.
To tie people Of ne Omitted States :

! To the people cfhe United StateS:-
The administration now in power has
rendered itself guilty of wAnton disregard of
the laws of the land, and of usurping DO Eers
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. 1t has thus struck 3 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
81 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 n machinery Of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfered with
tyranichl arrogance in the political affairs Of
states and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and lu-
crAtive oficies men who had acquired his ia
vor by valuable presents, thus stimulating
the Demonstration of our political life by bis
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
Stunning to be the Republican party, and con
trolling its organization, have attempted tc
Justify such wrongs and pslliate such abuses
TO the END of maintaining partisan ascend
ancy.
They have stood in the way of necessary
Investigations and indispensable reforms
pretending that NO serious fault could BE-
found with the present administration o
public affairs, thus seeking to blind The eyel
of the people.
They have kept alive the passions and re
sentiments of the late war, 10 use them TO
theil own advantage they have resorted tt
arbitrary measures in direct conflict witt
the orgsnic law, instead of appealing to tn
better instincts and latent patriotism Of tn
southern people by restoring to them thes
rights, the enjoyment OF which is indispeu
sable to a successful administration of thei
local affairs, and would tend to revive ps
irioic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves and tn,
name of their party, once justly entitled t
the confidence of the nation, by a base syco
pbeucy to the dispenser of executive powe
and patronage, unworthy of repub licsn free
men they have sought to silence The voio
of Just criticism, and stifie the moral sens
of the people, and to subjugste publ
opinion by tyrannical party discipline.
They are striving to maintain shemselve
in authority for selfish ends by an unsorupI
Ious use of power the which rightfull
belongs to the people, and should be EN-
ployed only in the service of the country.
Believing that an organization thus lie
and controlled can no longer be of service
the bests interests of the republic, we hay
resolved to make an independent appeal I
the sober Judgment, conscience, and patrio
ism of the American people.