Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-22
paitp Argus.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE
Liberal Republican Convention,
HELD AT
Cincinnati, May 1, 2, and 3.
OFFICIAL COPY.

To tie people Of the United States
The administration now in power has
rendered itself guilty of Wanton disregard Of
the laws of the land, and of usurping DO Rers
not granted BY the consultation it has act
ed as il the laws had binding force only for
these who are governed, and not for those
who govern. 1t has thus struck a 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
ernment IS machinery Of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfered with
| tyrsnicsl arrogance in the political EffAirs Of
states and municipalities.
he has rewarded with influential and lu-
crative offcies men who had acquired his ia
vor by valuable presents, thus stimulating
the demoratizstion Of our political life by his
conspiclous 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
suming to be the Republican party, and CON
trolling its organization, have attempted to
Justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
TO the end Of maintaining partisan ascend
Aney.
They have stood in the way of necessary
Investigations and Indispensable reforms,
pretending that no serious fault could be
found with the present administration OF
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 for
theit own advantage /; they have rssorted TO
arbitrary measures in direct conflict with
the organic Law, instead of appealing to the
better instincts and latent patriotism of the
southern people By restoring to them these
rights, the eaioy ment OF which is indlspen
sable to q successful administration of theil
local affairs, and would tend TO revive q pa
trotic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves and the
name of their party, once justly entitled tt
the confidence of the nation, by base syco
pbancy to the dispenser Of executive powe
and patronage, unworthy of republican free
men they have sought to silence the volc'
of Just CRITICS u, and stihe the moral sens,
of the people, and to subjugate publ,
opinion BY tyrsnniesl party discipline.
They are striving to maintain themselve
in authority for selfish ends by an unscrupu
lous 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 lei
and controlled can no longer be of service +
the bests interests of the republic, we hav
resolved to make en- independent appeal 1
the sober judgment, conscience, and patriot
ism of the American people.