Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-24
Yotlp gr0no.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE
Liberal Republican Convention.
HELD AT
Cincinnati, May /, 2, and 3.
To tie people QftAe Uni,sa .Stat,s:-
OFFICIAL COPY |

To tie people Of tie Uni,sd .Stat,s-
The administration now in power has
rendered itself guilty of wanton disregard OF
the laws of the land, and of usurping DO gers
not granted by the constitution 1t 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 blow al
/ the fundamental principles of constitutional
goverpmen 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 res pom
sibility, to the detrimeut OF the public inter
ests
He has used the public service Of the gov
ernment as u machinery Of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfered with
tyranicsl arrogance in the political affairs o.
states and municipalities.
| He has rewarded with influential and lu-
cr&tive otfcies men who had acquired bis ia.
vor by valuable presents, thus stimulating
| the Generalization Of our political life by his
conspicuous example.
! He has shown himself deplorGbly 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 psrtissus of the administration as
Stunning TO be the Republican party, and con
trolling its organization, have attempted &c
Justify such wrongs and pailiate such abuses
to the end Of maintaining partisan ascend
ancy.
They have stood in the way of necessary
Investigations and indispensable reforms
pretending that 10 serious fault could be
found with the present Administration o.
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
then own advantage ; they have resorted to
arbitrary measures il direct conflict with
the organic law, instead Of appealing 10 lht
better instincts and latent patriotism of III,
southern people by restoring to them these
rights, the epJoym OF which is indIspen
sable TO a successful Administration of thei
iocai affairs, and would tend to revive a pa
trioic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves and tie
name of their party, once justly entitled Il
the confidence of the nation, by base syco
phancy TO she dispenser OF executive Powe
and patronage, unworthy Of republican free.
men they have sought to silence the volct
of Just criticism N, and stife the moral sens,
of the people, and to sutjugste publ,
opinion By tyrannlcAl 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-
Iployed only in the service of the country.
Believing that an organization thus lei
and controlled can no longer be Of service t
the bests interests Of the republic, We hayt
resolved 10 make an Independent appeal /
the sober jud gment, conscience, and patriot
ism of the American people.