Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-06
Dailp ARGUS.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
CT THE
Liberal Republican Convention.
1909 ST.. ~ t.saaaE-
HELD AT
Cincinnati, May 1, 2, and 3.
OFFICIAL COPY.
To the people oftAe United States

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 po 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 8 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
| al ends.
He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men in places ofpower and respon-
sibiity, to the detriment Of the public inter
ests.
He has used the public service of the gov
eminent as q machinery of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfered with
tyranicsl arrogance in the political affairs Of
states and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and lu
crative officies men who had acquired his IA
vor by valuable presents, thus stimulating
the demoratizs.ion of our political life by his
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 nigh Office.
The partissns of the administration as
suming to be the Republican party, and con-
trolling its organization, have attempted to
Justify such wrongs and pslliste such abuses,
10 the end OF maintaining partisan ascend
ancy.
They have stood ia 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
theil own advantage they have resorted 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 enjoyment OF which is indlspen
sable to a successful Administration of thei
local affairs, and would tend to revive a pa
triotic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves and the
name of their party, once justly entitled t.
the confidence of the nation,by base syco'
phsncy to the dispenser OF executive powe
and patronage, unworthy OF republican Tree
men they have sought to silence the voIc
of Just criticism, and stihe the moral sens
Of the people, and to subjngste publ
opinion by tvrsnnical party discipline.
They are striving to maintain thenselve
in authority for selfish ends by an unscrupu
lous use of power the which nghtfuli
= 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 hav
resolved to make an independent appeal t
the sober Judgment, conscience, and Pstrio
ism of the American pc ople.