The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-05-16
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.

and platform adopted by the Liberal RePuDll-
cans at the Cincinnati Convention:
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
TIE Administration now in power has rem
dered itself guilty of wanton disregard OF the
laws of the land, and of usurpation of powers
not granted by the Constitution. 1t has acted
as if the laws had binding force only for those
who are governed, and not for those who gov
ern. It has thus struck a blow at the tunda-
mental principles Of constitutional government
and the liberties of citizens The President OF
the United States has openly used the powers
and opportunities of high Office for the promo
tion of personal ends. He has kept notorious
" corrupt and unworthy men in places OF pow
er and responsibility to the detriment OF the
public interests.
He has used the public service of the Gov
ernment as machinery of partisan and person
al influence, and interfered with tyrannical ar
rogance in the political affairs of States and
municipalities. He has rewarded with lntu-
entail and lucrative Offices men who had ac-
quired his favor by valuable presents, thus
stimulating generalization of our political life
by his conspicuous example. He has shown
himself deplorably unequal to the tasks im-
posed upon him by the ne ,ssities OF the coun-
try, and culpably careless of the responsible
ties of his high Office.
The partisans of the Administration, as
suming to be the Republican party and con-
trolling its organization, have attempted to JUS
tify such wrongs, and palliate such abuses, to
the end of maintaining partisan ascendency:
They have stood in the way of necessary In
vestigations and indispensable reforms, pre-
tending that no serious fault could be found
with the present administration of public at
fairs thus seeking to blind the eyes of the peo,,
pie. They have kept alive the passions and
rresentments of the late civil war, to use them
to their own advantage. They have resorsed 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 those rights, the
enjoyment of which is indispensable to sue.
cessful administration of their local affairs, and
would tend to promote patriotic and hopeful
national feeling. They have degraded them
selves and the name of their party, once justly
entitled to the confidence of the nation, by a
base sycophancy to the dispenser of Executive
power and patronage, unworthy of Republican
freemen. They have sought to stiAe the voice
of lust criticism, to stife the moral sense OF the
people, to subiugate public opinion by tyranni-
cal party discipline. They are striving to
maintain themselves in authority for selfish
ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use of power which
rightfully belongs to the people, and should be
employed only in the service of the country. j,
Believing that an organization thus led and
controlled can no longer be of service to the
best interests of the Republic, we have resolved
to make all independent appeal to the sober
Judgment, conscience and patriotism OF the
American people.
THE PLATFORM.
We, the Liberal Republicans of the United
States, in National Convention assembled at
Cincinnati, proclaim the following principles
essential to just Government
First-We recognize the equality OF men be-
fore the law, and hold that it is the duty OF the
Government in its dealings with the people to
meet out equal and exact justice to all OF what
ever nativity, race, color or persuasion, religi-
GUS or political.
Second-We pledge ourselves to maintain
the Union of these States, emancipation and
enfranchisement and to oppose any re-opening
of the questions settled by the Thirteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments of the Constitution.
Third-We demand the immediate and abb
solute removal of all disabilities imposed on
account of the rebellion, which was finally SUBJ
dued seven years ago, believing that universal
amnesty will result in the complete pacihca-
tion of all sections of the country.
Fourth-Local selfgovernment, with impair
tial suffrage, will guard the rights of all clti-
zens more securely than any centralized power:
The public welfare requires the supremacy OF
the civil over the military authority, and the
freedom of person under the protection OF the
haJcas corpus. We demand for the individual
the largest liberty consistent with public order,
for the States self-government, and tor the ma
tion a return to the methods of peace, and the
constitutional limitation OF power
Fifth-The civil service of the Government
has become mere instrument OF partisan ty.
ranny and personal ambition, and an object OF
selfish greed 1t is scanda! aud reproach
upon our free institutions, and breeds demor-
afization dangerous to the perpetulty OF rep,ub-
lican government We, therefore, regard d
thorough reform of the civil service as one OF
the most pressing necessities of the hour; that
honesty. capacity and fidelity constitute the
only valid claims to public employment; that
the officers of the Government cease TO be q
matter of arbitrary favoritism and patronage,
and that public stations become again posts OF
honor. 10 this end it is mperatively required
that no President shall be candidate for re-
election.
Sixth-We demand system OF Federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily interfere
with the industry of the people, and which
shall provide means necessary to pay the ex-
penses of the government, economically admin
istered, pensions, the interest on the public
debt, and moderate reduction annually of the
principal thereof, and recognizing that there
are in our midst honest but irreconcilable diff
ferences of opinion with regard to the respec-
tive systems of protection and free trade, we
remit discussion of the subject to the people Of
their Congressional districts, and to the decision
of Congress thereon, wholly free of Executive
interference or dictation.
Scventh-The public credit must be sacredly
maintained, and we denounce repudiation in
every form and guise.
Eighth speedy return to specie payments
is demanded alike by the highest considera-
lions of commercial morality and honest gov
ernment.
Ninth-We remember with gratitude the
heroism and sacrifices of the soldiers and sail.
ors of the Republic, and no act of ours shall