Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-07
DAILY ARGUS.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
CT THE
Liberal Republican Convention.
HELD AT
Cincinnati, May 1, 2, and 3.
OFFICIAL COPY.
To the people ofhe United States.

To the 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 pc Eers
not granted by the constitution it has act
ed as if the laws had binding force ouly for
these who are governed, and not for those
who govern. IL 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
al ends.
He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men in places ofpower and respon-
sibility, to the d.trifnent Of the public inter
ests
He has used the public service of the gov
ernment as a machinery of corruption and
personal influence, and has intertered with
tyranical arrogance in the political affairs of
states and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and lu-
crative othcies men who had acquired his fa-
vor by valuable presents, thus stimulating
the decentralization 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
saming 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
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 oil
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
their own advantage f; they have resorted to
arbitrary measures in direct conflict with
the organic law, instead of appealing to tbs
better instincts and latent patriotism of th,
southern people by restoring to them these
rights, the enjoymen Of which is iadlspen
sable to a successful sd ministratlon Of thei
local affairs, and would tend 10 revive a Pc
trioIic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves aud the
name Of theil party, once justly entitled t.
the confidence of the nation, by base syeo
pbancy to the dispenser OF executive powe
and patronage, unworthy of repG biicsu free
men they have sought to silence the volc
Of lust criticism, and stife tie moral sens
OF the people, snd to suhj publ
opinion by tvrsunicsl party discipline.
They are striving to maintain the mselve
10 authority tor selfish ends by an unscrupu
lous use OF power the which nghtfull
belongs TO the people, and should be en-
ploved only 10 the service of the country
Beheviug that an organization thus le
and controlled can no longer be Of service t
the bests interests of the republic, We hay
resolved TO make an ind epeudent appeal /
the sober judgment, conscience, and pstrio
ism of the American people.