Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-31
paIiilp ARGUS.
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE
Liberal Republican Convention,
HELD AT
Cincinnati, May I, 2, and 8.
loFFIcIAL COPY.
To the people Of the United States

| To the people Of the United States
| The administration now in power has
rendered Itself guilty of w4nton disregard OF
| the laws of the land, and of usurping pc gers
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. Ii has thus struck blow at
the fundamental principles OF constitutional
goverDm 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
oil 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 as a machinery of corruption and
personal influence, and has interfsred with
tyrsnicsl arrogance in the political affairs Of
states and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and lu-
crative oficies men who had acquired his IA
vor by valuable presents, thus stimulating
the Generalization of our political life BY his
conspicuous example.
He has shown himself deplorsbly 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
Stunning 70 be the Republican party, and con-
trolling its organization, have attempted to
Justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
70 the end OF maintaining partisan ascend.
ancy.
They have stood il the way of necessary
| Investigations and indispensable reforms,
pretending that NO serious fealt 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.
sent merits of the late war, to use them fos
their 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 tn,
southern people by restoring TO them these
rights, the enjoy OF which is indlspen
sable to q successful ad minisIratIon of theil
local affairs, and would tend to revive = pa
trotic and hopeful national feeling.
They hive degraded themselves and the
name OF then party, once justly entitled Il
the confidence Of the nation,by base syco'
phancy TO the dispenser OF executive psWe
and patronage, unworthy OF republican tree
men they have sought to silence the voIc'
of Just criticism, and stfle tk e moral sens
of the people, and to subjugste public
opinion BY tyrsnniCal party discipline.
They are striving 20 maintain the mselve
in authority for selfish ends by an unscrupu
lOus use of power the which righlfull,
belongs to the people, and should be EN-
poyed 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 hav
resolved TO make an ind pendent appeal L
the sober judgment, conscience, and patriot
lam of the American people.