The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-03-24
Carl schurz on the Republican Nom

Carl schurz on the Republican Nom
ination for the Presidency.
The following is the speech of Carl
schurz, IN the Republican Convention IN
Wisconsin. upon being elected delegate from
the State at large to the Republican Nation
al Convention. Mr.. 8. was loudly called,
and came forward. amid a perfect tempest
of applause, and addressed the convention
as follows:
Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN III ac-
cept this appointments deeply sensible, not
only of the honor it confers, but also of the
responsibility it imposes upon me. If do
not mistake the signs of the times, the his
tory of this Republic has arrived at a tarn-
ing point. l think not that slavery, as a
matter of principle or of practice, has ever
been different from what it is now; but I do
think that recent events have shown more
clearly than ever before, the entire incom
patibility of slavery as political power
with the Republican spirit of our institu-
tons.
The annexation of Texas, making the for
eign policy of our government subservient
| to slavery; the resistance of the slave power
to the admission of California as free
State; the passage of the Fugitive Slave
law; the enactment of the Nebraska bill; all
these were matters of discussion before the
| great Presidential struggle of 1856. But
since then, we have had the bred Scott de-
cision declaring that Slavery is national
institution. and that il exists of right wher-
ever the flag of the United States floats
! (Applause) We have still more. The
South has demanded the unconditional sub
mission of the North to its dictation, and il
we refuse, threaten the dissolution of the
confederaey. And still more, all demo
cratic Senator's of the North, who claims to
be a representative of liberal democracy
has advocated in his place in Congress the
passage of bill, which, if it becomes {
law, will place the Shareholders police at ev
cry door. Then the sleepless fears of tyr
amy will watch you with nevertiring sus
picion, and wherever two or three of yor
are assembled, there will be the black spiri
of Slavery despotism lowering over you
/ (Cheers.)
The issue is manifest consolidated pc
litical despotsm on one side and liberal
enlightened, progressive government on thu
other. Great applause.) There is no diff
|
tanned in the ranks of the Republican par
ty, but there seems to be a difference o
opinion about the means by which to affair
them.
There are those who think the right way
to succeed is to compromise principles TO
the purpose of uniting incongrGous ele
ments, and to gain votes outside of the Re
publican party by artificial combinations
And on the other side there are those wis
mean to carry the day by bold, open
straightforward appeal to the popular sens
of right and wrong. Gentlemen. 1 am ii
favor of opening the doors of the Republi
can party as widely as consistent with it;
principles, in order to let in all those wh'
wish to put themselves on our platform
but am not in favor of throwing open TIL
doors of the Republican party SO widel!
that Republicansm itself will escap
through them. (Prelongued applause.)
l am willing to vote for any man wis
will place himself fairly upon our platform
but the best way to find him is to seel
him within the pale of our own organiza
ton. l think the Republicans of this Stat
are not willing to become parties to All agree
ment according to the terms of which tn
latter day Old Line Wings, the Old Lin
Americans, will furnish the platform AM
candidates, while the Republicans will hav
to furnish the votes. (Great cheering.)
do not think we stand in need of the servi
ees of those accommodating gentlemen, VIII
will most gaaciously condescend to becom
Republicans upon the condition that W
make them President at once. (Prolongel
and deafening applause.) In this way W
might, indeed, catch the votes of some o
the ancient mariners of exploded par
ties, who, with desperate tenacity, cling t
the wrecks of their shattered crafts; but W
would lose our great element of success
the honest enthusiasm of the people. Il
this way we might, perhaps, make some Q
the doubtful States sure, but should max
some of the sure States doubtful Cheers.
There is one thing more to be dreaded
than defeat in an election, and that is
failure in an admiration. We do not wan
a second edition of the Fillmore admiuistra
ton which began under IaRti-slavery auspi
ces and resulted in the Fugitive Slave Law
| Applause We should not like again t,
hear of ''painful duties reluctantly per
formed" Especial applause.) Ii [ un
derstand the people they want man who's
past furnishes a guaranty for the future
! Great applause. l believe in the IRE
sistable force of truth. believe in the in
vincible power of right and justice over tn,
minds of men. believe in the irrepressi
bic assault of reason upon the human un
derstanding. l believe in an open, bold anC
straight forward appeal to the popula
heart. These ideas | shall take with me t.
the Chicago Convention. These ideas If re
allied will rally the Republican party in al
/ uubFoken column under the old hammer. ane
our victory viii verify. the great word o
gallant old Ben. Wade, of Ohio, which hi
hurled in the face of the Southern disun
ionists eff you want to dissolve the On.
ion, gentlemen, you may be sure that the
L i. L = : Il.