The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-06-27
Yong Mems Association.


Gen. Carl Schurz delivered The closing
lecture III he season. last night, 10 large
audience at the Methodist Church sub
iect: "The True Problem. The address
was : logical exhibit Of the present cordi-
ton Of the country, and il is impossible 10
give a f,I report Of il, unless We had room
for the whole address He took the ground
that ID a Democratic form Of government
there must be some great central idea that
should bind the people together, OF greater
mower than any interest Of locality II our
case. the political interest and aims Of the
whole nation had been overcome by the go
cial idea Of the South. The whole labor oil
tina: section had been performed by slsves
the people had been trained 10 believe that
i was the proper and normal condition
Of the regro by unity and he AID OF the
Northern doughfaces, they had Tor many
years kept the government IN their own
hands: and when Lincoln was elected IL
1860 they saw their power over the nation
al a. ell. ard there was not moments
hesitation 10 accepting the arbitration the
sword. The contest lasted tour years, and
only ceased when they we're compelled bF
force 70 abandon the contest. At thai time
they would have accepted any conditions
which the government might have demand
e.. a. guarantees f0- future security. and
the great opportunity was given TO carry
90, he principles Of or form o. govern
meut. bv giving he same civil rights 20 all
Owing 10 iae course Of the President. We
.alled 70 adopt this policy, and the golden
opportunity had gone forever.
WHAT now should be loae for the security
o. tie nation hereafter. We had incurred
a debt Of three thousand millions in de-
fence Of The Union, and every principle OF
national honor required thai II should re
paid When almost hopeless 10 he cor
test We had called the negro TO The field
to all in the preservation Of the republic.
We had gwen freedom 10 the slave. and
pledged ourselves 10y all the sacred ObLga-
tons Of honor 10 protect them in their
freedom. We could not avoid ether Of
these obligations. President Lincoln. had
said hat q house divided against itself
cannot stand, il must fall unless II cease TO
be divided. We had found 20 our cost the
truth OF tina; proposition. We had no right
10 expect the South 10 willingly accept the
condition Of things. They had done as
well de we had right 70 expect from the
course OF President Johnson. IL Virginia
they had enacted a yagrant Jaw which
would ultimately reduce the blacks again
10 slavery; in South Carolina they had the
black code; n North Carolina most 0. the
laws in relation 20 the blacks still remained
unchanged; while the same was true Of
other States. Should We then admit them
10 national representation, they would have
more representatives than before. as the
negroes were free, and with the and Of
Northern men would again obtain tue con
tro Of tie government. This was their
avowed object anu purpose, and who then
wouidanswer forthe payment ofthe national
debt. or the freedom given 20 The slave 10
both OF which the solemn faith OF the nation
was pledged
There were under EXISTING circumstances
but TWO ways 20 meet the question. The
government must interfere 10 the local
affairs Of the states by establishing large
force throughout The South, thus main
tainta!ning q democratic form OF govern
ment IN az anti-democratic way. which
must IN the end result in d central des-
pOtlsm, or allow the freedmen 10 protect
themselves by the ballot. There was 10
other way 70 solve the difficulty This
would secure the payment Of the debt,
protect the freedmen in their civil rights, !
and secure our national safety IN the future |
Then the black would be respected at
home, for one vote sometimes elected &
Governor or member Of Congress, and the
aristocrat would bow before the power of
the ballot.
The whole lecture was mastery exhibl- |
ton Of close logical reasoning. and its po-
sitions are unanswerable. The audience |
were highly pleased, and all were gratifed
in listening to one Of the ablest men Of the !
nation.