The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-25

Chairman Republic u STATE com mlttee.
Gen. Carl Schurz, st. Louis, NO.
General Schurz, in reply, says:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Sept. u, 1867
MY DEAR SIR: Your letter Is received.
You inquire whether Mr.. Charles Roe
ser, in his letter to the Boston Common
I0etlEih, gives n correct statement of my
views in saying that L advise the Ger
mans "to bid farewell TO the Republic
can party in Stale and local elections,
bnt TO stand firm to the Republican
party in national elections" This Is
not u correct exposition Of my views,
nor do 1 think that Mr.. Roeser intended
TO convey the impression that advised
my German friends to abandon the Re
publican party in all State and local
elections.
The views expressed in the newspR-
per articles / wrote sometime ago on
the pTohibItoTy liquor law, ana similar
oppressive and intOleranL legislation,
rs are exactly those l have always held
md expressed when had occasion to
discuss this subject. They are easily
summed: ..-
That class OF legislation 10 which.
the prOhibiiory liquor law belongs, is
intriusically wrong, and ought, there
fore, to be vigorously opposed. But
this Is not the main issue now before
the people. The great political prob
ton. 1t involves the peace and happi-
nees OF this country for many years,
perhaps Tor geneFAIions---n cannot be
put o6, and has to be solved on It's own
merits. The only political machinery
though which, under existing circum-
stances a successful solution of this
problem can be secured, is the Republi-
can party. Another Republican adj
ministraIion is necessary To place the
results OF the war beyond the dangers
of reaction. and to Introduce them
into the political habits OF the people
North aud South. sUntn that object is
accomplished, the Republican party is
election would certainly bring on II VIC
lent reaction and involve the Republic
In the dangers Of prOtracted and bitter
political struggles.
Whatever course we may be inclined
to take with regard to other questions,
the main issue must never be lost
sight Of The Republican party has its
faults. They may be great. 1t would
be vastly preferable, could We organize
a new party free OF such shortcomings.
But TO accomplish this previous TO the
next national election ls an utter i'm
possibility. The attempt could only
benefit our opponents. II we want to
settle the reconstruction business upon
the basis of correct principles,we must,
therefore. preserve the efficiency of the
only available machinery for that Pur-
pose.
In the meantime, it is by no means
our duty to submit tamely to attempts
made 10 use the Republican Organiza-
ton in local and State elections for ille-
ultimate and obnoxious purposes. We
should, in the first place, vigorously
oppose such attempts inside Of the party,
and experience shows that II this be
done with energy, prudence and tact,
we can accomplish much. But IL this
should prove OF no avail we are, IN case
Of pressing necessity. at perfect liberty
TO Try the effect of the defeat of the Re
publican candidates as remedy for
the evil. There Is, however, one cir
cumstance under which the exercise of
this rig bit may be objected to, and that
IL, when by its exercise the national
efficiency OF the Republican organiza-
ton should be seriously impaired and
its national ends endangered-these
ends being at the present moment of
paramount Importance.
These are the views / held aud have
expressed whenever there was occasion
for It. 1t would, however, be vain to
deny that there are good many Radi-
cal Germans whom Rny attempt OF the
Republican party TO inhict upon the
community arbitrary legislation en-
croaching upon individual rights in an
illeRiIimaIe way, would induce them to
sever their connection with the Repub-
lican organization. regardless OF conse-
quences. Things have been done here
and there which have already gone far
to effect this result. From all sides we
receive sets OF resolutions against the
prohibitory law and similar things,
passed at German Republican meetings.
The Germans have taken the alarm
quite generally, and Will not require
much TO produce a serious break IN
their ranks. 1t Is best that our Ameri-
can friends should know this, and II 1
tell you 80, Yon may believe me, that /
Judge from full knowledge OF the facts,
and that 1 look at things coolly and
without the least desire to exsggerate
to myself or to you the danger.
am surprised that any sensible tenn
perance man in the Republican party
should insist so obstiuately upon this
impracticable scheme, since the statis-
tics OF liquor consumption and drunk
enness show that il rather aggravates
than diminishes the evil, while on the
other hand their attempt to; thrust it up
on US Threatens to divide and seriously
weaken US at u time when the dangers
of the situation demand that the loyal
men OF the country should be moro
united than ever. These obstinate at
tsmpts are, at this time, the more I'M
reasonable, as their utter fntility will
soon become SO evident to every sane
man, that after little while they will
most certainly be superseded by more
rational method OF promoting virtue
aud morality among the people.
Temperance men commit most sim
gular mistake when they speak of the
opponents of the proIibitory law as a
set OF tipplers and liquor dealers l
am earnestly opposed 10 prohibition,
and yet / pretend to belong TO neither
one nor the other of those two classes.
You are long enough acquainted with
me to know that the entire ahseuce of
alcoholic liquors from this globe would
cause no personal Inconvenience to me.
1 am also one of those who sincerely
abhor drunkenness and intemperauce
OF any description. But 1 am just as
earnestly opposed to that class of legls-
laIion which, in an arbitrary way, en-
croaches upon the rights OF the indi-
viduAl. which, for this reason, will
never be sustained by public sentiment,
and which will only serve to familiar
ize the masses with the practices oflaw-
breaking, thus demoralizing them, and
undermining the popular respect
for the laws In general. / may
have occasion, some time or
other, to set forth the reasons for my
opposition at length. These reasons
do not spring from my individual
tastes, but are based upon principle