The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-10-03
Position OF the German Republicans.

the following correspondence between
Horace Rublee and Carl Schu1z, but il
will bear reading twice. It should have
been inserted last week but was accident.
ally omitted:
MADISON, WIS, Sept. s. 1867.
Dear Gencrot.:-The opposition press
in this State have had considerable to say
respecting certain advice, which, accord
ing to letter of Mr.. Charles Roeser,
published in the Boston Communicable,
you have given the Republican Germans
the statement in Mr. Roeser's letter Is as
follows;
''The Westliche Post, edited by Carl
Schurz, likewise advises the Germans to
bid farewell to the Republican party in
State and local elections however, in
national elections again to stand firm to
the Republican party, whose imperative,
duty it is to secure those benefits which
it obtained out Of the war for the sup
preston of the rebellion fought by this
party in the interest OF universal liberty
and equality This admonition can be-
come fatal to the Republican organization
for when division occurs in the Repub
iican party in State elections, where a
portion of that party confFonts 1t as an
enemy, one cannot well III national cleo
tions traternize with that enemy again. .
the object Of this note is to inquire
whether Mr.. Roeser has correctly given
your position You vii observe tha; his
statement is in general terms, that he
represents you as as making no except
ion, but as absolutely advising the Ger
man Republicans TO abandon their party
in all state elections, because some Re
publicans, in some States, are in favor OF
certain measures of local character to
which the Germans are generally opposed
From my acquaintance with you as a firm
and Jealous advocate of the principles OF
the National Republican party, | lind 1t
difficult to believe that you would advise
your German friends to a course which
seems to unjust, inconsistent and inde-
fensible. Truly yours,
HORACE RuBLEE,
On IN Rep. State Com.
Gen. CARL ScHURZ, ST. Louis, Mo.
GEN. SCHURZ REPLY.
ST. Lou S, Mo. Sept. II, 1867.
M Dear ST. Your letter is received.
I ou inquire whether Mr.. Charles Roeser
in his letter to the Boston CoDln,onUealN
gives correct statement of my Views III
saying that | advised the Germans ITO
bid farewell to the Republican party in
state and local elections, but to 50 stand
firm to the Republican in national eiec
tons. This Is not a correct exposition
of my views. nor do | think that Mr..
Roescr intended TO convey The lupres-
sion that advised My German friends to
abandon The Republican party IN al state
and local elections.
The views | expressed in the newsna-
PEI Articles / wt0te some ti;ie ago On tha
proh;iitofy liquor law. and similar op-
pressive and intolerant Legislation, were
exactly hose nave away. llciI and ex-
pressed When hal occasion TO discuss
,h!s subject. They are eAsi.y asln..ii 4.
That class oi' legislation to which the
proilibitory liquor law belong IS itttin-
-i..iiiy Nru..g, AM. oaeGit, tner-tyl,, 10 s:e
vigorously opposed. Bat this is not the
u.in issue now before the people The
great roli'lGai problem of this peri5d Il
that of reconstruction. 1t involves the
peace and happiness Of this country fui
many years, perhaps tar generations. Ii
cannot be put off, and has 10 be a2,re't
on It's own merits. The only political
machinery through whicn, under exist
ing creams lr"a> a successful solution OF
this problem can ue secured, Is the Rc-
publican party. Another publican All
nlinistration Is necessary TO place the IT;
suits OF ;nc war beyond the dangers of /;
reaction, and 50 Introduce them INTO the
jss::tical habits vi The people north alo
south. Until that object is accom- plished
the Republican party is a necessity. Its
defeat in a natlona! election would Ger
tainly bring Oh violent reaction and in
volge the Republic in the dangers of
pronacted and bitter political struggles.
Whatever course we may be inclined
to take with regard to other questien>,
the marin issue must neyer be lost sight
OF. The Republican party has It's faults.
they may be great. 1t would be vastly
preferable, could we organize d new party
free Of such short Innings. But to nc
compiish this previous to the next Ma
sionai election is an utter imposslbiilty
1 ne attempt could only benefit our oppo-
nents. If we want to settle the recon
structlon business upon the basis OF cor
rect princi Piles we must, therefore, pre-
serve the efficiency OF the only available
machinery for that purpose.
In the meantime, it is by no means ON
duty to submit tamely to attempts made
20 use the Repubhcan organization III 10
cal and State elections for lilegltinatt
and obnoxious purposes. We should II
IN the first place. vigorously oppose snci
attempts inside Of the party and expert
ence shows that if this be done with e8
ergy, prudence and tact, we can accom-
plish much But if this should prove Of
no avail we are, az case Of pressing aecss
| sity at perfect liberty TO try the effect o
the defeat OF Republican candidates as
remedy for the evil There Is, however
one circumstance under which the exer
else of this right may be objected to, ant
| that is when by its exercise the nationa
ineificiency Of the Republican organiza
| ton should be seriously impaired and it
national ends endangered-these ends be
ing at the present moment Of paramount
| lnI:,ortance.
These are the views [ bold and hav,
expressed whenever there was occasion
| for it. 1t would however be vain to den,
that there are good many radical Ger
mans whom any attempt Of the Republi
can party to inhict upon the communit,
arbitrary legislation encroaching upon in
| iividual rights in an illegitimate way
would induce them to sever their connec
tion with the Republican organization
regardless of consequences. Things hav'
been done here and there which have al
| ready gone far to effect this result
From all sides we receive sets of resolu
ton against the prohibitory law and sim
liar things, passed at German Republi
can meetings The Germans heve takel
the alarm quite generally, and it will no
require much to produce a serious breal
in their ranks. Its best that our Amer
lean friends should know this, and if
tell you so you may believe me, that
Judge FROM a full knowledge Of the facts
and that | look at things coolly and with
out the least desire to exaggerate to my
self or to you the danger