The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-04
MONDAY EVENING, DEC. A, 1871.
CARL scHURz AND THE . WORLD.

Carl. SCHURZ AND THE " WORLD"
We have no desire to place the name OF
the Missouri Senator any more prominently
before the country than he is disposed to
place it himself. His ambition is lofty
enough, and eager of advancement enough,
to dispense with all effort on our part at
giving him any additional "boost" up the
ladder. But the New York World has
come to the rescue of the distinguished
Senator, on point vital to his further po-
litical advancement; and, as faithful
chronicler of the principal events OF the
times. we notice it as evidence of what IS |
transpiring.
The World has discovered a piece of
musty old parchment, known as the twelfth
amendment of the constitution, adopted IN
1904, which disqualifies the distinguished
Senator of Missouri for higher office than
Senator of the United States and, as Mr..
Schurz, by his prominence in the public
eye, stands out "to symbolic all our fell
low-citizens of alien nativity" the World
wants this qualification removed.
The aforesaid parchment, to which the
World takes exception, is this: mo per-
son, except natural-born citizen, OF a cti-
zen of the United States at the time Of the
adoption of this constitution, shall be eligi-
Bile to the Office of President" rl 8.
This clause, according to the World, was
all proper enough at the time of its adop-
ton. 1t grew out of the reactionary efforts
of those more bitterly opposed to mon
archism than are the people of Mr.. Carl
Schurz's time. The original purpose was
ito protect elective self-government against
absolutistic rule" and to effectually shut
out all such intriguers as the monarchlal
governments Of Europe might send
here to plot against the life Of re-
publics. What was then eminently wise
and judicious as measure of protec-
ton against rnonarchism is now manifestly
unnecessary, for the reason that monarch
ism has become etiete, and repubcansm
more vigorous and active than ever. We
were then too weak to allow the eligibility
of foreign-born citizen, but now we are
strong enough not to fear it; and, hence,
the desirablcness Of change in the consti-
tuition to enable the Hon. Carl Sch,rz to
crafty the highest ambition of which he is
capable. In view of the eminent services
he has rendered, and is still rendering, the
Democratic party of the country, the duty
devolves upon them to remove this restrc-
ton upon his eligibility, and give him
chance with other Americans to stride into
that consummate place of honor and
power, the Presidency of the United
States! .tja
We confess our inability to see the force
of the World's reasoning. There never has
been time in the history of the country
when there was greater danger to our in
stitutions from foreign intrigue than now.
We NAV not see it in the drift of foreign
politics or the more subtle and crafty ten
dency of European courts, but the religious
atmosphere of the world is charged with 1t,
and ecclesiastical domination often fore
shadows as much intrigue at court as
the craftiest of State diplomacy. In fact,
the widest diplomats of the world, as well
as the most dangerous to liberty, have been
those who have snatched their scepters Of
influence from the church rather than the
State. The New York World will hardly
say that our danger in this direction, or
from this source Of influence, is not rs great
now as it ever was. What it says on this
head. therefore, should be received as Of
little weight in determining the question il
discusses. a6st,frf
It is hardly complimentary to the genius
and craftsmanship of americans to suggest
this change in the constitution of Che Uni
ted States in connection with the name Of
any foreign-born citizen. If Carl Schur2
80 transcendantly exceeds all other states,
men in the country as to make this change
in the constitution necessary, then
let it be made. But let the
American people at large demand the
change, and be the judges of the transcen-
dant abilitiec of the gentleman in question,
without any manufacturing, Of opinion il
the New York World, orby any mutua
admiration society in or about St. Louis
No one man in the country should have SC
''got the start Of the majestic Worl8" as
to make this superlatively absurd demand
necessary. Even the mighty Cesar" au.
gastly stalking along the Lupercal, could
not extort greater tribute from his irienc
Anthony, than is paid the Missouri Senator
by this ineifable fluukeyisn of the World
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