Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-09-25
The SchurZ Meeting.

a large and most successful meeting and
every one expected to see "bg thing"
from the extensive preparations that had
been going on for two weeks. "Give US a
fine day and We will show you fifteen thou
sand people, all eager listeners to Senator
Schurz,' was the constant assertion of the
Greeley men for several days previous to
the meeting. Well, the weather was all
that could be desired, special trains ran into
the city from all directions, WATERFOWL was
the former home of Senator Schurz, and
he would address in tie state, and in fact
every thing seemed to conspire to make the
demonstration what our democratic friends
fondly anticipated it would be, namely, the
greatest political demonstration of the
present campaign in Wisconsin. But we
leave the Democrats land Liberals to say
themselves how sadly disappointed they
were at that mournful procession of not
more than three: hundred persons which es-
corted the Senator drought the streets to
the speakers stand on the public square,
and at the extreme thlnness of the crowd
he Was called upon to address, not number
ing one more than $500, including women
and children, 1some estimates, even making
the crowd only 1900, ali told.
In the afternoon Senator Schurz spoke for
two hours, and his speech from beginning to
end was a series Of accusations against
President Grant and the administration,
producing nothing new in the usual line OF
Democratic and Liberal argument, and ad-
vancing no new ideas on the political issues
that at present divide the country. He
took great deal OF pains to impress it on
the minds of his hearers that he was still a
Republican, and unlike the vast majority
of those before him. Why he appeared so
anxious on this point puzzled great many.
The amused condition of his auditors was
quite apparent when he came to that por.
portion of his speech in which he DIV cit with
severity on the carpet-bag governments of the
South, while he himself was one Of the
strongest living examples OF carpet-bagism
that could be produced, conceded, pa it is
on all hands, that he 10 the carpet bag Sen
ator.
1t was quite easy to detect his inconsis-
tency in now finding fault with measures
and acts of the Republican party, which he
himself assisted in passing, and for long
time sought to maintain. We have neither
the space nor the inclination to follow the
Senator all through his remarks, but suffice 1t
to say that many other glnring :inconsisten-
cies could be shown had we the time. That
Mr.. Schurz stands high AS an orator admits
of no doubt, and he may very justly be
forcible speakers of his time We think,
style and manner of speaking than he does
to his matter, and in this way is not so
convincing in his speeches as other orators
who lack his finish and style.
Senator Schurz was followed by our for
mer townsmaa, Mr. Rothe, of Cincinnati,
rho spoke in German, for years bitter and
malignant personal and political enemy of
the Missouri Senator, but now engaged
side by side with him in the work OF seek
ing to elect Horace Greeley, whom they
both heartily despise. 1t is worse than a
bloody chasm that Schurz and Rothe now
clasp hands over. We alluds to its odorif-
erousness.
The concluding exercises to the afternoon
meeting were conducted by the redoubtable
George b. Smith, of Madison, who aspires
to thezposition OF Congressman from this dis
trct 1t was left tor him to make new and
startling announcements TO the audi ence,
such AS negro suffrage being q democratic
m -asure, and other kindred assertions But
he soon closed, much to the comfort and
satisfaction Of the few Liberal Republicans
on the ground, who are already getting
ashamed of their own offspring.
The closing events of the demonstration
were held in the evening at Turner Hall
preceded by torchlight procession. A
special train from Milwaukee arrived at
seven o'clock, containing some two hum
dred and fifty Greeley men with uniforms
and torches, which helped toswell the ranks
of The crowd, and put new life and energy
into the proceeding The torch-light par
ade through the streets was the only credi-
table display to the whole affair, and to
this nearly all the available boys in the
city lent their assistance. The Repabli-
cans of this vicinity, however, in 1850, got
up far larger torch.light procession with
out half the exert IN given to the success Of
this one. When the time for speaking ar
rived, Turner Hall was well filled, contain
ing, perhaps, twelve hundred people, and
an outside meeting Wa organized at which
there was not to exceed FIVE hundred listen
ers. Senator Schurz and Mr.. Rothe both
spoke in the Hall in the German language.
1t is the general opinion, we believe. that
in the German lang uage Mr.. Rothe is equal
TO Senator SchurZ as an orator. Their re-
marks seemed to be we'll received, but we
could not avoid thinking what wonders a
short time works occasionally! The i lea of
Schurz and Roths speaking from the same
stage, and one echoing the political seuti-
But the Joke is neither will confess to the
setting aside Of any former principles in
standing where they do to-day advocating
the cause of Horace Greeley. A change has
certainly come over the spirit Of either
crowd outside was feasted with flow OF
ridiculous nonsense from Hon. Geo. B.
Smith aud Judge Mallory of Milwaukee.
We think the democrats of Milwaukee
brought this Mallory along with them out
of some feeling of revenge towards their
brethren in Watertown, for he certainly
cut the most laughab.e figure of any speak
er that ever opened his mouthin this city,
and must have entailed vast amount OF
damage on the cause he pretended to advo-
cate.
We have endeavored as near as possible
to give truthful and candid statement of
this demonstration. That the results attain
ed disappoint the promoters of the affair adj
mts of but little doubt. Neither in num-
bers nor in point of enthusiasm are they
satisfied with the meeting, and the ques-
ton must come home to each one of them
forcihly, does the result indicate any great
degree of zeal in favor of the present
political alliance, or has any evidence of the
great tidal wave been given through the
agencies Of this gathering, which was ex-
pected to eclipse all others during the pres