New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-30
"PO0r Carl Schurz.',

We were present at the Cincinnati Con
yention throughout its proceedings, and wit
messed the cruel treatment of Carl Schurz by
the friends of Mr.. Greeley, who seemed de-
termined from the moment of his arrival tt
humble and humllate him. When he made
his appearance upon the stage they Joined
in cheer upon cheer, and nearly turned tho
| poor mans head with the idea that the con
vention was no convention without Car
Schurz, greeting him as the grand leader Of
the movement, whose viii would be law tC
all his humble followers. He was called
upon to speak, but declined, with few words
of thanks, telling them that he had "some-
thing to say" but that the proper time had
not yet arrived for saying it. That cunning
fox, Alexander Mcclure, whose whole life
has been devoted to the business of packing,
running, working, and man9uvering political
conventions, at once saw in Mr.. Schurz the
most dangerous opponent he had to contend
with. 1t was known that he had come in
the interest of Mr.. Trumbull, and that the
something he had to say" was carefully
prepared speech in advocacy of that gentle
mans claims to the nomination of the con-
vention. Knowing the aspiring vanity and
ambition of the man, Mcclure Immediately
passed around word to the various delegates
that to Mr.. Schurz ought to be rendered the
vention that owed its existence mainly to his
eloquence and patriotic devotion to the great
reform movement. 1t was rendered to him
and he innOcently accepted it, and was thus
taken from the floor of the convention. This
is an old trick, known to every ward and
local politician in the country as an expedi-
ent often resorted to for putting out of the
way a dangerous opponent. That Mr.. Schurz,
who thinks he knows everything and little
more, should have blindly walked into the trap
so cunningly set for him, seemed strange to the
lookers-on, but from that moment he found
his hands virtually tied and his influence
gone. AS a presiding officer he was mis-
cradle failure, and for three long DAYS he
stood before the delegates in the worst pos
sible light that his opponents could desire.
He entered the convention like conuuerinC
hero, with the band playing "Hail to the
Chief" and he heft it crestfallen, bewildered,
humbled, dispirited, and almost heart-broken
AS he passed to his carriage on the eve of the
adjournment he appeared like sick man
just about to take his first airing, and had to
be assisted to enter it. He had truly fallen
into the hands of the Philistines, and had
seen all his bright hopes vanish into thin air
under the skillful manipulation of the Nc
Clurc's, Wentworth's, Cochrane's, and other
distinguished ring masters. To humble Schurz
appeared to be one of the main objects of
their going to Cincinnati, and to the last
moment they showed no remorse or sympa-
thy for his sufferings. The most inveterate
advocates of General Grant could not have
evinced so much cruelty and vindictiveness.
Just at the close of the convention they tried
to compel him to make speech indOrsing
Greeley and Brown, and to the last moment
of his official existence prosecuted him with
renewed vigor. In almost fainting condi-
ton, from disgust and disappointment, he
uttered few words, non-committal as to
himself, and hastily adjourned the Conven-
ton sine die.
The Convention had scarcely adjourned
before the German editors in attendance,
representing thirty of the leading papers of
the country, held an indignation meeting,
unanimously repudiating the nomination, and
dubbed Mr.. Greeley rs "der gyossmute1'--
the grandmother. They could afford to be
independent and say what they felt and
thought, but Mr.. Schurz had cut himself off
from all connection with the Republican
party, and was left with no option except to
submit, or go over to the Democratic party
and fight for new nomination. He had no.
where else to go to, and as his cunning mas
tiers at Cincinnati well knew, he must, as he
has, ultimately come to the support of I" der
grossmmter." Poor Schurz has shown him.
self to be gifted with language, but most def
cient as q managing politician. He is now
forced to swallow the nauseOus dose placed
to his lips, whilst the German editors, whom
he boosted that he carried in his pocket,
refuse to accept Greeley even ito beat
Grant. "-BaHimore American.