The Portland daily press., 1872-07-23
Liberal Meeting i'm st. Louis.
Letter from Horace Greeley ON the Civil
Service-Not Much Encouragement for
Once Seckers--Outline Of Senator
Schurz's Speech.

Letter from Horace Greeley ON the. Civil
service-Not Much Encouragement for
once Seckers.--OutIine Of Senator
Schurz's Speech.
ST. LOUIS, July %. At the Liberal Republi-
can meeting at the Temple tonight called for
the purpose of electing county executive COM
mittee Senator Schurz delivered very lengthy
and elaborate address, of which the following
is an outline.
''When 1 was honored with seat in the SEN
ate of the United States 1 expected to support
the administration which theu came into DOW
er. The tasks which it was called to perform
were of unusual Importance. The civil war
was over. Its logical results were the abolition
of slavery and the organization of free labor
society in the South, were just being reduced
to political form md imbedded in the cOnsti-
stitution of the republic The first great object
of our policy should have been to re-national-
ize the South; to revive among the Southern
people feeling calculated to attach their hearts
again to the fortunes of the Union. For let us
not indulgein the deluson that the holding to-
gether by force of its component parts is a basis
upon which a republic can safely rest or long
endure. 1t requires bond which binds to-
gether the hearts of the people and not their
bodies only. To create that bond was for us
the highest object of craftsmanship
He then referred in detail to the different
acts of the administration party going over the
BTOuuu lTdNcIScu Ny uluoCh anu otLCAo III VIC
Senate.
In regard Ito the San Domingo matter he
made the following Standardization the San
Domingo scheme was pending two gentlemen
in intimate relations with the White House
came to me, each one separately soliciting my
support of the project. They assured me that
if / would give that support or abstain from op-
position, all the patronage desired would be at
my disposal, making in me in that respect one
of the most influential men in the land. One
of these gentlemen subsequently admitted to
me in writing that the offer was made with the
consent of the President himself He said he
had withheld this statement a long time in
spite of many prOvocations and made it now
only because as the papers have recently stated
the President himself put forth the assertion in
published interview that he (Schurz) had OPP
posed him because he had not received as much
patronage as he wanted.
He then dwelt upon the abuses of patronage
and the evils of the civil service, stating that
there never was a time when the latter was
more like thoroughly drilled and disciplined
organization of political agents.. or when the
public interest was more shamefullg Overruled
by political exigency,
Referring to President Grant, he said-I
should prefer not to speak of him; did he not
stand as the embodiment and personfcatiOn of
the perniciOus system which derives from his
individuality its peculiar character. Gratitude
for his military services and respect for his Of
flee have long restrained many from expressing
their real opinions concerning him. l shall be
last man 10 carp at the great services he mas
rendered the field of war. The honors he has
won and the laurels he has gathered shall not
be touched. But now he is a civil officer and
he asks the United States to continue him at the
head of the civil government of this republic
With this question his laurels have nothing to
do
When he assembled the Presidential chair it
may be said the whole people surround ed him
with cordial offers of confidence and willing aid
in all he might do to give the country good
Thara yxacp No q ctafa or, in no
republic who would not have been ready,-nay,
proud to serve him at his call He might have
reinforced his supporters from the ranks of OPP
position. Accidental mistakes would have
been readily forgiven, the evidence of pure mo-
tives and honest efforts would have easily 81
fenced factious clamor, but his career as q
President warrants the conclusion that he has
never been able fully to appreciate the differ
ence between military command and the
complx duties and responsibilities of civil adj
ministration. doubt whether it has ever be-
come quite clear to his mind what the Presi-
dency means in our system of government.
When that high office was presentedsto him
he took it as a sort of national reward-a place
in which after his military exploits he might
make himself comfortable. His mind seems
to have been but little disturbed by the great
duties and perplexing problems he was to take
in hand. 1t was soon discovered that for his flu
ture success he need organized partizan sup
port. 1t was easily had The required ALI
ances formed themselves by natural gravitation.
Soon we found him surrounded by political
managers, the Camerons, the Chambers the
Mortons the Conklngs, the Buffers, ready to
do his work if he would do theirs. 1t was a
matter of congeniality then that peculiar party
despotism grew up which ostracized everybody
who refused to obey its commands. 1t gave
birth to a new sort of party orthodoxy, whose
first tenet was that President Grant must be re-
elected. Opposition to Grant constituted high
treason against the party, for which there was
10 party.
The Senator dwelt on this scheme at great
length using the strongest and severest langu-
age that has yet been aimed at the President,
and his supporters. After referring to the
Presidents nepOtSm, his appointment of Tom
Murphy and his personal pleasure which was
such that we hear from time to time that the
| Administration is out of town.
| The Senator added, 81 will not wrong Presi-
| dent Grant He is by no means monster of
| iniquity. He is simply man who makes use
of high official position to suit his convenience
| regardless of other interests. He does not sit
| in his closet designing usurper gloomily pom
| dering how he may subvert the free institutions
of the republic, neither does he ponder how he
may preserve them. He does not ponder at all.
| He simply wants to carry point and when, as
| in the San Domingo case the Constitution hap
| pened to stand in his way, he just walks over
| it. He does not mean to break down the au-
thority of the laws. He simply wants them not
to hamper him in his doings. "
| He does not mean to systematic ally outrage
| the public sense of decency by nepotism, and
| by low associations to corrupt the service and
| to degrade our political life. He only wants to
make his relatives and fayorites comfortable;
| to associate with men who are congenial and
| to take the best care of his interests. He
is not incapable of occasionally doing a
| good thing. He prefers good appointment to
a bad one other things being equal. He I'M
doubtedly desires that affairs should go well in
Guided. Such is the character of his personal
government We should be doing it too much
honor to call it C9sarism. 1t is not inspired
by any grand, lofty, and lorgheaded ambition.
1t is absolutely barren Of ideas and originality,
bare Of striking achievements, of noble senti-
ments and inspiring example 1t is simply
dull, heavy, stupid and stubborn in it's selfish
| ness.
Mr. Schurz proceeded to speak of the Cincin-
natl Convention asa necessity, and thought its
action had caused disappointment. 1t had ex-
| ceeded the expectations of its Originators.
Mr.. Schurz during his speech read the follow
ing correspondence:
ST. LOUIS, June 26, 1872.
Dear Sir:-In your letter of acceptance you
promise thorough reform of civil service in
general terms, and the question how the prob
lem of civil service reform presents itself to
your mind is one of great interest," and would
suggest if it be consistent with your views of
propriety that you give such explanations as
will put your intentions in this respect in q
Q. ScHuRz.
The following Is Mr., Greeley's reply.
. NEW YORK, July 8, 1872
My Dear Sir:--Yours of the 26th ult, only
reached three days ago. l respond as promptly
as may. H.e- --..
The problem of civil seryicc3 reform is rem
nered difficult by an amiance between the Exec
utve and Legislative branches on our federal
government. Those members of Congress who
taYop the administration, habitually claim and
are accorded virtual monopoly of the federal
offices in their respective States or districts,
debating appointments and removals as inter-
est or caprice may suggest. The President ap-
points at their bidding. They legislate in sub
servience to his will, and often in opposition to
to their own convictions. Unless all history is
unmeaning, this confusion of Executive and