The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-07
Speech or Carl sohurz.

oer r"an, Oarl SchurZ, delivered before tho
cincinnati Convention, upon his being elected
permanent President. 1t ia repete with that
eioquence. power and high patriotic tone that
characterize all the oratorical Efforts OF this
| greatest OF Americas adopted sons:
Nobody can survey this vast and enthusi
sslio assembly. gathered from all parts OF the
rePuono, without an emotion OF astonishmont
and nope. Astonishruent considering tho
sepontaniety OF the impulse which has brought
IL toeether, and hope. considering the great
purposo n ,so,I ior which Il has met. The republic
may we'll congratulate itself upon the fact
that such meetinS was possible. Look at
tho circumstances from which it has eprunp.
We M saw the American people just issued from
great ana successful struggle, an in the
full pride OF their national strength threat.
ened with new evils and dangers OF an in
sidious nature, and the masses Of the popu-
istlon apparently not aware Of them. We
unusual audacity by the opportunities OF a
Protraoted civil war, invading the public
service OF the Government. az we'll as almost
al! movements OF the social body; and we
saw public opinion most doplora6ly lenient
In its Judgment OF public and private dis
honesty. We SAW the Government indulging
In wanton disregard OF the laws Of the land,
ana resorting to daring assumptions Of un.
constitutional power; and We saw the people,
apparently, at least. acquescing with reck,
iess ievlty in transgressions threatening tho
very lie OF our free institutions. We saw
tnose In authority with tyrannical insolonce
thrust the hard OF power through the vast
machinery 1.-THE public servce into local and
private all airs; and we saw the innumerable q
mass OF their adherents accrpt thoso en-
croac-nitnts upon their inderendcnce with
ONT protest or resentment. We SAW men In
tnc highest places OF the republic employ
their power aud opportunities for selfish at-
vantage, thus stimulating the demorlization
vi our p,h,iGal iI!c by their conspicuous OK
ample, and the loud chorus OF PARTISAN syco-
phancy drown the voice OF honest criticism.
we saw part OK our common country. which
had been convuised by Il disastrous rebellion
inost gTleVou'ly suueriug from consequences
OF civil war; and we saw Tho naughty spirit
In power refusing to lift up those who had
gone astray aud were now SUFFERING, by a
Pohoy OF generous Cancellation and states
manshlp of common sense. Wo observe this,
aud at the same time the reckless and greedy
party spirit, in the name OF tho great orpani-
zation crowned with laurols and glorious
ACHE vements, striving to palliato or justify
tnese wr' ngs and abuses; to stifle the moral
sense OF tho people, and to drive them. by a
tyranhlcai party discipline, not only to cub
NIT to this for the present, but to pcrpctuate
1t, so that the political power Of tile country
might be preserved in tho hands OF those
who possessed it. He who calmly and i'm.
partially surveyed this spectacle could not
fail to be deeply alarmed, not only at tho
wrongs that had been and we're being pcrpe-
spirit which did not ri.o up against them.
The question might we'll have been asked.
Have the American people become so utterly
indifferent to their t:ue interests. to their ma
tl0nal harmony, to the purity OF their politi-
cal lifc, to the integrity of their free institu.
lions, to the very honor Of the American
namo, that they should peru.it themselves to
be driven like a flock OF sheep by those who
assume to lord 1t over them? That question
has now fouud an answer. No! the yirtne
tho spirit OF independence, the love of liberty.
the Republican pride OF the American peopIe
are are not dead yet. Nor do they mean to let
InN slIn md bat -
tones by the convention Of American freemen
here assembled. Indeed, those who mon tbs
ago first raised their voices, did so with an
abiding faith that these appeals could not re-
main witnout response. But the volume of
that response has now far excocded tho untici-
pahions and the crust OF narrow prtjudiccs of
selfish partisanship, which but ycstcrday
scent q l" stop every free pusation OF the
triotic citizen rises above the partisan: We
begin to breathe again as frcemen: We dare
again to call things by their right names: we
have once more tho courage to break through
the deceptions with which the popular mind
has beon beIogged; we feel once more ii1ni
our convictions Of right and wrong arc our
own, and that our votes bolong to the coun-
try, and thus we detiantly set our sense Of
dutv against the arrogance OF a pOwcr like
the bug blast OF doons.day. The summons
is resounding in tho North and South and
East and West. The conscience CT the peo-
pie, which seemed dead, has arisen from
o'St Poihe VI Cuc COmpdbb, THO nOStB arc
tiocking together. and here wo arc. Let me
hope, aye do hope, with fearless determine
ton to do our whole duty to our country. It
would seem to-day as il nothing could with.
stand the movement 40 irresistibly inspiring
Indeed, tho breath OF victory is in the very
air which surrounds us, and that victory will
not escape from our grasp if wo arc true to
our mission. But you must bear in mind, with
mo, that it III this hour of enthusiasm, when
our hearts arc big with proud prescntimcnts
l address to you word OF soberncss.
We have grand opportunity before US
grand and full u PROMISE. Wo can crush
corruption in our public concerns; VIC can
give the republic pure and honest govern.
mont; we can revive the authority of the
laws; wo can restore full vigor to tho consti-
tutional safeguards OF our liberties; we can
infusc higher moral spirit into our political
life; we can re-animats in tho hearts of the
whole people, in every section OF the land. n
fraternal and proud national feeling. We can
DO all this, but VIC can do it only II, by throw
ing behind us the selfish spirit OF political
trash, We obey the purest and loftie-t inspira-
tion of the popular uprising which sent up
here. great opportunity it is-Srcat as the
noblest ambition might desire; bnt equally
great, nay, to my mind, fearful is tho rcs pom
slbisity 1t brings with it. An opportunity like
this ID momentous period in the history Of
nation An uprising OF the people sucG az
we behold will not occur every day nor every
year. for it must spring from the spontane-
GUS impulse OF the popular mind. If you