The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-03-07
From the New York Herald, Of Feb, p.
The seBste Debate-A Sharp Criticism
EsN " ofschaFE.

From the New York Herald, Of Feb, q.
The seBste Debate-A Sharp Criticism
tsV y 0fEcharz.
The demagogues can always attract
anFaudience- in Washington there
fore this singular gathering was only
what the Senate witnesses when there
is to be q sharp debate. Mr.. Schurz
is master Of speech. His style is
keen and logical, although there Is a
poverty in his rhetoric, and especially
his coloring, which Is not unusual TO
8 man who speaks 8 strange tongue.
The speech Of the Senator was mark
ed with taste. There was q logical
discipline in his phrases which salts
fies the scholarly taste; but II was q
pied q false position in tWo-fold
sense. Claiming to be Republican,
holding an Office by the suffrage Of
Republican State, and owing TO that
party manifold and distinguished hon.
ors far beyond that Of any young man
ii the party, he has announced that,
in the event Of the nomination oi
Gen. Grant BY the Republican Con-
vention, be viii not support the nom
ination. Now, we care nothing about
the Repubhcan OF any other party,
and we should support Gen. Grant
should he prove to Be as worthy as we
have found him, no matter what par
ty nominated him. But there is 3
law o. honor ia politics as in every
thing else, and BY this law Mr.. SchurZ
Is open to the suspicion ofDeing dis
honored man. BE says TO the Repub.
ncan party virtually, 81 remain with
you to destroy you / sit in your eau
Gus that ] msy act efficiently with
the enemy; / make Republican
speeches as Democratic campaign
documents, because in that way they
are more efficient. Were I to 60 over
to the Democrats and wear their uni
form, I should become as helpless as
Dixon, Of Connecticut, or DOolittle, OF
Frank Blair, or poor old Andrew
Johnson, out in the political desola-
ton Of Tennessee. / would be eclipS-
ed, as they are eclipsed, by Thurman,
and Cesserly and Bsyand. Then, IL
enlisted ia that party, I could not
make terms with it.sSaWhen the
Hessians and Swiss merceraries took
their money and fell into line they
were ordinary soldiers after all. II
is surprising to US that Mr.. Schurz
should willingly occupy q position
which no honorable member Of q par
ty can hold. It Is still more surpris.
ing that the Watery-minded leaders o.
the administration party should for 9
moment permit if.
This Is s grave offelse in q polite
a view However, the conscience OF
politicians is an easy and yielding in
fiuence, and the accepted ethics OF
party organizations are not always
marked by an exalted sense Of propri-
ETY.. But Mr. Sehurz has committed
a still graver offence. He is 8 Sena-
tor Of the United States, and whatev-
er honorable enthusiasm and affection
be msy entertain toward his father
land, his oath Of citizenship, as well
as his oath Of Office, c0mpels him to
make every feeling subordinate to
his allegiance. There is nothing
which IN an independent sovereign
State views with more concern than
Illicit communications between its
citizens and subjects and any foreign
power. When citizen Genet came to
the United States, as the Minister Of
the French Republic and endeavored
to array the public sentiment of the
country against Washington, because
Of what the impatient Frenehman
regarded IS Washington's lukewarn-
ness toward the new republic, he was
promptly suppressed, although the
political effect Of that proceeding was
as hazardous in its way as Gen. Grants
onense against the mysterious ogre
called the German vote. The coun-
try was enthusiastic in its friendship
for France, and popular sympathy
was extravagantlyin in favor of the new
but when the French envoy
to invade the dignity of
the executive Ofice the republic was
as one man against him. There is no
name more Infamous in our politics
than that Of Aaron Burr. His serv-
ices In the revolution, his skill in
politics, his extraordinary genius and
requirements, his confessed superior
ity as q statesman and a jurist, did
not save him from fate so terrible
that Il Is mournfuI even in its Just
severity. Aaron Burr was certainly
the intellectual peer of Mr.. Schurz OF
even Mr.. Sumner, and at one time
stood as high In the esteem Of the
people. He criticised Gen. Wash
ington, rs these eminent Senators
have criticised Grant, as adulI, heavy,
mediocre soldier and the center Of q
ring, as grasping as any ring
thai has surrounded the present ad-
ministration. He went further In his
for those were fighting
days, and accompanied the head Of
this rim to Weehawken one morn
ing, and shot him through the body.
The unpardonable political ofense of
Aaron Burr was that he allowed him
self 70 enter into illicit relations with |
; foreign power, to take part in in
.rigues that menaced The national !
1iguity. Now, we shall not do these
Senators the discsurtesy of compsr-
ng them with Aaron Burr. but his /
ife furnishes an admonition which |
hey, Of all men should remember.
q this preamble and resolution and |
he consequent discussion mean anv-
hing, It Is that Senators Of the JJ1i- /
ed states have been holding Illicit
dealings with the Representatives of
orelgn power to the injury of the
United States. Mr.. Sehurz eonfases 1
hat In preparing his case he tooE |
counsel Of the Marquis de Cham brnno |
70 sttachee Of the French legation.
Why Gid he seek his counsel &? 1t was
Q prove that our government had /
Violated its neutral oblieations to |
Germany TO embron Us IN diplo- /
natlc dlfne1ty with that power. and l
% prejudice our case with the trib,I-
lal st 9eneva, by showing that we
Iinned as gravely against Gerranv
IS England sinned against us in AZ
lime OF the rebellion. " '-
We make these avermants =, a.
authority of Mr.. Schurz himeeIf ',a %
In his speech in the Sabate
The offense which H.
committed is not unknown to on~
avs. In the Fifth Congress, Ciurino
he presidency of Mr.. Adams, the eis
ler, q statute was passed expressly
any citizens to hold CORE
pondence with any foreign govern
nents or its agent, with an intent to
the measures OF that gov
.rnment IN relation to disputes with /
ne United States, or intended to de- |
eat the measures of the United States.
ms is made high misdemeanor,
nd the penalty is set down as a fine /
lot exceeding five thousand dollars
md Imprisonment for a term NOT less
han SIX months or more than three
7ears. Now, we do not know wbetb-
7 this statute has been violated bv
dr. Sumner or Mr.. Schurz. Thai
must be determined by those skilled
q law and the construction of sfaf-
ties. There is one member in Co..
sress now under conviction at wash.
ngt0n, and about 10 be sentenced for
he violation Of a statute no les hind.
ng than that Of 1877. We should he
srieved to see Mr.. Sumner or MI
5churz in the dock with ex-C,onOres-
nan Stokes, Of Tennessee, and We
hall be glad to hear that the Doint
made by Mr.. COnkIing, that thev
nay have subjected themselves Ia
his punishment, is unfounded buf
be fact that the suspicion Of its yio-
alton lles been aroused, and Justly
reused, shows to what desperate
traits impatient and angry dema-
oouar NAV ha Trfuor1 rrvI,s1, IT, -