Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-23
Speech Of Senator Schurz.

St. Louis, %. At tn. liberal republican
meeting at the Temple tonight, called for the
purpose of electing county executive com
mittee, Senator Schurz delivered a lengthy
and elaborate address, of which the following
is outline
Mr.. Schurz said standing before my
constituents deem it my duty to give an ac-
count of my public conduct, the motives
which have governed il, and the ends ii is
intend.d to subserve.
| can do this in no better way than by ex-
pressing fully and frankly my views on the
events which have produced the present ex-
traordnary situation of our public national
affairs, events in which took small part,
and also to state what consider it my duty
as patriotic citizen to do, in order to pro-
mote the best interests Of the republic. 1t
has been my misfortune to displease many
with whom co-operated in the political field
| for many years, and from whom l find my
| self with great regret separated. To the at
| tacks with which some OF them endeavor to
overwhelm me have but one answer. He
then reiterated what he has previously said
| about never con sidering his party the SUI
| IRENE arbiter of his sense of duty. lie then
| said:
! When | was honored with a seat in the
Senate of the United States, expected to
! support the administration which then came
into power. The tasks it was called to per-
form were of unusual Importance. The civil
war was over. Its logical results, the aboli-
ton Of slavery and the organization of free
| ,bor society in the South we're just being re-
duced to political form and Undecided in the
constitution Of the republic. The first great
object of our policy should have been to re-
| nalionalize the South, to revive among the
Southern people feeling calculated to at
tach their hearts again to the fortunes of this
Union, for let US not indulge In the delusion
that the holding together by force of its CON-
ponent parts is a basis upon which a republic
can safely rest or long endure. 1t requires
a bond which binds together the hearts of the
people and not their bodies only. To create
that bond was for us the highest object of
| tatesmanship.
Referring to President Grant. he said, ~
should prefer not to speak of him, did he not
stand as the embodiment and personification
| of the pernitous system which derives from
his individuality its peculiar character. Graf
| ltude for his military services and respect for
| his Office, have long restrained many from ex-
pressing their real opinions concerning him.
l shall be the last man to forget or to carp at
| the great services he has rendered in the field
Of war, the honors he has won. and the lau-
rels he has gathered shall not be touched.
But now he is 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 surrounded him
with cordial offers of confidence and willing
aid in all that he might do to give the coun-
try good government. There was not States
man in the 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 opposition. Accidental mis-
| takes would have been readily forgiven; the
evidence Of pure motives and honest efforts
would have easily silenced factious clamor
But his career as President warrants the
conclusion that he has never been able fully
to appreciate the difference between mill
tary command and the complex duties and
! responsibilities of civil administration. |
doubt whether it has ever become quite clear
| to his mind what the Presidency means in our
system of government. When that high office
was presented to him he took it as sort of
national ward, place in which after his mil
itary exploits he might make himself COM
Portable. His mind seems to have been but
little disturbed by the great duties and per-
picking problems he was to take in hand.
1t was soon discovered that for his future sue
cess he needed organized partisan support.
Soon We found him surrounded by political
managers, the Camerons, the Chambers, the
Mortons, the Conklins, the Buffers, ready to
do his work, if he would do theirs. 1t was
matter of congeniality. The interests of the
President and Of such political chieftains
identified themselves without difficulty, he
aiding them with executive influence in con-
trolling their States for themselves, and they
giving their aid in controlling their party for
him-one hand was washed by the other. This
was gradually developed into a system, all
| h..tp
that of Gov. Clayton in Arkansas. Then
that faction party despotism grew up, ostra-
cised everybody who refused to obey in its
commands. 1t gave birth to new sort of
party orthodoxy. whose first tenet was that
President Grant must be re- elected. Oppose
ton to Grant constituted high treason against
the party, for which there was no panty.
The Senator dwelt on this theme at great
length, using the strongest and severest
language that has yet been aimed at the
President and his supporters.
After referring to the Presidents nepotism,
his appointment of Tom Murphy, and his
personal pleasure, which was such that we
hear from time to time that the administra-
ton is out of town, and he (the speaker) had
actually seen foreign ministers in the Capitol
of the nation looking for the Government of
the United States, as a lost child or horse
strayed GA stolen, the Senator added: will
not wrong President Grant He is by no
means a monster of iniqaity; he is simply
man who makes use of high Off ;ial position
to suit his own convenience, regardless of
other interests. He does not sit in his closet
a designing usurper, glooDily ponderng how
he NAV subyert the free institutions OF the re-
public; neither does he ponder how he may
preserve them. He does not ponder at all.
lie simply wants to carry point, and when,
as in the San Domingo case the Constitution
happens to stand in his way he just walks
over it.
St. Louis, %. The following correspond
ence was read by Senator Schurz in his
speech 10 night: -
st. Louis, Mo-, June 80.
Dear In your let or of acceptance
you promise thorough reform of civil SER
vice in general terms. The question how
the problems of civil service reform pre- sents
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 a clear light.
Yours truly,
| (Signed) CARL SoHURz.
The r,lloxy;nU ;a Ne Graalavts ,o,Iv.