New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-25
The Liberal Republican Meeting
in New York.

The meeting of the Liberal Republicans on
the 10Th, at New York, in the Cooper Insti-
tute claims particular notice, as the first pub
lie demonstration in that city, of the Repub-
lcan-D Democratic coalition, and since Messrs.
Schurz and Trumbull, the orignatOrs of the
movement, were the speakers, we may well
say that all the strength and weakness of
Liberal Republicanism itself, as well as of its
leaders, were embodied in the occasion. Mr..
Trumbull's is lawyers speech; very dry
and unsympathetic, but concise and logical,
full of plausible demonstrations and distor-
tons. Mr.. Schurz's, on the contrary, is as
brilliant, as fascinating, and eloquent an eff
fort as ever emanated from him, and marvel
Ously adapted to convince any one who has
to look for guidance, in order to form his
opinions about politics. Indeed, if we judge
it merely as work of art, we have to pro-
nounce it masterpiece, from beginning to
end, mexceptionable in form and style, and
in its courteous tone towards the attacked
party. 1t is only the transparent bad faith,
the faithlessness to the fundamental princi-
pies OF the Republican party, the sophistry
needed to cover up the treachery, and the
bold distortions of truth which evince the
weakness Of the speaker, not SO much as that
of the cause. The virtuOus Indignation with
which Mr.. SchurZ denOunces the ruling party
for delaying universal amnesty, is truly amaz-
ing in view of the fact still fresh in the menu
DRY of the whole people, that only few weeks
ago that very measure was defeated solely by
the combined opposition of its Jealous advo-
Gates, the Democrats and Liberal Republicans
If Messrs. Wilson, Conkling, Morton, or some
Others of the sO-called Administration men,
had voted against it, there would at least be
preteXt for the accusation, but as the fact
stands, it is an Illustration of the very spirit
of Liberal Republicanism, that needs no COM
ment.
Although less glaringly false, yet equally
insincere and unfounded is Mr.. Schurz's as
sertiOn that the original objects which called
the Republican party into existence, have
been entirely accomplished, that the present
settlement will stand in spite of any attempt
TO overthrow it. This, to be sure, is true as
lar as legislation is concerned, and it is true
In SO Tar that liberty and equality are to rule
this country in the irepressible course OF
progress; yet this certainty by no means ex-
cludes the possibility that they may be tenn
porarily crushed and trampled upon if party
of opposite tendencies should get into power.
The best laws soon become dead letters un-
der the management of party as bitterly
IN, I, I.
to all the great distinctly Republican meas
ures inaugurated since the outbreak of the re-
bellion, all of which were passed in spite oil
their most stubborn resistance. The safe
guards of our liberty and equality are yet like
young trees, which, though full of vitality and
yigor, need for while the fostering care Of
the gardener, until they are firmly rooted in
the ground. Afterwards good for centuries
and proof against any storm, they may never