New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-25

theless be easily uprooted by mischievous
children before they have grown sufficiently
strong. Every Republican and every Demo-
crat knows what the fifteenth amendment and
the Civil Rights Bill-incomplete as it is
without Mr.. Summers supplement-would be
worth under Democratic government. ku-
Kluxism, now subdued and filled with a
wholesome terror, would practically dispose
of them with perfect impunity, and obtain a
new lease of life, since not only every Demo-
crat, but also every Liberal Republican in
Congress recorded his vote against the meas
ures for their suppression.
There is another point in which the inhe-
rent weakness of Liberal Republicanism
becomes evident, and which the careful
reader, VINO peruses Mr.. Schurz's speech,
untouched by the particular magnetic power
of the speaker, will easily detect. The
charges against the President and his sup
porters are certainly distinct enough, but
when it is question clearly to define the
issues embodied by the new party that is to
sweep the country, the line of policy by
which it is to be governed, there is very little
substance to prOdigious amount of glitter
ing generalities and sophisms. As matter
of course, amnesty, civil service reform, and
honesty are dwelt upon, but as to the rest
Mr.. Schurz observes diplomatic silence,
and his speech is quite as remarkable for
that which is left obscure as for that which
is said. One is reminded of Talleyrand's
definition of language, that sit has been
given to man for the purpose of concealing
his thoughts" This reserve is rendered
necessary by the fact that the Cincinnati
movement, although professedly emphatically
Republican, is largely and essentially de-
pending on the support of the Democrats,
whose sensibilities and prejudices must ac-
cordingly be spared by all means. On the
other side it is evident that all the deluded
Republicans who thus far have followed the
Liberal Republicans in good faith would per-
ceive their mistake and desert them if there
were any unequivocal manifestation Of anti
Republicanism. Mr.. Schurz, we admit, man
ages admirably to steer between the Demo-
cratic Scylla and Republican Charybdis, yet
the vulnerable point remains perceptible in
spite of the most brilliant efforts.
We do not mean, however, to belittle the
successes of our enemies, and consequently
do not hesitate to state that Mr.. Schurz
seems to exercise an almost absolute control
over large masses of the Germans--nOt
merely over those who borrow their opinions
from others, but even over men who thus far
have been looked upon as leaders among
their countrymen. We were painfully sur
prised to find among the signers of the Gin
cinnati call the names of E. KrackOwizer,
Sigismunet Kaufman, and others, who here
tofore have rendered much valuable SER
vice to the Republican cause, and they are
Joined by men not less honorable and WELL
ntentioned in the Western States. 1t does
not follow at all that the Germans mean to
desert the cause which thus far they have so
nobly served; it rather seems that they only
err in confounding the cause with the men,
on whom they look as its representatives.
For many years Mr.. Schurz was identified
with the Republican party, and his record,
until the fall of 1870, was such that the Ger
ulstuS Couiu justly uC PiOltu VI It'll do d iCouCi
and representative, and it is quite cOnceiv-
able how, after trusting him so long, they
should be unwilling to believe in his defec-
ton, and will continue to cling to him not
withstanding. Moreover, the clamOr for am
nesty is admirably devised to take with the
masses of the Germans, who see in it sOme-
thing very different from what it is with us.
To the European accustomed to monarchical
oppression, amnesty means release from
horrid dungeons, from forced labor in chain
gangs and hulks, from OdiOus surveillance ;
it means return from exile, and he can hardly
realize that those for whom it is now so
vehemently urged are already enjoying all
the rights and benefits of other citizens, save
the one which, in our opinion, ought to be
the privilege of loyalty. Without assuming
to predict how far alienation will spread
among the Germans, we cannot conceal to
ourselves that if it should come to split
the result at all events will be one seriously
to be deplored, even if powerless to affect
the final triumph of the Republican party.