The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-06
A1ohtifal
Schurz's Speech.
EE DEFINES HIS POSITION and
TELLS WHY HE COULD NOT
ACT LONGER WITH THE
RADICAL LEADERS.

On Tuesday evening Hon, Carl Schurz
was rendered a complimentary dinner in
New York on the eve Of his departure
upon trip to Europe. During its pro-
gress he took occasion to define hispoliti-
cal position and give the reasons why it
became necessary for him to cut loose
from the Radical element of his party,
from which we make the following ex
tractp, After dwelling upon the political
situation up to and at the time of the
close Of the war, Mr., Schurz says:
1t was necessary to return to sound
principles of constitutional government,
which, under the pressure of war neces-
sites, and also without them, had fre.
Suently been lost sight of and the disre-
gard of which was growing into habit
most damaging to free institutions and to
the peace Of the country. 1t was neces-
Eary to repress the spiritof ,pacty, pee.
ulation and corruption which, stimulated
by the opportunities of the war, threat
ened to poison all the channels of power.
Ii was more than ever necessary to re.
form our civil service, which, far from
being the best in the world, was the
source of abuses, absurdities and scan
dals unknown in other civilized coun-
tries, and which, with the growth of the
government machinery, was becoming
more and more dangerous to our institu-
tons and demoralizing to our political
tfe. And finally it WAS imperatively |
necessary to restore to the country a |
sound currency, and to tighten the bur |
dens wei hing upon The people, and pro-
mote the general prosperity Of the coun-
Try by a just and rational system of rev
0nue. That these necessities existed, |
nobody will deny, In fact they were so |
obvious and pre- sing as to suggest them |
selves irresislibly to the mind of every |
patriotic man fondly hoped that the |
Republican party, embodying so large
\ share of the intelligence and patriotism |
Of the country would take these problems |
PesoIutely in hand, and with honest bold
ness, advance to their solution,
But you need not be tod that, in spite
Of fair professions and paomises, every
ene of those problems is sanunsoyed and |
formidable problem to-day, and that in
some respects we have had to deplore
even retrOgrade movements ofan alarm
ing character | thought then, and
think now, that the old stock Of the Re
publican party, and probably large ma
jority Of the rank and file were, and are
to-day, sincerely and heartily in favor Of
the policy of reform | have indicated.
but that they found themselves entan-
gied in the network af an organization,
controlled and handled by a class Of poll.
ticians who considered Disadvantages 0!
power more Important than the good OF
the country, and that thus the Republi-
can organization ceased 10 be the organ
of the best and most patriotic instincts
and impulses of the masses Of the party
Under such circumstances a public man
has to face the question whether he will
become the tool of power or stand up for |,
the best Interests Of the people az he un-
derstands them. When that question
arose /, with other men, whose names
are never mentioned without respect.
made my choice not lightly and hastily,
but reeOutely, and actuated by motives
which | have no reason to be ashamed
of We knew well tIat such a choice !
might involve the throwing oil Of the
Of the party and serious disa
greements with old and valued friends,
That is no pleasant thing, and how bit
Ter il may become only those know who
have gone through the trial. But we
had to 60 through it, believing, as we
did, that parties are uiade for the benefit
of the country, and not the country for
the benefit OF parties. And so we stand
before the country now with the same
principles and programme OF policy, and
! am honestly convinced that those prin
eiples and that programme have the APP
proyal ofa large majority Of Republicans
to-day, and Of he best elements of the
Democracy also
But the more administering rebukes is
not the principal end for which the right
of voting was instituted. The mass of
independent voters can in my opinion |
put their power to better use The indie
pendent voters are no mere adventurers,
their votes for spois of office
They are in The main citizens who want !
to serve their country a cordng to their
best convictions of duty, and are ready,
if needtul, to sacrifice their party allegi-
ance, forever dear TO them, to that duty; |
citizens who have learned from bitter
experience that professions and promises
in platforms are idle winG, unless men
are intrusted with the performance whose
known principles and established char
lcter give full guarantee that they, too,
can resist partisan interest for patriotic
duty, | am convinced that the mass OF
voters animated by such
Impulse are to-day strong enough to give
The victory 70 either purity which they
may deem deserving Of it, and on whose
side they may unite, The independent
vote Is not only TOO salutary, but also
100 great power in this country to frit-
Ter It's influence away on mere negative
Task. 1t seems 10 me not only possible
FOR that power, but Its duty, to prepare 81
FOR more positive work, and that duty
such men owe to themselves and those
Eho come after them, | would not at
his moment venture TO advise definite
policy in detail, to be followed with re-
ard TO the coming Presidential election.
COR that believe it is too early yet. But !
/ does seem advisable to me that the in |
men Of the country, IN view |
{ the influence they will be called upon ,
, exert, should take such initiatury steps
8 will enable them to come TO an under |
aDding among themselves, be it by the
of committees. or such other !