Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-05-20
From Harper's Weekly.
MIR. Carl Sehurz and the Demo
cratic Party.

The honors which have been recently offer
ed to Mr.. Carl Schurz have a greater public
than personal significance. His career has
made him the representative of the general
desire of reform in political methods and spi-
rit which prevails in the country, and those
who are bent upon that reform greet Mr.
Schurz with continuous enthusiasm. In his
speeches he maintains the necessary suprema-
cy of conscience in politics, and his accom-
plishments and readiness and eloquence ena-
able him to speak to the sympathy and hope
of all patriotic men. The first of the recent
dinners given to him on the eve of his depar-
ture for Europe was an assembly of gentlemen
of various political parties, but, as was natu-
exception of Mr.. Evarts, were identified with
the Cincinnati movement of 1877, and who have
probably little faith in the recovery of the Re-
publican party. Indeed, Mr.. c. F. Adams,
Jr., announced that the company were indie
pendent voters, now Republicans with Blaine,
and now Democrats with Bayard Are there,
then, no political principles in government? Is
it wholly matter of personal character? May
an American now be for colonial taxation with
Greenville, and now for independence with
Sam Adams? now for slavery with Calhoun,
and now for freedom with Garrison? now for
protef ton with Greeley, and now for free
trade with Bryant? If an American is a Re
publican with Blaine, he cannot be Demo-
orat with Pavard. apd if in a fraa country he
has great political objects at heart, he must
seek them by the usual political methods.
But the important result of this demonstra-
tion was the declaration made by Mr.. Schurz
himself, the accepted leader of the ''indepen-
dent" or ''liberal" body, that the political re-
form and publication of administration so earn
estly desired are rot to be found in the Demo-
cratic party Indeed, there is no duller joke
than the claims of that perfectly familiar par
ty to be the sole hope of progress and reform.
1t is not for us to say how agreeable this de-
claration of their leader may have been to
Cincinnati men of '72, like Mr.. d. A. Wells
and Mr.. Lafayette S. Foster, who have gone
over to the Democrats, or to Mr.. j. j. Cisco,
and the other Tammany Hall and Manhattan
Club Democrats who are named among the
conspicuous guests at the dinner. But howev-
er agreeable it may have been, it is strictly
true Mr. Schurz himself has proved it by
his own experience. If there was a distinc-
tive ''reformer' in the Senate, it was he. He
also maintained upon many questions the side
taken by Democratic Senators, and with in
finitely more force than all of them, because
of his independent position. But when the
''Reform Democracy" came to choose his sue
ccssor, it did not offer Mr. Schurz even a
complimentary vote, but elected man who'll
ly unknown, except for the fact that he led
troops to overthrow the government and Sc
cure slavery. While the "Reform Demoera-
cy" could use Mr.. Schurz to divide Republi-
cans and ALLEVIATE the German vote, it flattered
him as great statesman. When it saw that
he was patriotic, not partisan, that he meant
reform as fact, not as an election gag" it
derided him as impractlcable and foolish
The same Democracy three or four years
ago was equally overcome with admiration OF
Mr.. Charles Francis Adams as great states
man. But Mr.. Adams came to New York,
and in his eulogy upon Mr.. Seward, described
the Democratic party as conspiracy against
human rights, which little piece of truth-tell
ing has lost him Democratic countenance, ex
cept when it is hoped that he may be used tc
hurt Republicans. So also with Mr.. Sumner
The contempt lavished upon him by the
Democratic press, the scorn with which the
| ridiculous gnats of that party sought to sting
him during all the great and humane labor Of