Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-28
CARL sCHURz.
Dinner 60 the Ex-senator I'm New YORK
"A Brief speech Giving His views
on Public Questions.

Dinner 20 the Ex-senator I'm New YOrl
"A Brief speech Giving His View
on Public QuestiOns.
NEW YORK, April 27.-A dinner wa
given this evening to ex-senator Sehurz, u
a number Of prominent citizens Of New
York, prior to his departure for Europe
Thursday next. The banquet room wa.
decorated with American and German
flags, while a band discoursed music during
the evening. Hon. William III
Evarts presided, while at his right sal
the guest of the evening, Hon. Carl SehurZ.
About 200 were present, among them being
Ex-COngressman Lsne,i Ghas. Francis
Adams, IT., Peter Cooper, L. y. Chitten-
den, John j. Cisco, Parke Goodwin, ID. A.
Wells, ex-AttOrney General Barlow, How
ard Potter, Cyrus w. Field, Murat Hal
stead, Prof. Botta, Cllss. Butler, Whitelaw
Reid, DR.. Hammond, and others.
After partaking Of the bounteous fepast,
Mr.. Evarts called the assemblage to order,
and in eloquent words conveyed the CON-
pliments Of those present to the distin-
guished guest, and thanked him for his
great public services. In conclusion, he
called upon all to fll their glasses and
drink 70 the health Of Carl Schurz, wishing
him prosperous voyage, a happy summer
and safe return.
Mr.. SchuTz then arose and in reply said:
To earn the good name Of citizens is a
thing to be desired. 1 may claim one
thing, and that is, have at least tried to
do my duty. Certain disagreements of
sentiment occurred between me and my
party before l left the Senate. started
early in life an earnest and devoted man,
and attached myself to the Republican par
ty. l served it faithfully until and after
the civil war, and the logical results were
perfectly safe after the war. 1t then
seemed to me The time had come for taking
other great problems In hand for solution.
It was necessary TO secure for the new
order of things that favorable public
opinion which is indispensable. By wise
course of cOnciliatiOn and policy, it was
necessary TO strike down the spirit of rapa-
CITY which arose during the war, and threat
ened to destroy the grand old institutions
of our Government. 1t was necessary to
restore once more to the country, a sound
currency, and TO tighten and regulate the
burdens swaying over the people from reVe-
nue. and taxation. That these evils ex-
listed, no one denied, and no one denies to-
day. 1 fondly hoped the party
to which l belonged, would take these
problems in hand and deal with
them, but you as well as l know these
problems were still unsOlved, and indeed
movements were made In some
respects. An attempt, said the speaker,
was made in 1872, 70 take middle course,
but it failed. This should not cause dis
because the best lessons were
TO be learned from failure. We had two
political parties to-day but neither Of them
satisfies the people. l shall admit
that in both parties there are
good men, and in this and that
some good thing has been done by
either one OF the other party, but it was
like a man coming to two roads and ask
ing which he shall take, and person say
ing to him, STRANGER, You may take either,
but if YOU do so, yOu will wish you had
taken the other" The independent voters
were in the main good citizensswhO wished
to serSe their parties by the pest methods
and the best bargains. l am convinced
that the mass Of Independent voters is
strong enough TO give victory TO either de-
serving It. The independent party was
too great to fritter its power away, but
it was the duty Of men who composed it TO
use their power for the common good. 1t
was too early to advise it with regard to
the next Presidential election, but initiate
" steps should be taken by the men com
posing it, to bring its power to a focus.
Let it be by organization Of committees or
so that when the time arrived
they could say to parties what the Inde-
pendent men wanted. I believe that great
good can be brought about in this way and
what a great blessing it would be to
have a full grown statesman in the Presi-
Dental chair next year. We would eele-
brate the one hundredth anniversary of our
independence. Might it not only be
known as a year Of proud memories, but Of
strong and Independent action. In conclu-
sion, the speaker returned thanks for the
given him.
Letters Of regret were read by the chair
man from Wm. Cullen Bryant and James
Russell Lowell, and the following tOasts
were disposed Of: The press-Parke God
wyn. The Centennial year-David Wells.
Rsfom-C. F. Adams, jr. The West
Murat Halstead.