The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-28
Schurz on Hard Money.

paign has been represented as a part OF
concerted plan to lead the Independent vo-
tiers of this country into the ranks of the
republican party and commit them to the
support of its candidates in the presidential
election OF 1876. That story is an idle in
vention. know of no such plan. If it
existed would not be party to is. The
independent voters have minds Of their
own and respect them too much to he
lieve that they can he transferred to this
or that side by any individual or combins-
ton Of individuals. Besides, not only do
not seek to commit everybody else rs to The
presidential election Of 1876; but | do Not
mean IN commit myself. reserve tn fny-
self entire freedom of judgment on that
matter to be exercised when the exigency
will arise, and advise everybody else TO do
the same. My relations TO the republican
party are no secret, have deemed il my
duty as senator and citizen to combat the
errors and transgressions of the set of poll
ticians that controlled it and to attack
abuses grown up under Its rule. 1iwasiR
earnest. / thought was right when | did
so, and it is not mere stubborDess of opin-
ion when say think SO now. Not only
have nothing TO retract but am sure, ier
cent developments have convinced fnany
good, conscientious republicans that had
our appeals been needed in time, that or
ganization would have saved itself many
humiliations.
1t is, therefore, no sentimental partiali-
ty for the republican party that brings Inc
here. Whether the republican. party will
put itself in position to deserve support
in the presidential election in 1876, remains
to be seen. Whether the democrats will do
30 remains to be seen also. My. opinion
has long been, and | have not concealed
it, that the patriotic men of the republic
might do better than depend upon either.
That we'll meaning citizens should SO fire.
quently have found themselves compelled
to support one party, not because it had
their approval and confidence, but because
the other party appeared still worse, is a
condition of politics unworthy of a free,
intelligent and highminded people, but one
of the most prolific sources of corruption
and decentralization of our political lie.
In that situation we have been for years,
and there is now something going on in
OHIO which threatens to continue that state
things in the year 1876, only in an aggra-
waited form. A proclamation has been
made by the democratic leaders of Ohio
that this state campaign is TO be OF decisive
effect as to the issue of the presidential cleo
ton of 1876, and in the very front of these
issues they have placed one which involves
not only the national interests but charac-
ter, good name, and the whole moral being
of the American people. An attempt is
being made TO secure the endorsement by
the people of the greatest state of the west
and one of the greatest in the union of a
financial policy which, if followed by the
national government, would discredit re-
publican institutions the world over; ex
pose the American people to the ri,iicule
and contempt Of civilized mankind make
our political as well as business life more
than ever hot bed of gambling and cor
ruption; and plunge the country into all
those depths of moral and national bank
ruptcy and ruin which, as all history dc
monstrates, never, never fail to follow a
course 81 utterly demented in its wicked
ness. Advocates Of initiation in this state,
as they themselves give us to~undersland,
expect the people OF Ohio, by the election
of the democratic candidates, to declare
their appreciation OF that tinanaiaf policy !;
that initiation fever which will, under the
stimulus Of such success, sweep like wild
fire over the western and southern states ;
overwhelm and subjugate the democratic
national convention next year; dictate its
policy and its candidates, and in 1876 put
an initiation party into tho field strong
enough to defy opposition NJNfSk
candidly confess see good reason to
apprebend such consequences. do, in
deed, not underyalue the importance Of
that manly, honorable, and patriotic con-
demnation pronounced by the democratic
convention of New York, on the doctrines
preached by their democratic brethren here.
1t was an act deserving the grateful APP
plause of every good citizen, but | doubt
very seriously whether that act will stem
the flood If the iniiatonists in Ohio are
successful. Pennsylvania has already fol-
lowed them, and it is but too probable that
the sectional feeling which the initiation
movement strives to excite in the west and
south will be inflamed to more intense hit
terness, and that the financial question will
be used az an agency revive the curse of
sectional warfare in our politics. Let Us
indulge in no delusion. The success of the
imitation party in Ohio will be the signal
for general charge along the whole line
to snbmerge the best principles and leave
helpless in the rear the best leaders of the
democratic party, and spurred on by reck.
less demagogsm to capture the national
power by one tumultuous rush.
This is no matter of mere local concern,
as some weakly pretend TO believe. 1t is
national danger, which all good citizens
should unite to avert, and which can surely
be averted only by the defeat of initiation
here. repeat, therefore, have not come
here to whitewash the faults of the repub
lican party, to apologize for its shortcom
ings, or to serve its ambitions but here il
an incalculabe mischief, threatened TO The
other side, to be prevented, and j simply
try to do my duty as l understand it,.
beg leave to address my remarks Direct,
to the democrats of Ohio. In view of GU