American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-19
THE GERMANa AND CARL SCHUEZ

To The Editor Of the San:
You know that as the former
editor of Mr.. Schuiz's Newspaper,
for some time his associate in busi-
ness, and for many years his fol-
lower in politics, l am not apt to
Judge either his remarkable ability
or his still more remarkable recent
in any other spirit than
that of kindness. But the appeals
Of political friends are so numerous,
my convictions upon the pending
Residential election so strong, my
sense of dutysso plain, that must
ask for space in your paper-the
quality of which SO grandiy out
strips all quantity-to notice the
recent manifesto of Mr.. Schurz.
That manifesto, though nominalIy
addressed to Mr.. OttendOrfer of the
New York Stats Zeitung. is really
intended for the whole country,
and particularly for German voters
Its extreme length-nearly five
columns-speaks for the feebleness
of the cause for which it pleads. l
promise to he much briefer.
The amusing attitude of Mr..
Schurz is simply this
He does not pretend to be a Re
publican. For the last six years
he has acted in opposition to that
party. For the last six years he
has made himss If conspicuous by
his demands for reform. For the
last six years he has been engaged
in destroying the Republican party
to build upon its ruins u new party.
For the last six years he has made
himself prominent by bis savage
criticism of the rOttenness of the
present Administration and all its
leading supporters. In the May con ..
ference of "Reformers" at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, Mr.. Schurz protested
against the nomination of any man
in Cincinnati whose record as Re-
former was not above all doubt. He
particularly protested against any
candidate whose negative merit con-
sisted in nothing; that is to say,
having done nothing, nothing can
be said against it.
Mr.. Schurz now aStOnishes the
world by calling Mr.. Hayes q great
Reformer, whose election would in.
sure the much-nectled changes in
Washington and everywhere else.
I consider this assertion an insult
to the intelligence Of even the least
intelligent. Mr.. Schurz has an I'm.
doubted right to prefer Gov. Hayes
without assigning his private rea-
sons, but no has no right to base
his action upon utterly falSe rea-
sons. The people If the United
States have an und0ubted right to
elect Mr.. Hayes If they like the
present regime, and prefer to be
rubbed rather than give mp their
party pre)udices. But they must
put it upon the proper ground, and
not upon the prep0sterOus idea Of
calling Mr.. Hayes great reform
er. For what ~ the record ! The
May conference of "RefOrmers'" de-
manded the nomination of Bristow,
aud denounced the present Admin
aud all its leading support
ers.
Cincinnati answered By over
whelmingiy defeating MIR. Bristow,
and unanimously indOrsiDg Grants
shameful Administration.
The Reformers demanded reform
and change and publication, and
ast0nished the world By
within almost less than
q hairs breadth of nominating for
the Presidency a man of whose
guilt as an honorless
there had just been
given the freshest and most over
proof by defeating the
only candidate WHO had record
of reform by unanimously vindi
eating the national disgrace called
Administration by openly
the party to favor a system
Of tariff which plumbers the many
to "protect" the few, and establishes
classes at the expense of
the masses; and by placing upon
this platform Mr.. Hayes, the OBJ
scurest of all the candidates.
Who, pray, was MIR. Hayes what
great public service had he ever
what eminent ability had
he ever shown, what reform ever
accomplished, what independence
Of character displayed, what public
Or private virtues manifested, to
merit the dazzling dignity of filling
he Place once eDnobled by Wash
ngton and a Jefferson
Tho answer came-Hayes has
never stolen.
Good God Has it come to this ?
Is "a man entitled to the Presidency
because, fOrsooth hc is merely hon
est Has this simple quality become
20 rare in our republic as to require
such reward I and can it be q pleas
ant commentary upon the party In |
power than that it s'points with
pride" to its candidate because he
1t least has never stolen
Now. far be it from me to detract
my of the merit attached to this |
are Republican attribute. But
he question IS not that Of personal
1 think Grant is person.
lily honest, that is, has never him
Ielf stolen anything. Yet we all
Know that almost every body around
Grant steals or has stolen. There
AN be no reform without political
very great ability, courage
md independence of character.
las Mr.. Hayes ever shown any Of