The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-09-07
schurz shown Up.
Irr.n.ls.ed lsom e.wsel.sr an ErI..l

To Mr.. Carl Schilrz:
The announcement that you are going
to make your debut as a reformed re-
former in our beautiful Forest City has
been a surprise to me and no less to many
Of your former admirers. / think / un-
derstand why the Republican leaders
wish to see the lever for reconverting the
Liberal Germans first applied in our city;
but what do not understand is that you
should so readily offer your assistance ?
You must have known, since 1872, that
the reform idea whose seed you helped to
sow took strong root with us here, and
that these roots cannot be pulled out
without some trouble. / do not think
that you are given to the illusion of be-
ing able to re-Republicanize the German
reform elements of this locality, even
with the rhetorical mastership that is
your own. But as the persons who have
called you here believe, or at least pre-
tend to believe, that such dexteTous
performance can be accomplished, and
iuasmuch as the Liberal Germans are
thus exposed, to the humiliating sus-
picion of requiring only an intimation
from yourself to be conyerted-thls ex-
plains why you make your first campaign
speech in German-it is right and proper
to protest. Far too long already, far too
long for the honor of the German element
as well as the honor of all of US, has the
false idea been worked and speculated
upon that the German vote can be eetfect-
iyelv influenced and controlled by some
one great or small politicianl 1t is high
time do do away with such notions.
But in case that your speaking in Ger
man is accidental, and that the inference
drawn from it be therefore void, l still
must avail myself of your presence in
order to set forth something to me all
important. Having been q membero of the
New York Conference, itoswhich you in
vited me, feel called and justified to
do so. -
Disqusted with the corruption of the
reigning party, without confidence in the
other party, L 'beheld in a conference OF
independent patriotic men ray of hope
for reform. The spirit that prevailed IN
the conference surpassed my expecta-
tions; the result of its deliberations were
satisfactory tome. Although many mem
bers were inclined to cross the kublcon
Immediately, and to use the conference
as starting point for q third party, the
opinion of the more prudent memters
predominated, viz: 10 remain as yet in a
position of waiting; to issue an earnest
address to the people, and to found a
third party only in case that this address
should be unheeded by the several con-
ventious whieh were to be held in the
| immediate future.
The address to the purp pose, edited by
yourself. left no doubt which class OF
| Presidential candidates was meant to be
| worthy OF support. The 6rst sections
manifstly depicted the class represented
by Messrs. Morton, Blaine, and Conkling,
while the other sections we're directed
against such. cand dates of expediency as
HAYES and Hart; anti, There was not the
.lesst doubt of this in theconference.
E Nor can. the anthor of the address be
| in doubt of it. Since this seems 10 be
the cause, however, | intend to assist his
memory and reaIind him that when he
read the aadfess before me and my friend
on the day prece 1iug the contel enee. and
made us acquainted wita its intent, that
he himself after eaeh section hal gone
through with, called the names of the
candidates that were meant though not
named; and that after reading to us the
following:
awe shall support no candidate who,
howeser fayorab yjuds by his nearest
friends, Is not pup icly known to posses
those qualities of mind and character
which the stern task of genuine reform
\ requires, for the American people cannot
now afford to risk the future of the re-
public in experiments on ne ely sup
posed virtue or rumored ability to be
trusted on the strength. of private recon-
mendations." = -s'.--sFf>~
He turued to us and remarked plainly
and as if it were a self-eVident matter:
"THIs DIsPosEs OF MR. HAYES"
If we compare this passage, which
pronounees.t the verdict upon Mr.. Hayes
with the parole likewise issued by Mr.
j Sehurz. viz: Articles of faith as mucl
4 as on the pefs 1na'ities of the candidates
not on the platforms, but on TIE mel
that stood on them-then we diseove
the IRE 'utable fact that not only Mr.
Schurz, bit the entire conference, all o
whom enthusiastically approved of tn
address and the above p.ssage, countej
Mr.. Hayes as among tnose who shoul'
absolutely not be supported. And, no
q yet content with this, the conference, b,
: their sweeping approval of Mr. Adams
} speech, fixed its programme as follows
/, Bristow' or Tilden; and in case tha
neither is nominated, reconveniug Q
I the conference.
The position taken by TIE conferenc
3 fully corresponded wirh my own convic
: ton. 1t was a great satisfaction to m
: to know that 10 patriotic body of me
E as assembled there should agree in th
t points above mentioned. ] took the caus