The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-08-10
CARL sOHURz.
Why he Supports the Republican Ticket

more than four columns of the New
wherein are given at some length the
considerations which won Mr.. Schurz's
support for the Republican ticket in the
present canvass. Olnitting the earlier
parts of the letter, which have to ito
chiefly with the arguments of the Stats.
Zeitatng, we Presented some of the more
important passages in the later part for
the benefit of oui readers
''Sone persons have found cheap
amusement in holding up before those
men who took part in the May confer
ence in New York, and are now sup
porting Mr.. Hayes, the address issued
by the conference, and pointing ont the
inconsistency of their action. Let us
look at this matter more closely. The
men who arranged the conference and
carried it through had for their first OBJ
ject true civil service reform and a
sound position on the financial question.
They had all sorts of candidates Ill mind,
but their candidates represented certain
principles, and were not pressed on their
own account. They wanted to promote
the nomination of proper men III order
to give their prime object the greatest
possible push forward but they had no
notion of swearing unqualified fidelity to
such men, whether or no their candidacy
by it's extending conditions, made doubt
full the attainment of the great end in
view. Whoever thinks that the confer
ence was devoted to the service o. par
ticular persons has entirely mistaken its
spirit. Had anyone there asked the
question Shall we support a candidate
on a platform which, as compromise
with the infationist, calls for the repeal
of the resumption act, and requires the
nomination of q vice president who will
represent the soft money party? what
would you have answered then ? Your
answer would have been a strong yes ;;
mine, and that, 1 believe, of the whole
assembly, would have been a distinct
No 7 This case is now presented to us,
and should be trampling on my hon
est convictions were [ now to say Yes.
"Iad any one asked MS the further
question Shall a candidate be nomi-
mated who is now numbered among the
desirable one, but who, being known as
a thoroughly honorable man, takes q
lofty view of his nomination and propos-
es to mark out for himself programme
only is satisfactory Oh the financial ques-
ton, but also seizes corruption in its
very stronghold booty system
throws down the gauntlet to the politi-
cal machine managers, robs the congress-
man of his patronage, and by active
measures of reform puts an end to the
prevailing abuses !; and who then, 1lnem-
barrassed by his following, overrides, by
the force OF his own will, the strongest
partisan influence, that can be brought
to bear upon him-can we support such
a candidate z / do not believe that the
conference would have said Mo- doubt,
indeed, whether you would have said SO
yourself. 1t is true that neither one
Dor the other exigency was forseen when
the address OF the conference was drawn
up but both now present themselves,
and We are compelled to choose between
them. Shall we signers of the address
now argue ike little children, that be-
cause the present state of things was not
contemplated in the address, therefore
it does not ext for us2 Shall we not
act the more consistent part by carrying
out the spirit of the conference, instead
of shutting our eyes to the altered cir
cumstances and following simple name?
Faithfnlness to higher duty is the true
consistency which marks the nam Ct con-
yictions. It is better to be thus consis-
tent in spirit than to appear consistent
III externals.
sit is true, affairs have not shaped
themselves as [ would have had them
and your desires are quite as poorly graf
flied. Of my relations to the old parties
[ make nc secret. regard them exact
ly as used to and ] take nothing back
OF what l have said as well Of the one as
of the other. K
cone branch of reform, namely, the
cleansing of the government service of
these officers who have disgraced it, will
be secure In eny event, After
no hasty resolve, but after calm and
earnest consideration of all the circum-
stances, / have come to the conclusion
that this end will be best attained by the
election of Mr.. Hayes, and in this con-
viction [ am willing to subject myself to
all suspicious and assaults. That there
are in the republican party influential
persons who in event of Mr.. Hayes cleo
ton, will strive to hinder the carrying
out of his reform programme, and to
make use of him for other purposes,
know as well as you do. But believe
that these persons will find that they
have mistaken their man.
sit Is scarcely necessary for lae to
speak at length of other reasons which
make triumph of the democratic party
undesirable. refer, among other things,
to the strength which it would give to
the ultramontane element, and to the
false hopes which it would arouse in the
lawless members of southern cOmmuni-
ties. giving 2 fresh impulse to the COM
mission OF those excesscs which make lis
shudder, and for which the greater part
of our southern people have as great a
horror as we. x
81 will hazard a prophecy as to what
the future has in store for US. I should
not dare 10 promise the people an ideal
political situation if Mr.. Hayes be elect
cd; but as regards the three points which
g the address of the May confer
ence touches upon, the following APP
pears to me as sure as anything one can
ever count upon IN the future i. The
application of the whole constitutional
power of the executive to secure a prompt
resumption of specie payments, and APP
parently fin agreeable majority in con-
gress. 3 a wedding opt OF bad officers,
and a consequent carrying through of
his programme of civil service reform on
the part of the president, as far as his
constitutional powers will permit him.
The employment in the ppblio service Of
not one more party agent The aboli-
ton of the booty system. Opposition
to these reforms on the part of the
booty politicians in congress. The over
throw of this opposition at the next con-
gressionai elections. .. An intelligent
execution OF the laws, joined with just,
conciliatory, and honorable policy toward
the people of the south.
''In the event of democratic victory:
ID 4 soft money minority in the honSo