The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-09-05
CARL SCHURz.
scathina Review Of Tilden and the
Democracy "a

Ur. sehsrs nas . Fine Ausisacc al
Germans, and Delivers an
Able and Exhaussivs
speech.
From tho Toledo %. " Blade
The germans OF this city turnod out
en- masse last evening to hear their gift
ed copntryman-Hon. Carl Schurz =
discuss the question OF the day. The
Opera House was crowded both below
and above, by an auditory that listened
with wrapt attention 10 tho eloquent
words of the man who has achieved
and deserved so high place in the ma
tionsl esteem. The point made by the
speaker met ready and hearty respons-
es and Mt times the audience applauded
with enthusiastic vigor.
The speaker commenced by saying
that il had been bis intention to ad-
dress the public on q largo number Of
! questions arising in this Presidential
campaign. bnt felt compelled on ac-
count OF the condition Of his voice to
confine himself to tho main points in
issue, and irst, as TO
s l REFORM.
| He said: I stand before you as
man who is bound to no party; but as
one who. through many years OF pub
lie life, has made IL q rule TO combat
the bad and TO advocate that which is
good in all parties. You have heard n
great many complaints about tho cor
ruption which is said to exist in our
public or official life; aud in truth the
speaker could say that he was one OF
the first to attack this species of rascal
ity, and that, too, without regard TO
| the fact whether il hurt O friend, or
profted an enemy. A great deal OF
dishonesty had crept into public life.
and the Cabinet, on the Judicial bench
| and into the national and State Legis-a
latures, and almost every branch OF the
public service hnd been tainted with il.
These facts nearly every honest man in
country admits, and il is almost impos-
sible to exaggerate them.
The history Of the United States
shows that the first administration was
comparatively pure; Mt that time there
we're but few dishonest politicians. The
public service was filled with modest,
tanned their positions not as q reward
because OF their honesty. capability
and trustworthiness. Such was the
public service in the first ten years OF
The Republic. Following our history
first extensively spread during and
since Jackson's administration.
And why was it SO? Because ut that
time the pernicious doctrine was first
firmly established that "to the victors
belong the spoils." Those who
sought official position based their
claims, not upon their efficiency or de-
serving deeds, but upon their faithful
services to the party in power. And
what has boon the result Of this system
OF appointment?
The one great question now was, how
10 bring about reformf
First. Rid tho public service Of
| thieves.
Secondly: II you want to keep these
employees honest then make them un-
derstand chat they are 10 stay in Office
so long as they remain honest and per
form their dntios; and il they show
great efficiency, promote them from
a.! time to time; and give them also TO un-
derstand that they are not TO bother
themselves about party politics; and II
they become dishonest that they VIII
be removed and that no party services
can avail to protect him, even at the
request Of the most powerful party
loader. When these principles are fol-
/ lowed we will have an honest govern
ment. But an honest government can
only be obtained through honest ofiic-
ials, and the question is, how are We to
| find such? But before I answer that
question I will tell you how you can't
| find them. You can't find them il at
/ the commencement OF each new admin
istration you throw cut OF Office so. 900
officials, and replace them with parts
ans Of the ascendant party, who re-
ceive their offices as q reward for party
zeal. But you will find honest mon
for Office il you will only remove the
dishonest officials, aud the government
will be able to find honest officers il ii
will only refuse to allow appointments
to dictate TO it. Now then, that is just
what we want in political life--a civil
service reform--n reform for which /,
as we'll as many others, have struggled
for many years.
This reform ia that which must be
introduced il our public service IL TO be
and remain honest; and il is q reform
whichevery patriotic citizen must de-
mand aud support. And now / have
come to the question from
WHICH PARTY
can We expect the best results? Both
parties have made and proclaimed fair
platforms; but do not place mnch re.
lance on the promises contained in po.
litical platforms.
Now, the first step towards reform
/. e. the removal OF corrupt officials
seems to me will certainly be takon
whichever party wins. l feel certain
that Tilden will turn out the bad ofiic
ials, and the good ones, too. Laugh
ter.
As TO Hayes-undor bin tho corrup
men will certainly 60 out. You know
that Hayes was not my favorite candi'
date in this campaign, for / preferet
Bristow. What say about Hayes, i
said with the intention 10 be just !,
him. Hayes is now for tho third tim,
governor OF Ohio; he has not, like Til
= deu, had any great rings TO break be
cause you citizens Of Ohio have beel
fortunately enough not 10 have sucl
: things about You. But tho lackin,
such opportunities Of Distinguishing
limself, we must admit that he has sue
cecded in preventing any corruption
arising in the public service OF Ohio
He appears to me to be person vh'
is resovlod 10 prevent corruption, not Il
the role OF an enthusiastic reformer
but simply because i: is his nature :
abhor il; he is honest because lie can
not be dishonest. Even his enemic
have to confess that his public life la
been pure and unspctted, and the