The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-08-31
MIR. sCuURZ I'm THE PREsIDEN-
TIAL CAMPAIGN.

The above named gentleman has, since
half dozen years, played conspicuous
part in American politics. He was among
the first who, disconnected in the Radical
tration. He was amongst the leaders in the
third party movement in 1872. with the
firm determination to detbrone Grant. He
was prominent in the New York conference
of free-thinkers in politics a few months
%, with the outspoken purpose Of assist
hg in electirg in November next an anti
Grant man, at all hazards. But where is
SchuTz now? MiraJile dictul in the very
midst of Grants campl He left 1t with
drums beating and cannons firing, and has
returned, like the dog to its vomit and like
the sow 60 its wailow, and sleeps himself
in the cesspools If the filthy administra-
ton. Once Mr.. Schurz boosted of no little
influence with the Germans, and he had
among them many admirers. He is felic-
itous speaker and admirable scholar, and
many Americans and Germans became his
adherents. They once deemed him trust
worthy leader. Unhappily, the facile talker
and charming bellies lettres scholar is com
monty denominated by his intelligent fell
low-countrymen n mOuntebank or parti-
san ''caperer." Therefore, among Ger
mans everywhere, and this is universally
true, we believe in Texas, Mr.. Schurz is
abandoned by his most intimate adherents.
As a party leader he IS
Deserted In his utmost need
by those his former bounty fed,
On the bare earth exposed he lies
With not lend to close his eyes.
Some weeks ago Mr.. SchHrz addressed an
open letter to Mr.. Oswald Ottendorfer, edi-
~ tor of the Staats-Zeitung, Democratic
paP~-~in which he undertakes to explain
nus eN'r~of>s~ary tergiversations. This
1'''' "'s ',a"s'ateSs and appeared in the
New ioIA 1F'ou"e' r----eertainly some
explanation of his conduct was e,.s-.on
proper and necessary, but that this letter
will satisfy any honest friend OF Mr.. Schurz
or any member of the Fifth Avenue Hotel
conference Of which he was the spokesman
is very different REaRAsiftiA Sadomohtade
about the negro and Southern barbarism
that distinguishes pronuuciamientos of each
Radical party leader and is therefore devoid
Of interest, it becomes valuable as an ex-
position of the motives of the learned trans
cendentalist. A most intelligent Ger
man citizen in New Braunfels writes,
referring to these facts, that
S;nCo tho Ta,l,ro 81 Al I'LL
ment in 1879, with Mr.. Greeley as the pres
idential candidate, Mr.. Schurz belonged to
no party. But ambitious politicians, like
him, are political aeronauts, unless they
have the terra .fymd of party platform un-
der their feet, no matter how bad that party
may be. Mr.. Schuiz, in his philosophical
views, Is an idealist; such minds are never
content with the world us it is; in politics,
therefore, they furnish the material for
third parties. Mr.. Schurz is grand on third
parties but unlucky in forming them in 1872
he played rather mdicrous part, and he
found himself left out in the cold Not
withstanding that failure he tried the thing
over In the present presidential campaign;
prelude was arranged in New York Mr..
SchuTZ himself wrote the address to the
conference. Mr.. Bristow was to be the first
choice OF the reformers; after him, Mr.. TIL
den. Mr.. Hayes was named there by Mr..
Schurz expressly as a candidate entirely out
Of the question. Mr. Schurz, of course.
wanted strong and decided character for
the presidential chair, man who had al
ready shown by his deeds that he could be
Entrusted with the great reform. Mr. Hayes,
the genial companion of foe and friend, was
not his man.
From New York, Mr.. Schurz went di-
rectly TO Cincinnati, there to take an active
part in removing Bristow and nominating
Hayes. But why Because he could never
believe that the Democratic party would
come up TO unite on pronounced reform
candidate, like Tilden; and if Mr.. Tilden
was not nominated, Mr.. Schurz was either
without party again for another term of
four years, or he had to sneak back to the
Radical party, to take at least back seat
there. In order to avoid this painful di-
lemma, and to get out of the trap in which |
he had caught himself, he severed the Cor
dian knot by taking at once an active part |
10 the Radical nomination, showing thereby |
his good will toward the party, aud per- |
haps saving TO himself, in case the party /
be victorious a seat not too far of from |
~ ~ ikselfs W...ss '-ptnftIcaT career
ne was good and intelligent man., but not
endowed with the faculty OF dancing ON
the slippery floor of American party poli-
Ties. de Is not statesman, not even a
successful politician, but he leaves the no.
lltical stage in the oomical position of a
fallen political esperer.
THIS rwo-sIDED QUESTION.
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