The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-02
THE GERMANS AND CARL SEIZURE.
III. Absurd Position CLEARLY Eiucida,ed.

To TIE EDITOR OF The SUN-Str. You
know that as the former editor Of Mr. Schurz's
newspaper for some time his associate In bust
ness, and for many his follower In politics,
J am not apt to judge either his remarkable
ability or his still more remarkable recent SOM
ersault, in any oth,r spirit than that Of kind
ness. But the appeals OF political friendo are so
numerous, my convictions upon the pending
Presidential election so strong, INV sense of
duty so plain, that must ask for space IN your
papor-the quality OF which so Rrandy out
strips all qusntity-to notice the recent mani
festo Of Mr. Schurz.
That manifesto, though nominaIlv addressed
to MIR. Ottendorfer OF the New York Stats Zet
tung, is really intended Tor the whole country,
and particularly for German voters.
Its extreme leneth-Dearly i've columns
speaks for the fechlencss of the cause for which
1t pleads. promise to be much brefer.
The amazing attitude OF MIR. Schurz is simply
this
He does not pretend TO he Republican. For
the last six years he las iacted In opposition TO
that party For the last six years he has made
himself conspicuous by his demands for reform
For The / st six years he has been engaged 10
destroying the Republican party to build upon
It's ruins new party. For the last six wears he
has made himself prominent by his savage criti-
cism OF the rotienness OF the present Admins
tration and all Its leading supporters. In the
May conference OF "Reformcrs" at the Fifth
Avenue HOTEL MIR. Schurz protested against the
nomination OF any man IN Cincinnati whose re-
cord Rcformer was not above all doubt.
He particularlv protested against any candidate
whose negative merit consisted in-nothlng
that Is to saw, having done nothing, nothing can
be said against him.
Mr.. Schurz now aston shes the world by calling
MIR. Hayes great Reformer, whose election
would insure the mucb-needed changes In
Washington and everywhere else.
consider this assertion an insult to the intel
ligence II even the least intelligent. Mr.. Schurz
has an undoubted right to prefer Gov. Hayes
without assigning his private reasons, but he
has no right to base his action upon utterly false
reas ins. Tho people OF the United states have
an ind Dubted right to elect Mr.. Hayes II they
like the present regime, and prefer 10 ho robbed
rather Than give up their party prejudices. But
they must put II upon the proper ground. and
not upon the preposterous idoa Of calling Mr..
Hayes a great reformer. For what Is the record
The May conference Of Reforpers" de-
handed the nomination Of Bristow, ani de-
nounced the present Administration and all its
| leading supporters.
Cincinnati answered by overwhelmingly de-
feating Mr.. Dristow, ami unanimously indOrsn.
The Reformers demanded reform and change
| and publication. and Cincinnati astonished the
world by coming within almost less than hair s
| breadth OF nominating for the Presidency a
man of whose stupeudous guilt as an honorless
corrup ionist there hid Just been given the
freshest and most overwhelming proof by de-
| feating the only candidate who had a record of
reform by unanimously indicating the n
tional disgrace called Grants Administration :
| by openly pledeing the party to favor h system
Of tarif which plumbers the many to protect -
lhe few, and establishes privileged classes at the
expense OF the masses; and 10y placing upon this
platform Mr.. Hayes, the obscurest Of all the
| candidates.
Who. pray. was Mr.. Hayes What great public
service had he ever rendered, what eminent
abilit' had he ever shown, what reform ever &C
compished, what Independence OF charac er
displ yei, what public or private virtues mani
tested, T. merit the dazzling dignity OF filling
| the pl ace once eunobled BY a Washington and
| a Jefferson?
The answer came-Hayss has never s'olen.
Good God Has II come to this IL a m IN ent-
| tied to the Presidency because, forsooth. he Is
merely honest7 Has this sim pie guilty become
ere In our republic as TO require such reward
And can there lie a more pitiable commentary
upon the party in power than that it points
| Win lf'ue 10 ts cahuluh1e because nc Al least
his never stolen7
Now, Tar be II from me 10 detract any Of the
merit attached 70 this rare Republican attribute.
Bht the question Is not that OF personal honesty.
| tbink Grant Is personally honest, that l., has
never himself stolen anything. Yet We all know
that almost everybody around Grant steals or has
stolen. There can be no reform without political
honesty very great ability courage aud indie
penNence oi character. HIS Mt. HAYES ever
SHOWN any OF these quaiitiesT think can say
that his political record Is entirely familiar 10
me. and he certainly has made such famili srity
aver light task. II Mr.. Schurz Will show out a
single act Ia that record manifesung spirit OF
reform or point to but Asolitary utterAnce OF
independent thought nay OF any new political
thought al all WIN confess that am wrong
put Iour years OF uui' meoloor'tY IN congress
ana I'VE years ol meolocre uulhess IN inc "loer
ha'orih ehair stare us IN tue lace without a
single net OF REFORM without sing Q thought
OF uterance OF aplhtS' without single vote OF
Independence 10 redeem the long record 81 OBJ
sculN-"'h no'h'hg 10 JUSTIFY IL Out pretend
eu personal respec'aolil'S'
say pretended because LOT one DOUBT, nay
uenS' tue respeetao'ly OF ahS man IN p"oli'
place. "ho' IKE MI raves, mas never i'lied t'
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