National Republican., 1877-08-10
THE ATTACK on CARL SCHURz

The character oi Carl. ScnRuz as an
honest, truthful and public-spirited citizen
is too we'll established 10 be affected ex-
cept by very positive aud explicit evidence.
GAIL HAMILTON and Mr.. KRMBIE have at
tempted TO convict Mr.. ScHuRz Of incon-
sistency In his professions of attachment 10
the principle OF civil service reform because
he accepted pay tor services rendered as a
speaker in political campaigns. The
original story that he charged hve hundred
dollars apiece fot three speeches IN Penn
sylvania seems now TO he abandoned, and
the only oilenses he Is now held accountable
for is the acceptance Of five hundred dollars
in 1860, and OF five hundred dollars In 1868
for political speeches delivered In Penn
sylyania. Now, admitting the facts 10
be just as..stated by Mr.. KEMDLE, we 10 not
see any thing in them 10 convict Mt. SCuunZ
OF being either mcrcenary or inconsistent
In 1860 and 1868 Mr.. ScHURZ was poor aud
unable to devote his time TO political speech
making and he certainly had a right 10 fix
his own price for his services. There has
been no political campaign during the last
eighteen years in which Mr.. ScuURz could
not have fixed his own price for his services,
30 anxious have political committees been
TO secure his services; yet during all that
period he never made any charge oscopt
when he was compelled 10 do so by his ac-
tual necessities.
BY far the largest portion Of the services he
rendered were entirely gratuitous, and no
public man has been more liberal and gen
erous In this respect than Mr.. ScHURZ. For
example, he took very active part In the
great ALLEN and HAYES campaign In 1873
in Ohio. The speeches he made In that con.
test undoubtedly saved the State 10 the Re-
publicans. He did not charge ono cent for
his services, although the State Committee
would have been very willing to pay him
literally. Had he been the nercensry In
tiividual Mr.. KKsiBLK represents him to
have been he could have made thousands Of
dollars In the campaign In Ohio alone.
The fact is that the record Of Mr.. SCHURZ
- 10 his financial Affairs ID exceptionally
good. He has kept himseif free from every
transaction which could In the least reflect
upon his integrity or oonsistency. A notable
illustration OF Niis trait Of his character Is
the incident which occurred when he was a
member of the Senate, when he declined to
lecture hfty times 6or ten thousand dollars,
being of the opinion that oil his time be-
longed to the nation. His entire career rs
Senator was calculated TO increase the
dignity, respect and ability Of the Senate.
While he was q member Of that body he
stood next 10 SUMNER In the esteem Of the
most enlightened and refined por-
tion OF the people Of America
This business Of casting aspersions upon
the regulations of men OF such well-knowfi
purity of character and fidelity TO princip pie
as Mr.. SCHURz will not meet with much
encouragement In these days Men with
clear records and clean hands are not SO
plenty now that we can tolerate groundless
attacks upon them. Fortunately there ID
no danger that the worst malice Of Mr.
SEIZURES enemies can iniurs his good name
lie can without fear have every transaction
OF his lie brought into the sleaI light ol
day, ior his sterling qualities Of mind and
heart will only thereby he made more
manifest.
The motives Of the stacks made by QAii
HANILrOS and others upon the character
Of Mr.. SCHURZ are very obvious. They DO
sire not so much to injurs him as through
him to bring the reformed system OF eiyi
service into discIedit They are reluctan
to give up the inhunce which the control o
public patronage gave them. They ar
sorry to see Office holders compelled 10 relin
.,uish political management. They are un
willing to give up the practice Of rowardinl
heir political followers by public plundei
tut all their efforts To restore the old sys
SEM will he vain, owing 10 ths iact tia
w'tRL SCHuRZ and men Of his school o
fought have so thoroughly indoctrinate'
ne people with correct ideas on this sublec
that they will permanently establish tn
reforms the present Administration has :
happily inaugurated.
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