Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-29
Tho sneech Of Carl Schurz.

~ and elaborate spSSSh, hiSh WIS AtsANA4S~
n % nv one of the largest and most intelli
zen, audiences ever assembled IN that
c;,v Though the hall in which the as
samblsre was convened was capable OF
comfortably seating 1900, there were hun
drads who we're obliged to occupy all the
available standing room, snd this large
audience was composed mainly OF voters,
business men, merchants, young men anu
!. very large proportion were Germans
THE speech, like most of Mr. SEIZURES
efforts, was not of character 10 ellci'
-oc;ferous spplause, but ii was CANDID,
thoughtful, dispsssionate, convincing anu
&,arv able review and vlndication OF the
sscts and accomplishments of the present
National administration, 3 comparison OF
the merits of the candidates now before
.be rsspective parties for their suttrages, a
s.-jc,pre OF the anomalous, inhsrmonious
contradictory, antagonlstic views which
@ are held by Democratic leaders in the
North and South a caustic exposition of
their doctrines on civil service reform,
their main principle being, ito the yictors
belong the spoils," the harmful aud de-
structiye effects of the ascendency OF such
PRINCIPLES, and triumphant defense OF
the souudness and benehcence of Repub
lican principles.
BY no means claiming perfection tor
the present Republican administration, of
which he was part, he thus sets forth
some of its achievements:
IT has maintained the public faith and raised
the credit OF the United States to a point never
reached before, 1t has with consistent energy
followed e policy relieving the country OF the
evils of an irrational and dangerous money sys-
TEN, and greatly promoted the prosperity OF the
people by the restoration OF specie payments III
has funded enormous masses of the national In
debtedness al a lower interest aud thIs saved
many millions year to the tax payer: IL has
faithfully executed the lave with a consceu ttous
observance OF sound Constitutional principles.
BY its fidelity TO these constitutional principles
IL has removed many obstacles which stood III
the way OF friendly understanding between the
different sectious of tine country and different
classes of the people. IL has, under trying clr-
cumstances, when the pubic pesce WAS dlstnro-
ed by riot and violence on the part OF numerous
class of citizens, greatly aided the restoration of
order and security by a calm and moderate EN-
IN ployment of the limited power at Its command
"a without In any reso<ting to doubtful
stretch Of authority. 1t has reformed many
n aliases in the public service. Infused higher
sense OF duty in It's different branches, raised It's
moral tone, increased It's efficiency, punished dis
honesty, ard kept ths service unsulned by the
scandals arising from lax notions OF official In
think | can say without exaggerstion that
these achievements will stand unQuestoned in
history by all fair minded men. Withal the conn
try is on The whole In coed condition. The people
are prosperous again; business is revying; our
Industries are active; labor finds ready and re-
q muueratlve employment; the government enjoys
ID The co Il fdence Of the business cemmuntty IN a
"a rare degree as our financial management mas won
the confidence OF the weote word. Ever ooey
sees reason 10 look hopefully into the future, pro
VI yided the conduct OF OR pubic AFFAIRS remains es
# good a. II mas been.
vs. Ia comparing the two parties ana their
# candidates, he says:
TO speak In all canGor, it appears to me that
the Democratic party labors under historic as
M well ss constitutional difficulties Since the
downfa and disappearance OF the slave
est, from which the Democratic party,
more than twenty years ago, derived its
morals its logic its political ski and Statesman
ship, that party hss been hounderiug about, ont
OF logical connection with The questions OF the
day; never knowing the time Of day; slwal 5
looking for something 10 turn up, spelling IT.;
lsmeIy tagging In the rear oil the events and re-
qurements Of the day; always behind; de-
nouncing Impossible things that were already
accomplished iacts; with Il strange incapacity
to understand tue present a. TO IA casGTe the
future, Masking Itself the recipient and rallying
cies aud clements, and thus committing Dlunder
after bluuder, which at the moment OF theaI birth
1t uniformly glorihed In great strokes OF policy,
from the secession movement in 1861, down To
the nomination OF Gsneral Hancock in 1880.
There are many good and clear headed men in
the Democratic party, men whom personal
esteem and whose friendship | value, who de-
plore this condition OF things as much a. do,
but are unable 10 control the obstreperoQs ele-
ments and tendencies Of the organization, and TO
fit It Tor the tasks and responsibilities OF govern
ment.
Looking back to the year 1864, the fourth year
OF the civil war, wheh the Southern Confederacy
ear the total exhaustion of its resources
we ind the Democratic party IN national conven-
ton sulemnly declaring that the war WAS fai ure
snd mast be abandoned. lew months after
ward the triumph OF oar arms was decided, and
"A the Coniederacy collapsed, the rettora ion Of u
81 Union assured and the Democracy was
Il forced TO acknowledge that the war had been a
4 success. The Democracy had proclaimed is de
SPAR OF me republic Just at the time when the
triumph OF The republic was ripe. 1t became
evident 70 every one that had the Democratic
policy bean then adopted, the war would have In
deed become failure and the Union have gone
to wreck and rulL.
Coming down TO more recent history, when the
Republicans In Congress had passed the reegmp-
uOu act n 1915. and the fruit Of the restoration
OF specie payments was almost ripe 20 be plucked
the democratic party IN lts natOaal convention OF
1870 thought IL smart thing to declare that the
very act passed for bringing specie payments was
al impeachment in its way and must be repealed.
And who II there to deny now that, nae the act
been repealed under the pressure Of all the linda
ton elements in the country, the confusion OF
our financial policy neCe ssarlly ensuing Woulo
have prOOpgs ID the ev lie Of an lrrede enable pcnt
currency under which we were then sudertngE 1
need not accumulate further examples 10 show
how Incapable the Democratic party proved itse (
to understand and appreciate not only the I'm
mediate requirements OF the times but fact. that
had been virtually accomplished. aud how Its