National Republican., 1880-07-21
POLITICS In INDIANA.
Secretary schurz Addresses the Indian
ap0lis Republicans.
Tho Requirements of the Presidentia
Omcu-A Parallel Between tho
Two Candidates.

IND1ANApoIIs, July 20.--IIon. Carl Schurz
secretary of the interior, addressed an inn
monse asscmblage of republicans at the wig
wan tonight. The speech was long one,
occupying two hours in delivery, commanding
the closest attention of tho large audience.
After thoroughly discussing the history Of the
democratic aud republican parties since the
rebellion, and showing the Inconsistencies
aud folics of tho former upon moral and
financial questions, tho speaker made the fol-
lowing contrast between the character and
learning of the two leading candidates for the
presidency:
IL shall certainly not attempt to deprecate
the character of General Hancock aud the
great services which he has rendered to the
country. He is gentleman Of irrerroachable
private character, which shall be sorry to
see any effort made to discredit. AS a soldier
he has shown signal bravery and skill in the
handling of troops under itficult circum-
stances, and his namo Is identified with some
of tho most splendid achievements of the war.
For all this every good citizen will honor him.
But the question is not whether we shall honor
q deserving general
"The question is whether that derserving
general would be the kind Of president the
"
pended upon successfully to solve the prob
lens of craftsmanship which are now before
us; to preserve the good things already done
and improve upon them. To lead battalions
of brave men against fortified position or to
win q campaign by adashing manmuvre is one
thing to regulate the finances of the country
in such q way that tho blessings of sound
currency may be permanently secured to .us;
TO develop our commercial opportunities to
organize the civil service In such q manner
that it may conduct tho public business
upon sound business principles, is auother
and in tho latter case the brave spirit
aud ability which storms hostile batteries
and lays low invading hosts does not appear
in the first line of Importance. When such
difficult civic duties are TO be performed we
shall, as reasonable men, inquire whether the
brilliant captain, who appears so glorious at
the head of his columns, is also familiar with
the complex interests which in official station
he would have to serve; whether his knowl-
edge, training experience and mental habits
fit him clearly to distinguish on the political
field good from evil, not only in the absract,
but in the confusing multiplicity and variety
Of forms Ia which things appear in reality;
whether lie will be sufficiently equipped to
penetrate restrain and battle the wilcs
OF political intrigue and the conflicts
of faction among tho friends, which
always surround the chief magistrate of a
great commonwealth; whether no will show
himself fitted to movo on that fold of civil
action and duty, where forces are handled
and directed not by mere rule of command
and obedience but by finding the just measure
of firmness and moderation in tho pursuit of
great objects and resistance to evil influences
i cannot impress it too strongly on your minds
that there can be no greater difference than
that between the handling of troops in IL cam
paign and the handling of political forces Of n
great people and the handling of the political
affairs Of o great government.
Moreover, 1t must not be forgotten that
this government is 10 longer the simple ma.
chinery it was in the early days of the repub-
lie The bucolic age of America is over The
interests the government has TO deal wi th are
no longer those of small number of agr.
cultural communities, with here and there q
commercial town. They are the interests o {
nearly fifty millions of people spread over an
immense surface, with occupations, pursuits
and industries of endless variety and great
magnitude; large cities with elements of pop
ulaton scarcely known here in the carly
days, and all these producing aspirations aud
interests so pushing, powerful and complicated
In their nature, aud 30 constantly appealing &
10 tho government rightfully or wrongfully,
that the requirements of statesmanship de-
manded IN this age are far different from those
which sufficed century ago.
THE fact is that the president of the
United States, by the very nature of his posi-.
tion is obliged to spend far moro time in lis.
tcning to the advice aud tho wishes and the
urgency Of mon outside of his cabinet, than to
his consultations with cabinet ministers them.
selves. Tho opposition he may encounter
from the opposing party in congress and in the
press is in most cases, the least of the diff
culties ho has to contend with. The greatest
puzzles that are apt to porplex and sometime.
TO overwhelm his mind come from his own
party, who have claim upon his attention
and insist to have that claim respected. MOI
only upon the great measures Of hi
administration, but upon every detail tn,
advice of the members of his party
especially those in congress, is urged upOl
him with all imaginable sorts of argument
aud from all imaginable sorts of motive
There is scarcely an appointment he has t
make, there is certainly not a reform he wants
to execute that he will not have to carry
through u siege aud storm Of opposing wishes
and interests. Every object ho pursues viii
run counter to the wishes not only of h
opponents, but of some of his friends; every
reform, the execution of which may appear L
him desirable, will tread upon the toes o
somebody whose interests lie in tho abuse Il
be reformed, or who has a friend to protcc
who Is connected with it; and all these pleas
representations, remonstrances, urgcucies ant
pressures 20 to tho president, not through
the members of his cabinet, but behint
their backs, and 1t is matter of lonI
and varied experience that unleB
the president himself has sufiicen
knowledge of affairs, clear eye to see through
arguments and motives, and that temper anC
skill which are necessary TO resist withou
offending aud to conciliate without giving al
his objects, he will inevitably be run over ant
lamentablY fail. No man who has not wit
messed IL has an adequate conception Of th
furious pressure the president Is subjected to
especially during the first period of his ad
ministraton aud that first period is apt to dc
tormino the character of tho whole. NJ
cabinet minister can carry out reform IL
the branch Of the public service over whcl
he presides unless he has the president at hi
back, for If tho president yields to remon
stIancos aud urgencies brought TO bear upol
him against such reform, the cabinet min
lister will find himself bGiiled ut every step.
"Now put for the sake ofargument, in tha
most trying position, General Hancock or an.
man trained exclusively in tho walks Of arm
life, OF which he is so conspicuous an orna
ment-l mean man not endowed with tina
intuitive genius which have spoken of, am
which eyon his most ardent friends, as / un
derstand, do not claim for General Huncock
What has there been in the school of his pas
life to III him for it2 As boy no was &C
eeptcd by tho government as a cadet ut Was
Point, and that was his college aud univoi
sity. | have high respect for that militar
school. Every branch of military science
taught there have no doubt, with know
I'm I,a al .