The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-21
CARL soHURz's SPEECH
AT 1NDIANAPoLIs, YESTERDAY.
A Mastery Exposition of the Points
In the Canvass Prom n Con.
Servatiye Standpoint.

schurE opened the campaign in this cit
this. evening, addressing an immense an
enthusiastic audience. On being intro
duced Mr.. schurz spoke as follows:
Fellow CITIZENS: In response to the in
vitation with which a large number @
the citizens Of Indianapolis have honore,
me, shall speak to you only on few o
the questions which will be discussed Ii
the present contest; on those, mean
which come directly home to you. shal
address myself to the conservative bust
ness men Of the country, whose interes
in politics is only that Of the public good
Ishall appeal not to your passions, bu
to your reason, and, without any re
sort to the articles or oratory, give you {
plain practical talk. The Language o.
party warfare is apt to fly to violent exag
gerations, for the purpose Of producing
strong impressions; the language Of reason
and common sense will abstain from them
Let me say at the outset, therefore, that
do not agree with those who speak OF the
present moment as the greatest crisis in
the history Of American affairs. The ques-
tons we have to dispose OF are not those
OF immediate life or death; but the bear
ing they have upon the future vel
fare OF the nation, and upon those inter
ests which most nearly effect US, impoT.
tant enough to make us consider well
what we are doing, to call for our best
judgment and and strenuous effort TO put
that judgment into execution.
In the first place, let us make 1t clear to
our own minds what we want. The an
swer is, in general term, that we want q
good government; that II we have It we
must endeavor TO keep 1t, and il We have
It not, we must endeavor to get it. What
Is good government? We may answer
again, in general terms, that 1t is govern
ment which we'll understands the public
business, and, understanding it, transacts
| It within the limits OF its constitutional
power, intelligently, honestly, and justly.
The second question we have to answer
to ourselves Is, how, for the government,
we have come up to these requisites, how,
for the principles upon which it acts, the
methods it employs, the aims 1t pursues,
and the degree Of efficiency It develops
answer the public needs, and how far in
this respect we ought to preserve what we
have or look for other things We have not.
/ As member OF the present administra-
ton, now on the point OF yielding Its
power into the hands OF new set oil pub
lie servants, may be permitted to appeal
to the candid judgment OF the American
people as TO the mannerin which the pub.
IL. kAH inn
these last years. While it may be natural
that, bearing part OF the responsibility
myself, should be inclined to take "a.
vOrable view OF Its performances, still |
think that my ways OF thinking are indie
pendent enough not to betray me into
mere partisan eulogy, and that we may
confidently rely upon the judgment fire.
quently expressed, not only by our friends,
but alse by very many candid men among
our opponents. As matter OF course,
do not expect Democratic politicians and
orators 10 give US that fairness Of judg-
ment in the heat Of an election contest
which they could not deny US during the
repose Of previous period, and which
they will not deny us when this contest Is
over; for II is common experience that
partisan spirit will, under the excitement
OF the campaign, call man william TO.
day whose worth was recognized yester-
day, and whose merit will again be adj
mitted tomorrow. ! think l am not ex-
aggerating when l say that4tha fairminded
men OF this country will admit, and do ad-
NIT in their hearts to-day, that on the
whole the public business has been con.
Quoted by this administration, as lar as it
was in Its control, honestly, intelligently,
and successfully. ! should be the last
man to claim perfection for 1t, for as one
OF those who had an opportunity to watch
affairs in detail, l am well aware oil the
errors committed and OF the failures sui
iered in this and that respect. No adj
ministration OF the government ever has
or ever will be free from them: and with
respect to them I claim no larger measure
Of charity than would be claimed by any
member OF government acting upon cor
rect motives Of duty, and willing to leave
the acts and general success OF the ad.
ministration impartially' Judged as
whole.
1t has maintained the public faith and
raised the credit OF the United States TO q
point never reached before. It has with
consistent energy followed policy reliev::
ing the country OF the evils OF an irrational
and dangerous money system, and greatly
promoted the prosperity OF the people by
the restoration OF specie payment. It has
funded enormous masses OF the national
Indebtedness at lower interest, and thus
saved many millions year TO the tax
payer. It hasiaithfully executed the laws
with a conscientious observance OF sound
and constitutional principles. By its
fidelity to these Constitutional principles
| II has removed many Obstacles which stood
in the way Of friendly understanding
between the different sections OF the coun-
try and different classes 81 people. II has,
under trying circumstances, VIXEN the
public peace waA disturbed by riot and
violence on the part oil numerous class
OF citizens, greatly aided in the restora.
ton OF order and security by q calm and
moderate employment OF limited power
at It's command without, in any case, re.
sorting to doubtful stretch OF authority.
It has reformed many abuses in the pub
lie service; Infused high sense OF duty
into its different branches raised It's
moral tone; increased It's efficiency; pun
ishei dishonesty, and kept the service IN
snllied by the scandals arising from lax
notions Of official integrity.
In saying this am not unmindtul OF
the fact that the reform OF the public ser.
vice has not overcome in 80 high degree
as was intended and as was desirable
The obstacles opposing It In the shape Of
Iinyeterate political habit and antagonistiC
Interest that, therefore, the highest stand
ard has not been reached, that some mis-
takes have been made in the selection oil
persons for public positions points o.
which shall say more in the course. o.
these remarks; but It Is certainly true thai
the service Is now showinga greater degree
Of efficiency, higher moral spirit, and {
stronger sense Of duty than has prevailed
at any time since the period when the sd
miniStratiye machinery was demoralizeC
by the introduction Of spoiled system.
Il has in many Of its branches introduced
rules and methods which have borne excel
lent fruit and are capable OF the most ben
"a toi aInnn,ank n fnFthAr carried or