Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-29
SPEECH OF HON, CARL SCHURZ.
An Exhaustive Review of all
Questions at Issue.
Civil Service and Financial Policy
Of Present Administration.
An Eloquent Tribute to the Worth
of Gen. Garfield.
Miscellaneous Points.

Of republicans at the Wigwam in Indian
apolis, Indiana, July Goth. He spoke as
follows:
Felton, Citizens response to the invi-
tation with which a large number of citi-
zens of indianapolis have honored me, l
shall speak to you only on few of the
questions which will be discussed in the
present contest; on those, | mean, which
come directly home to you. | shall adj.
dress myself to the conservative business
men Of the country, whose interest in poll
tics is onl y that of the public good.
As member of the present administra
ton now on the point of yielding It's power
into the hands of new set of public serv-
ants, | may be permitted to appeal to the
candid judgment of the American people
as to the manner in which the
PUBLIC BUSINESS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED
during these last years While it might
be natural that, bearing part of the re
sponsibility myself, | should be inclined
to take a favorable view of its perform
ances, still feel that my ways of thinking
are independent enough not to betray me
INTO mere partisan eulogy, and that we
may confidently rely upon the Judgment
frequently expressed, not only by our
friends, but also by very many candid men
among our opponents. As a matter of
course | do not expect democratic poll
tIclans and orators to give us that fairness
OF judgment in the heat of an election con
test 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 it is a common experience that
partisan spirit will, under the excitement
of the campaign, call ii man a villain to-
day whose worth was recognized yesterday,
and whose merit will again be admitted
tomorrow. | think | am not exaggerat-
ing when | say that all fairminded men
of this country will admit, and do admit
III their hearts to-day that on the whole
the public business has been conducted
by this administration, as far as it was in
its control, honestly, intelligently, and
successfully. 1t has maintained the pub
lie faith and raised the credit of the Uni
ted States to point never reached be-
fore. 1t has with consistent energy fol-
lowed
POLICY RELIEVING TIE 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. 1t has funded enor-
nous masses of the national Indebtedness
at a lower interest, and thus saved many
millions a year to the taxpayer. 1t has
faithfully executed constitutional prin-
eiples. BY its fidelity to these constitution
al principles it has removed many OBJ
stacles which stood in the way of friend
ly understanding between the different
sections of the country and different
classes ofthe people. 1t has, under try
ing circumstances, when the public peace
disturbed by riot and violence on the
part of 4 numerous class OF citizens, great
" aided the restoration of order and Sc
curity by calm and moderate employ
ment ofthe limited power at its command
without in any eases resorting to doubt
ful stretch of authority. 1t has reformed
many abuses in the public service, infused
higher sense of duty into the different
branches, raised its moral tone, increased its
efficiency, punished dishonesty, and kept
the service unsullied by the scandals arts
ing from lax notions of official integrity.
In saying this | am not unmindfu. of the
fact that the reform of the public service
has not overcome in so high a degree as
was intended and as was desirable, the OBJ
stacles opposing it in the shape of inveter
ate political habit and antagonistic inter
est; that therefore the highest standard
has not been reached; that some mistakes
have been made in the selection of persons
for public position-points (which | shall
say more in the course of these remarks;
but it is certainly true that the service is
now showing greater degree of efficiency,
a higher moral spirit, and stronger sense
of duty than has prevailed perhaps at any
time since the period when the admins
trative machinery was demoralized by the
Introduction of
THE SPOILS SYSTEM.
1t has in many of its branches introduced
rules and methods which have borne ex-
cellent fruit, and are capable of the most
benehcent development if further carried
on by the coming administration in sym
pathy with them.
| think | can say, without exaggeration,
that these achievements will stand unques-
toned in history by all fair-minded men.
Nithal the country is on the whole in good
condition. The people are so prosperous
again; business is reviving; our industries
are active labor finds ready and remunera-
tive employment; the government enjoys
the confidence of the business community
IN i rare degree, rs our financial manage
ment has won the confidence Of the whole
world. Everybody sees reason to look
hopefully into the future, provided the
conduct of our public affairs remains as
good as it has been.
Now the time for Il change in the per
sonnet of the administration has arrived
and ifthe present conduct of affairs is on
the whole good, patriotic and sensible citi-
zens will see to it that the change now to
come be such as to give the greatest pos
sible guarantee for the preservation Of all
that is good, and, wherever possible, for
an Improvement ON it. They certainly
will endeavOr to prevent such a change as
would threaten Il serious deterioration.
We should, therefore, favor that candidate
for the presidency who in this respect can
be best depended upon
| shall certainly not attempt to depreci-
ate the character of General Hancock and
the great service he has rendered to the
country. He is a gentleman of ire
proachable private character, which
shall be sorry TO see any effort made to dis
credit. As soldier he has shown signal
bravery and skill in the handling of troops
under difficult circumstances, and his name
Is identified with some of the most Splend-
id achievements of the war For all this
every good citizen will honor him. But
the question is not whether we shall honor
deserving general. The question is
whether that deserving general would be
THE KIND OF \ PRESIDENT THE COUNTRY
NEEDS,
a president who can be depended upon sue
cessfully to solve the problems of states
manship which are now before us; to pre-
serve the good things already done and inn
prove upon them. To lead battalions of
brave men against fortified position or to
win a campaign by a dashing maneuver is
one thing; to regulate the finances of the
country in such way that the blessings of
sound currency may be permanently Sc
cured to develop our commercial oppor-
tunities; to organize the civil service in
such manner that it may conduct the
public business upon sound business prin.