National Republican., 1883-02-03
LETTERS no TIE EDITOR.
A SwGss SOLDIER.
UH WH.

~ fhe ENUOr.
IRON RIDGE, Mo, Jan. 30, 1Ss3.-Sir :
Your remarks upon A Swiss Soldier Always
to Let" reminds me Of man who once re-
sided in Missouri for about two years The
name of our hero. too, was Carl SChurz. In
jan, lS69, he was nominated in n caucus of
republican members of the legislature, by
majority of five. for the United States senate
After tile nomination he was elected, because
those who opposed his nomination were of
that class of Missouri republicans who never
bolt. After his election he soon found much
in the republican party TO hate, and much in
the democratic party to admire. He made
rapid strides towards mercy and grace for err
ring rebels, the secret of which was the
DISTINGUISHING clause of our state consti-
tuition would cease TO he fundamental
law upon and after tho first day of
January, 1871. This was provided in
that instrument ut itS formation in 1865.
IL was understood that this would soon bring
the state into democratic hands. So this
Swiss soldier, always to let" became con-
scicntious individual very rapidly, and be-
came noisy in advocacy of an amendment to
the constitution proposing to enfranchisc ex-
rebels month sooner, and the amendment
was adopted, and dislranChisemout was re-
moved in Dec, 1870. True, there was no cleo
tion during that month, but IL could be taken
us an indication of the generosity within tho
soul of II liberal
lie went so far with his criticisms of the
American republic as to offend the party that
elected him, and his only hope for II re-clec-
tion was the opposing party which came into
! power in this state while he was In office.
Democrats, however, had no use for him. and
so he received only four Or five votes for re-
election ut the end of his experience as United
States senator. Hence, finding himself with
out party and without a respectable follow
! ing, he denounced this " robber state " and
| moved therefrom. Between this time and
| 1876 he kept mt sea as an independent" and
| boasted of having Il crew under command cal
culatcd TO smash either the republican or tho
| democratic party, and the coming conventions
would show which he would dcmoish. The
Cincinnati convention failed to cause him to
! take position. He waited on the Tildcn
| convention next, and then his conscience "
did not serve him until he made that mem-
orablc visit to X. Il. Hayes. His canvass for
! Hayes came rear beating him, and would
| have done it had it been known that he was
to 80 into the cabinet
Suddenly SChurz sent his wife to Missouri,
and tho state was insulted by his being ap-
| pointed as "Of Missouri" Tho worst OF all
| was the turning Of the state over to his manip-
uIation. For four years he took revenge upon
the republicans OF Missouri for discarding him,
ana he rewarded political eunuchs who fol-
lowed him into treachery. After storing
away i'll places rs many nOn-prinCipled ad-
herents as possible, he joined in the cry
| against rotation in Office and for perpctuation
under the name of "civil service reform"
This is hasty gallOp across the field of
Schurz's operations in connection with Mis-
souri. He can disturb but cannot harmo-
nizc. Ho can tear down, but canno5 build.
He is II "specta1ed dabblc: in Utopian the
Ories;" but never advances actual reform. AS
was said in the United States senate on the
twenty-ffth of March, 1878: lIc Is not
democrat, and yet not republican. "
He has ospoused and deserted every party"
lie has beenn fraud and failure in all his
professions, and is still "to let"
MIsSOURIAN.