The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-16
Aolhiral.
Mr.. BLAlNE'S RECORD.
Carl Schurz's Logical and DispassiOnate
Consideration of Mr.. Blaine's COnnec-
tion with the Little Rock
I.Rnd Grnb. &c.

Below is an extract from Carl Schurz'
great speech in Brooklyn, N. Y, August 9th
at the meeting of Independent Republicans:
FELLOW CITIZENS: In obedience to the in
vitation with which | have been honored,
stand here in behalf of Republicans, Opposing
the Presidential candidates of the Republican
party. You may well believe me when say
that it is no pleasure to me to enter upon 6
campaign like this. But candid statement
Of our reasons for the step we have taken j;
due to those whose companionship in the
pending contest we have left. 1t is, there
fore, to Republicans that l address myself
| shall, of course, not waste any words upon
politicians who follow the name of the party,
right or wrong; but to the men of reason and
conscience will | appeal, who loved theil
party for the good ends it was serving, and
who were faithful to it in the same measure
as it was faithful to the honor and the true in.
terests of the Republic. Let them hear me-
and then decide whether the same fidelity will
not irresistibly lead them where We stand
now.
THE T4RIFF NOT THE ISSUE.
At the threshold | have to meet q misap.
prehension of our motives. 1t has been said
and, suppose, believed by some, that we
were dissatisfied with the Republican party
because its present candidates ware protec.
tioni.ts. This is easily answered. Is Sena.
tor Edmunds, of Vermont, free trader
On the contrary, he is well known to be as
strong q protectionist as any member of the
Senate. And who among the candidates be-
fore the Republican National Convention was
the favorite of the same Independent Re.
publicans" now opposing the Republican
nominations? The same Senator Edmunds.
Why was he their favorite? Because he was
thoroughly trusted as an honest man who
could be depended upon to be faithful to those
moral principles and political methods, the
| observance of which would make and keen
the Government honest. There was the de-
cisive point We should have supported
other Republican candidates even of less
prominence and of less ability than Mr.. Ed
munds possesses, no matter whether they
were as strong protectionists as he, provided
| they satisfied that one fundamental require
ment of unimpeachable, positive and active
integrity. This is fact universally knowH
which no candid man will question. What,
then, has the tariff question to do with the
motives of our opposition? Nothing at all.
| And if any of those to whom these presents
may come still assert that the tariff is the
moving cause of our action, they convict
themselves of being afraid of the real reasons
which govern us, and of seeking artfully to
deceive the people about them. So far it may
have been a mistake; now it will be lie.
Undoubtedly the tariff is an interesting and
important subject; so is the currency; so is the
bank questions; so is the Mormon questions so
are many others. At other times they might
absorb our attention. But this time the Re-
publican National Convention has, with brutal
| directness, so that we must face it whether we
will or not, forced upon the country another
issue, which is infinitely more important, be-
cause it touches the vitality of our institutions.
| 1t is the question of honesty in government.
| | say the Republican Convention has forced
it upon the country, not by platform declara-
tions, but by nominating for the Presidency a
man with blemished public record. Under
stand me fully. The question is not merely
whether Mr.. Blaine, if elected notwithstand-
ing his past career, would or would not give
the country comparatively honest admins
tration. The question is much larger than
that. 1t is whether the public record of the
Republican candidate is not such as to make
his election by the American people equiva-
| lent to declaration on their part that honesty
will no longer be one of the requirements OF
the government of the Republic. 1t is whether
such declaration will not have the inevitable
effect of sinking the government for genera:
tions to come, perhaps forever, into a depth
of decentralization and corruption such as we
have never dreamed of before. If this is
really the issue of the pending campaign, then
you will admit it to be the most momentous
that has been upon us since the civil war; nay,
as momentouS as any involved in the civil war
itself.
Above all, let us be sure of the facts. Is
the public character and record of the Repub-
lican candidate really such that his election
would produce results of greater consequence
to the future of the Republic than the deci-
sion one way or the other of any political
question now pending? Some of Mr.. Blaine S
| friends assert that he is a much abused and
illuminated man; that certain charges have
been trumped up against him and exploded;
that INSCRIPTIONS enemies are prosecuting
him with accusations of vague and indefinite
nature, using against him the insidious
weapons of hint, insinuation and innuendo.
If this be so it is wrong. Mr.. Blaine has q
clear right to demand the facts. The citizens
who are asked to vote against him on the
ground of his character and record have O
right to demand the facts. And if, indeed,
others have been vague in their statements
on subject so important to the people at this
time, nobody shall have any reason to COM
plain of a want of straightforwardness on my
part. Nothing could be more distasteful to
me than to discuss the personal conduct of a
public man. But it has been forced upon us
as public duty, which, however disagreeable,
must be performed. ! shall certainly moi
abuse Mr.. Blaine. | shall not even make q
charge against him that he has not made
against himself You shall have his own
words, taken from the official records of Con-
gress, by which to judge him. | shall leave
aside all other accusations brought by others,
however well authenticated or plausible, and
confne myself to one representative and
simple case 1t is somewhat tedious story.
MR.. BLAINE's RECORD.
In May and June, 1876, an investigation
was made by committee of the National
House of Representatives into the affairs oi
certain land grant railroads. This investiga-
ton brought out certain letters which Mr..
Blaine, while Speaker of the House of Rep.
resentatives, had written to Mr.. W. Fisher, Of
Boston, gentleman connected in business
way with one of those roads. The first one
of the letters want to mention reads thus:
AUGUSTA, June 90 1869.
My Dear Mr. Fisher: thank you for the article
from Mr.. Lewis. It is good in itself and will dc
good. He writes like man of large intelligence
and comprehension. Your offer to admit me to d
participation in the new railroad enterprise is in
every respect as generous as l could expect or de
SIRE thank you very sincerely for it, and in thi.
what selfish character. 1t is this: You spoke of Mr.
Caldwels offer to dispose of share Of his interes
make the proposition definite so that could know
just what to depend on. Perhaps II he waits til
reluctant to part with the share, and / do not by
this mean any distrust of him. do not feel that
shall prove deadhead in the enterprise if l once
embark in it. / see various channels in which
know | can be usefnl. Very hastily and sincerely
your friend, JAMES G. BLAINE.
Mr.. Fisher, India street, Boston.
This is what Puck calls the ''letter of ac-
ceptance."
The second, dated three days later, read,
as follows:
AUGUSTA Me-, July q 1869.
My Dear Mr.. Fisher: You ask me if l am satisfied
with the offer you made me of share in your new
railroad enterprise. Ofcourse, am more than sat
isfed with the terms of the offer; think it mos
liberal proposition. If hesitate at all il is from
considerations in no way connected with the char
aeter of the offer Your liberal mode of dealing
with me in all business transactions of the pas
eight years has not passed without my full appreci
| alton. What wrote you on the 29th was intended
to bring Caldwell to definite proposition. Tha
| was all go to Boston by the same train tina
carries this letter and will call at your office to
morrow at II NJ. Ifyou don't happen to be in, M
matter: don't put yourself to any trouble about il
| Mr.. Fisher, Jr.
Here let us pause moment. Who wer,
| NJ N,,ho .,1d NJ HolluoHo D,,,;noa, -, =,