The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-30
George Joacs"OpiniOn Of fSchursT Twelve
Years Ago.

for themselves and exercise the right OF
aspersing character to any extent they
howl with rage when their own con-
duct is passed under review They
must be sacred from criticism. The
moment you speak of them they turn
round with an aggrieyed air and say:
care we to be abused because we con-
denim the Administrations" They are
always acting the parts of injured in
nocents. They stick themselves on a
pedestal and claim the privilege of
hinging mud at anybody who happens
10 offend them, but you must not even
cast disrespectful glance at them in
return.
Senator Schurz, for instance, has not
hesitated TO invent the most outrag-
eous calumnes against President
Grant. lie has accused him, by mean
insinuation, of keeping up the general
order system of New York for his own
profit. He has insulted the people by
intimating that the President is shame
fully corrupt What right has man
who deals in SANDER OF this kind to
claim immunity from criticismP Who
is he that he should be protected from
these comments which his reckless
career naturally provoked
We believe that Senator Schurz has
no claim whatever to public con-
fdence or public respect. Let us
go briefly over the chief incidents
in his life and see il he will stand
the test he invites. He came to Amer
lea, an involuntary emigrant from his
native Germany, in 1862. He was
naturalized as o citizen in 1857 at the
age of twenty-seven. Two years later
he was a candidate before the Repub-
lican Convention of Wisconsin for Gov
ernor, but failed Of q nomination and
was rendered the nomination of Lieu
tenant-Governor This offer, highly
complimentary to one so young in
wears and citizenship, he spurned con-
temptuously, and refused to support the
ticket nominated by the convention. In
the Presidential campaign of 1860. hav-
ing already acquired some reputation
rs a stump orator, he entered into q
contract with the National Republican
Committee 10 canvass the country
wherever he might be sent, at stipu-
lated price. perhaps two hundred and
fltv dollars a week and his expenses.
Under this contract he was assigned TO
duty in some OF the Western States.
Whom he reached his field of labor,
however. he struck for higher wages,
and refused 10 make any speeches un-
less he was paid an additional sum ior
each speech Jy the locll committees.
Eurhor sums were paid him by sUtl
committees VARYING from fifty dollars
TO one hundred dollars Tor each speech.
ll this mannor no realized q very hand
Some sum rom bis iaOOis ia the can
Ngs5.
Eut be did not deem himself fully
paid, iJl on Air Lincoln inauguration
he came ~ once TO Washington ard de.
mandod additional compensation in the
position OF Minister 10 some foreign
court By bis persistent efforts be sue
ceoacd ia procuring the appointment o.
Minister 10 Spain, whore no remained
but little moro than q year. lie con.
stanJy represented 90 MIR. Lincoln that
no had supreme control Of the German
vote OF the country, and that any re.
fusal 20 comply with his demands
would bo promptly resented by that
class Of voters.
Ia 1867 Mr. Schurz resigned the
Spanish mission and returned TO Wash
ingtOu. where he again applied TO Mr..
Linlolu, this time for O Major Generals S
commission ia the army. This Mr..
Lincoln declined because Of the number
OF men then in tho service who had
earned promotion in the field. He then
gave Mr.. Lincoln 20 understand, in the
most emphatic manner, that il he were
not given at least Bigador-Gonoral's 5
commission with Major-GeneraPs
command no would at once
Withdraw his 100000 Germans,
and oppose :he Administration. "
Gr Lincoln, harrassed as he
was at that time with tho cares Of his
Office and the Nations great troubles,
gave way TO Schur5's persistent pressure
ana threats, gave him a Brigadiors
commission, and he was sent TO the
Shenandoah Valley about the close OF
General Fremonts campaign against
jackson, inJune, 1862. Whatever may
have been the tenor of the Instructions
relative 10 General Schurz's command,
il is nevertheless true that the corps was
at once reorganized, veteran officers
were displaced, and he was Immediately
placed in command Of n division. He
continued in the army, participating in
the battles Of Bull Run. Chancellors-
vile and Gettysburg, without manifest
ing any striking evidences of military
genius. OF this, however, we do not
now propose TO speak, for 1t is already
q part OF our military history. At tho
close of the War, instead Of being at
once mustered out, as other officers Of
far superior ability and more efficient
service were, he again made use of his
alleged influence with the German
element 10 continue In commission for
O considerable time after there was no
use for him.
In 1866 Schurz went 10 Detroit as the
editor Of the Post where, however, he
by no means favorably distinguished
himself. His next move was TO Mis-
souri,, which, he imagined, afforded a
most promising field for his versatile
talent. There he assumed the leader
ship of the extreme Radicals-himself
Radical OF the most proscriptiye type.
Mr.. Henderson, true Republican, and
man Of many sterling qualities, was
representing Missouri in the Senate,
aad cch,,yz ~ onca dofprnined 10 sue.