Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-28
SCHURz SPEAKS OUT
Letter to Prominent Germans
Of Cincinnati
IMPERIALISM THE ISSUE,
1t is CrOVdinS All Other Questions Into
The Background.
CAN'T AID REPUBLICANS OF OHIO
a Republican Victory in the buck
eye Stale Would lie Construed by
the Administration as an Endorse :
menf of Its Imperlaiistic Policy.

CINCINNATI, o., October ga num-
Der Of prominent German citizens recent
ly addressed an invitation to Hon. Carl
Schurz to deliver an address in Cincln-
natl.
The following reply was received to-
day:
New York October %. 1s99.-Dear Mr..
Rattermann: II was a matter Of regret
TO me 10 be unable TO accede to your re-
quest 20 deliver a non-partisan address
on Imperialism IN Cincinnati on my re-
turn trip from Chicago. This was partly
| due to my anxiety 20 reach home, and
partly because non-partisan liscussion
OF this question T. no longer recognized.
[ would be pleased n this question could
| be taken out OF party politics, because II
this is not done the only choice Left US
next year will be between party repre-
senting imperialism and sound money,
and another party which, in opposition
to imperialism will combine with 1t an
unsound-money issue.
| REIMBURSEMENT OF PHILIPPINES
This alternative can only be avoided
| If the imperialistic policy Is removed ana
| the UlSt step necessary 10 UNI GIN - 49,
alone the cessation of hOstilities by VIC
| tory OF our arms. but the REIMBURSEMENT
Of tho Philippines If the Filipinod dfe
not granted their independence, then imc
periallsm will be the main issue N the
presidential election next year, crowding
| AN other issues into the background Ihe
signs are already apparent, and see thaI
tina Cincinnati Volksblatt warns as lol-
| lows:
practical people are Of the opinion
that Mr. Schurz could be of greater ser
vice 10 the country il he would come 10
| ohio and again fight the silver sWihdle'
| instead of working into the hands OF tAe
| free-coiners by placing annexation III 'ie
| foreground. For it is fact that Tree
,,t,+,oa represents q greater danger imam
annexation. .,.,,-
IMPERIALISM MEANS RUIN.
81 am of a different opinion. NO one
| can sav of me that | underValue lhe
danger that may arise from Tree colhaEe'
| Rut I mold that imperialism - deciueiS
more dangerous, for 1t means lno run
| If our free institutions. H. then' we
| could not oppose imperialism without
'.,,r,,iro into the hands of tho free
aoG1@rs as the Volksblatt says, what
then2 II means that three years ago
I'm GOOD faith. We elected President %
solve the money question, Who, instead
has burdened us with imperialism ~
| ~ connection the warning 10 SPEAK
of something else sounds peculiar.
| "Of what 90 the speakers VINO nave
besn called into Ohio really speakY DID
| covernor Roosevelt. for instance dilate
upor the silver question? He was prin-
| ciraIIv occupied i'm calling us copper
heads in answer TO our anti-imperiaiistic
! documents. And the rest of the orators
| DO likewise. ,,o.,,..
CAN'T AID REPUBLICANS.
of under these circumstances. Would
bv the agitation of the silver question
aid tie Republicans Of Ohio to victory
/ would be convinced thar the admin
| istration would construe such victory
as an endorsement by the people OF us
| imperialistic policy. and make unlimited
capital out of it. Toward such result
| cannot cOuscientiOusly contribute.
Il am Of the honest conviction that the
greatest danger that now threatens the
republic is imperialism. believe that
| II is our highest patriotic duty TO set
aside all party interests and do our best
| to avert this danger. IL was 10 this end
| that last year ] opposed the can
| gidacv of Roosevelt for Governor in this
state. did this although l was
a nersonal friend of Roosevelt s,
and worked with him for civil SER
vice reform. | believed then, and still
believe. that his defeat. with his impe-
rlalism programme. and IN spite Of his
dearlv-earned fame would have fright
ened the administration In Washington
| from the annexation of thu Philippines
aud In this manner the danger would
| have been greatly minimized.
MAIN QUESTION NEXT YEAR.
"Alauv of my acquaintances here, who
were then Of a contrary opinion, agree
with me now. that the result of the sac
rifce would have been well worth the
prlce. The situation this year appears
| ia me TO be exactly the same. II the
fall elections result in a manner that
the administration and Congress are en-
couraged 10 further progress on the
path TO Imperialism, then, unless un-
| looked-for events should intervene, the
| main question that will confront US next
| wear in the presidential election viii be
| Imperialism. and 10 save the republic
| from her greatest danger will require
UNPLEASANT sacrifices Such encourage
ment to the administration should be
withheld at any cost.
\ CRISIS.
1--WE are i'm the midst Of a crisis, IN
| which every good citizen should regard
| il as his highest duty 10 make The less
important subservent 20 the moTs i'm
portant according 70 his knowledge and
| conscience. and not permit himself 20 be
governed simply by party Considerations
with friendly greetings. yours
(SigneD &C. SCHURZ."