The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-03
BY A CONTEMPORARY WRITER
Description Of SehurE's Oratory--con-
troversy Regarding Election Laws
in Missouri Just After the
Close Of Civil War.

read with the greatest interest his
paper during the campaign OF 1860.
Edttorially 1t was one OF the strongest
among the greU Republican papers OF
the country and had very decided
influence on the election. During the
war | had watched the course as q
commander, and with nearly all others
was much disappointed In him sup
pose the glamour OF the foreign OH
GERS who had helped Washington in
the great struggle FOR independence
still fingered with US, for we took II
for granted that every foreigner who
offered his services possessed COM
manding military talents We bclit-
tied our own military aptitude to exalt
the foreigners But Sigel, Schurz. Ose-
| terhaus, Which and number Of 9TH
ers proved great disappolntments
l never met SchurZ personally until
in 1868 At that time was spend
ing some months in Missouri. Schurz
was the leader of the Republicans OF
that State. During the campaign |
met him frequently and heard him
make many speeches, and now, after
the lapse Of nearly 40 years those
speeches stih linger with me | had
grown up among group OF orators
whose wild gesticulations and trcmen-
dous lung power were conspicuous fea-
lures OF their oratory. had heard
men who. by some whchery OF word
painting. or dramatic power Of voice
or countenance, could readily turn
peaceful meeting into an Indignant
mob. Schurz's oratory was a revela-
tion TO me. He always spoke In a
conversational tone. and used but few
gestures. When desirable he could
throw an intensity into the tone OF his
voice that was marvellous, without in
creasing the volume Of sound On the
PLATFORM he always stood at the side
of the table or desk, sometimes lean
ing his elbow theron, ana reasoned with
his audience. making no effort to cap
ture them by dramatic demonstra-
tions, but rather to take them captive
by his sheer power Of reasoning. His
language was classic in its purity and
his pronunciation Of English was per
feet the only distinguishing mark Of
his foreign origon being frequent use
Of German idioms.
His loyalty to the Union and to the
Republican party at that time was Of
the intense order, and he could see
nothing good in those who had attempt +
ed to destroy the Republic, or who had G
with that attempt. Mis- I
souri, had been maintained in It's al I
egiance through the large German t
clement in its population, and about s
he close Of the war the legislature :
lad enacted a law naming the quail
ications Of electors. This law was Of
he most radical kind containing
arge number Of specifications, and s
nan guilty Of having violated any one
# them was made Ineligible to vote,
IT to hold office. At every election two c
'allot boxes were prepared If a mans Il
'ote was challenged and he declined e.
r refused to take oath that he nad ne I
er been guilty Of any Of the spccif- 81
atiOns his vote was rejected and de- c.
osted in the box marked for such t,
otes. 49,
At the time | am speaking Of there C
vas a Republican paper published at F
Bonneville, by man named Blair.
yas spending few weeks in the place,
nd the editor, desiring to take a va
alton, asked me to edit his paper for
wO or three weeks. ! wrote an edi- L
1rial taking the ground that as the fl
'ar was over, its bitterness should be fc
orgotten at as early a date as possible, fl
nd to that end the election law should -
e either repealed or greatly modified; "'
1at it uttered not what might have oc-
ured in the past the people Of Mis- -
)uri was then loyal to the Union; =,
nd, finally, that there were some Spec
ications in the act, that but few men
the North had not been guilty of
Iolating, at least in spirit, and it was h,
MUST and had policy to keep the cleo m
We franchise away from the best and Nh
ost intelligent citizens Of the State.
his, feel sure, was the first editorial
Republican paper in Missouri ad- p'
)cating the repeal Of the law. Mr.. ie
nurz was a candidate for United Sta
$ Senator from Missouri. Through
'me means the editorial got to the Dc