Year: 1875

MIR. SCHURZ's OBJECT IN SPEAKING IN OHIO.


MR.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS :-Tbe
merchants and business men of Cincinnati have
greatly honored me by inviting me to address the
people Of Ohio as an advocate of honest money. For
that honor offer them my sincere thanks. In obei-
dience to my own of duty have accepted that
invitation deeply sensible of the magnitude of the
question and the farreaching importance of the dec
laration of sentiment which the people of Ohio will
soon be called upon to make at the balot.box. But
before proceeding to discuss the issues at this con-
test, owe you preliminary statement of personal
nature. I am told that my appearance in this cam
pagn has been represented as part of concerted
plan to lead independent voters of the country into
the ranks of the Republican party, and commit them
to support its candidates in the Presidential election
of 1876. That story is an idle invention. know OF
such plan. If it existed would not be party to
it. Independent voters have minds of their own,
and respect them too much to believe that they
be transferred to this that side by any individual
or combination of individuals Besides, not only do
not seek to commit anybody else as to the Presiden
tal election of 1876, but do not mean to commit
myself. reserve to myself entire freedom of judy
ment on that matter. to be exercised when the exi
gency will arise; and advise everybody else to do
the same. My relations to the Republican party
no secret. 1 have deemed it my duty as a Senator
and citizen to combat the and transgressions
of the set of politicians that controlled it, and to at
tack the abuses grown up under its rule. was in
earnest. thought was right when did SO, and it
is not mere stubbornness of opinion when say 1
think so now. Not only have nothing to retract
but am sure recent developments convinced many
good conscientious Republicans, that had appeals
been needed in time, that organization would have
saved itself many humiliations. 1t is therefore no
sentimental partiality for the Republican party that
brings me here. Whether the Republican party will
put itself in position to deserve support in the
Presidential election in 1876, remains to be seen
whether the Democrats will do remains to be
also. My opinion has long been, and have not con-
cealed it, that the patriotic men of the Republic
might do better than depend upon either. That
well.meaning citizens should frequently have
found themselves compelled to support one party,
not because it had their approval and confidence,
but because the other party appeared still worse is
condition of politics unworthy OF free, intelligent
and high minded people, but one of the most pro.
life sources of the corruption and Generalization Of
our political life.


THE GOOD NAME OF THE COUNTRY INVOLVED IN


THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.


In that situation we have been for years. and there
is now something going on in Ohio which threatens
to continue that state of things in the year 1876 only
in an aggravated form. Proclamation has been
made by the Democratic leaders of Ohio that this
State campaign is to be of decisive effect as to the is
sue of the Presidential election of 1875, and in the
very front of these issues they have placed which
involves not only the National but the char
acter good name, and the whole moral being of the
American people. An attempt is being made to Sc
cure the endorsement by the people of the greatest
state of the West and one of the greatest in the Un
i'm of q ina hv
National Government, would discredit republican
institutions the world over, expose the American
people to the rdicule and contempt of civilized man.
kind, make political well business life more
than ever the hotbed of gambling and corruption,
and plunge the country into all those depths of NOR
al and national bankruptcy and ruin which, as all
history demonstrates, never, never fail to follow
course utterly demented in its wickedness. The
advocates of imitation in this state. as they them
selves give us to understand expect the people of
Ohio, by the election of the Democratic candidates,
10 declare their appreciation of that financial policy,
that imitation fever which will, under the stimulus of
such success, sweep like wildfre the Western
and Southern States, overwhem and snbjugate the
Democratic National Convention next year, dictate
its policy and its candidates. and in 1876 put an in


ation party into the field strong enough to defy op-
position.


candidly confess see good reason to apprehend
such consequences do, indeed, not undervalue the
Importance of the manly honorable, and patriotic
condemnation pronounced by the Democratic Con-
vention of New York on the doctrines preached by
their Democratic brethren here. 1t was an act de-
serving the grateful applause of every good citizen
but doubt very seriously whether that act will stem
the flood if the infationsts in Ohio are successful.
Pennsylvania has already followed them, and 1t Is
but too probable that the sectional feeling which the
imitation movement strives to excite in the west anu
| South will be nfamed to more intense bitterness
and that the financial question will be used as new
agency to revive the curse Of sectional warfare IN
| our politics. Let us indulge in no delusion. Inc
success OF the imitation party in Ohio will be the sg
nal for the general change along the whole line 70
submerge the best principles and leave hepeless IN