Year: 1872

Z strike out the word from the amendment
as likely to be offensive to the French Gov
ernment. Mr.. Morton and Conkling haG
offered a gross


Insult


to the German Government by assuming
that the agitation of the question might af
tect the decision of the German Emperor
as arbitrator between the United States and
england, and now the Senator from New
York was going to


Insult the French Governments


also. If this amendment meant ANYTHING,
1t meant collusion of an improper nature
and for improper purposes, and everybody
knew that it was aimed at three persons
MIR. Sumner, himself (Schurz) and the Mar
gus DE Chambrau. He (Schurz) would
vote for the amendment kand he would
give the Senate some evidence in advance
OF the investigation. The Marquis De
Chambrau was no spy. He was the legal
adylser OF the French Legation, French
gentleman of distinguished family and of
high character and attainments. Further,
he was not the man who had given Schurz
the first information on this subject.
Laughter.)


But what is the spirit of this amend
ment? l have said that 1 regretted for the
sake of the gentleman who introduced it.
L don't know that l can myself Ineligible
mind, except in one way, by supposing I had
introduced an amendment directing the COM
mittee to inquire also whether all those
who give letters of Introduction to Reming-
ton to France were guilty Of corrupt prac-
tlces IN connection with these transactions.
Does the Senotor want to know why I did
not do it? 1t was because / considered it


Infinitely Beneath Me.


applause in the galleries.)


Mr.. Conkling said be had not given Mr..
Remington letter of introduction to
France. He had merely addressed note
to Mr.. Remington himself, the purport of
which he had stated on former occasion.


Mr.. Schurz-If the Senator had given
! Mr.. Remington a note, stating he had in
vestigated all these transactions, and that
! he would be very glad if the French gov
ernment would settle them, and that he had
a personal interest in them, even then l
would not be the man to offer this amend
ment.


Mr.. Conkling said Mr.. Schurz had been
! the man to drag in the irrelevant fact that
! he (Conkling) had written note to Rem
| ington containing a statement which he
felt called on to make in justice to neigh
Dor and interest of fair play.


Mr.. SchurZ said when the subject was first
mentioned by him he had repeatedly ex-
pressed the opinion that the giving of note
by Remington was only an act of neighbor-
ly friendship on Mr.. Conkling's part.


Mr.. CoBkling disputed this also, and said
his amendment was aimed, not merely at
Messrs. SchuTZ, Sumner and Dechumbrun,
but at all who might come within its scope.


Mr.. Schurz-Oh, have no doubt the
Senator is earnest in this matter, have
never doubted that it looks just like him.
| The Senator has referred to the statute
which ne held up before us yesterday,
threatening us with fine and imprisonment.
Oh, sir, its glorious spectacle here to stand,
two American Senators not entirely un-
known to the country whose record is not
entirely devoid of patriotism and service,
and whose only aim is to investigate the
abuses and violation of law and have them
punished. Those Senators are not here
by one of the spokesmen of the
administration fourishing a statute In his
hand, threatening him with fine and
Imprisonment. Let it be known in every
nook and corner that he who is in earnest
in setting his face against those in power,
and who boldly seeks to detect fraud and
punish violations of law, is confronted by
the powers that be with the prospect of
dungeon. Why, sir, in such desperate
condition as that laughter and applause in
the galleries. they are developing very fast.
How long will it be until you canuot even
call up the testimony against Leet II Stock
ing, Knights of the General Or
der, without having some statute dug up
hot mill nd
for it, laughter, but if the Senator fi0m
New York thinks he can in this way strike
fear into my soul, be will soon find he is
greatly mistaken. On the path of duty
that have walked, have seen men far
more dangerous than he is, and before a
thousand of them my heart will net quail.
No, sir, will vote for his amendment, vote
for it with


All the SeOrn


which 1t deserves. Loud applause in the
galleries


Mr.. Schurz then spoke of the charge that
this was a move to ALLEVIATE the German
vote. The Senator from Indiana (Mr.
Morton) and the Senator from New York
(Mr. COnkling) were very


Sweet on the Germans


just now. [Laughter.l They had said no
man owned the Germans of America.
That's fact, and he was proud Of it, for he
was one Of the Germans. No man, no pol
itiCian, no Senator, not even the President
of the United States owned the Germans.
Least of all were they owned by that class
OfpOliticians who desperately clung to


The Skirt of Power.


through whatever mire it may drag them.
Laughter and applause in galleries.l The
Germans had fought Tammany in New
York, and would in solid array fight every
Tammany great or small on whate yer sid e
it might appear on. An attempt had been
made to suppress this investigation by
cracking party whips, but those who made
that attempt grievously mistook the time
and spirit of the people. The people could
be no longer deceived by misrepresenta-
tions of the motives Of those whoare fight
ing against corruption. When motives
were called in question they knew the mo-
tiyes of the


Henchmen of Power.


were at least as open to suspicious as the
motives of those who oppOsec them. Let
me tell these gentlemen that we know the
road to patronage Just as well as others did,
if we had chosen to walk it, The crack of
the party whip has lost its power in these
times. Mere party ties are stale and
nauseating on the stomach of the people. If
you think that the movement now spread
ing all over this land is all report of poll
ticians you will soon discover your mistake.
1t is a reaction against the


Easy Political Morals


and the spirit of jabbery which has been
developed in times of war and great political
excitement. 1t is an uprising for earnest
and pure government. YoB can not repress
it by party discipline. You cannot kill it
with penal statutes. 1t may be a coMmo-
ton to-day. Undertake to resist and you
will find it great moral, political revolu-
ton tomorrow. Whatever others may do,
he would have taken my lot. 1t is to this
cause that my heart is devoted and with
this cause l will stand or fall.
Mr.. Morton made reply, in the course
of which he said the object of the Senator
from Missouri was to separate the Germans
from the Republican party, and from the
native citizens, in order to make them the
balance of power. The Senator was at
tempting to revive Know Nothingism in its
worst form.