Year: 1871

disorder and violence, but of enabling
the Republican party to maintain or
restore its ascendancy, and especially
/ the President to secure for himself the
electoral vote of the Southern States,


by the machinery Of that law. 1t IS
| possible that some unscrupulous poll
ticisns have such an object in view,
| bat they, however, wanted and pre-
pared a law much more sweeping than
this; but it is my deliberate convic-
tion, based upon personal observation,
that a majority Of those who voted for
the bill had no other object
than to afford protection to persons in
the South who seemed to be helplessly
exposed TO persecution and outrage,
and many Of them voted for the bill


with hesitation and regret. do not


want to justify their vote, or to excuse
any body, but TO be just. I am hon
estly convinced that nothing has done
more to keep alive the spirit from


which Ku-KluX Outrages proceeded
shan the acrimonious war that was
waged upon the reconstruction
measures and constitutional amend
ments and the studiOus encouragement
that was given in hopes that these
things would be swept away again il
only the Democratic party should
come into power. lam furthermore
convinced that large majority Of the
Republican party, both North and
South, are in favor of q liberal, gen.
erOus and strictly constitutional poll
cy, and that the deIlagOgues and
schemers among the leaders of that
party would have been utterly i'm
potent had not the laWless element OF
the South and the blind resctionists
everywhere most industriOusly fur
nished them with capital to work
upon.


In speaking of the San Domingo
case, the speaker said that the annex
alton Of San Domingo would ineVita-
bly, lead to the annexation of Ameri-
can tropics down to the Isthmus of
Darien. This would give US pOpula-
ton of the Latin IndO-Afriean mix
ture, which has nothing in common
with US; that would promise no pros
pect Of a successful assimilation with
our political system. We would gain
countries beautiful indeed, but cOun-
tries whose possession would
be source of incaleulable
difficulties, military government, cor
ruptiOn and Decentralization of every
kind. Speaking of the orders given
by the President 70 our naval squad
ron IN the West Indies, to protect
Baez, the Chief Of the Republic OF San
Domingo, ii BaeZ was interfered with
by any one, MIR. SchurZ said the power
to involve the country in war is a
power of tremendous responsibility,
and it cannot be circumscribed too
carefully nor too cOnscientiOusly
guarded against abuse. That this
power was taken from the Executive
and cOnfided to the Legislative branch
of the government was one Of the most
important changes in the theories of
a Constitutional Government. 1t
was essentially a Republican provi-
sion, for which we gratefully Temem-
Der the fathers of our Constitution. l
have been severely censured and
attacked for my attitude in this affair;
that can't touch me, but when re-
spectacle Republican journal sum-
mons Mr.. Sumner and myself to com
pose our personal differences with
the President for the sake of
the public interest, it deserves
an answer. l cannot understand
this view of public affairs; 1
know Of no differences that could
influence my political attitude. My
personal relations with the President
were never other than friendly. L
complain of nothing, and were it
otherwise, would certainly lose my
self respect, if, on account of a per-
sonal feeling, L was capable Of attack
ing the policy Of the President. But
if the President was my dearest and
most intimate friend, this friendship
would not restrain me from opposing
a violation of the Constitution.


The reversiOn Of the decision OF the
Supreme Court concerning the legal
tender act, gave the speaker serious
thoughts as to what was to become OF
the authority of our courts, if the
practice obtains of packing the high
est tribunal Of Justice.