Year: 1870

a number of federal officers, most


ly Germans, was instigated by his col


league In the present case, he who


persuaded the President to interfere
proved most dangerous adviser. He


then criticized the alleged misrepresen


tations OF his colleague to the Presi,


dent that the movement was designed
as war upon the administration.


Were he an enemy Of administration,
he would not deplore the fact that the


President lent an ear to such insinu-
ations. To refute the charges made
against himself by the opposing factions
he referred TO his speeches in former
years to show that he held that Gen
eral Grant, in the Presidential chair,
would have most inviting opportunities
to restore the long lost cordially and
sentiment among the American people
and bring about a good feeling; that
he would have more facilities
than any preceding administration to
effect a thorough reform OF the civil
service and publication Of our whole
political machinery. To the admins
tration he still gave his cordial support
in the direction thus indicated If
finally the Missouri election became
the defeat Of the administration, the
President must look to himself and Lis
advisor for the responsibility. The
Presidents own principles would have
achieved a victory over his patronage
had he only maintained friendly neu-
trality, The success Of the B. Gratz
Brown movement would have passed
for a triumph OF the Presidents prin-
ciples, gaining him thousands Of friends
where now he had lost thousands. 1t
may not be a fault but an advantage to
the President. He had no opportuni-
ties for acquiring extensive political
experience but his advisors who pre-
tended to be his friends ought to have
foretold the result of his inter
ference and his following the
example of Presidents Pierce, Buchan-
an and Johnson. Passing from various
personal letters showing that the Fed
eral patronage in Missouri had been
prostituted, giving color to the attempts
bv Federal officers to levy black mail
for party purposes, Mr.. Schurz referred
TO the Presidents avowal in favor Of
civil service reform. He had shown
the result Of the Presidents following
the advice of his political man
ayers. Lord save the AdminiStra-
ton and party il the same spirit
hence forward govern their course. Al
ter asserting that his allegiance is due
to Republican principles rather than
party discipline, he concluded with
some speculations upon the probable
formation ola new party and the popu-
lar belief that the mission of the Re
publican party is ended, and remarked
the recent Democratic changes in posi-
ton demonstrated that a new phase Of
development was upon us. The exhaus-
ton of old issues and the growing dis
satisfaction and INSTRUMENTATION within
the great parties were confirmatory
evidences. While on the other hand
the question Of revenue reform,
civil service reform, &c, were
vet ephemeral issues. Upon
the whole, while the prospect OF
the new party might at PIE 'ent appear
obscure, it would come with the neces-
sitv Of national crisis.


Mr.. Schurz closed with the express
sion of his confidence in the ability Of
the Republican party to become that
new party, claiming for it the posses
sion of elements Of healthy regenera-
ton.


Mr.. Drake rose TO reply, but yielding
to a general disposition to adjourn, he
gave notice that lie would however re-
ply at length to his colleagues speech.


Adjourned