The New York Times/1900/10/3/An Alarm by Mr. Schurz

AN ALARM BY MR. SCHURZ.

Frequent readers of this paper do not need to be told that we have at all times endeavored to refer to Mr. Carl Schurz as a man whose long public service, earnest and able advocacy of many good causes, scholarly discussion of great issues, and unquestioned sincerity entitle him to the fullest respect. It is characteristic of Mr. Schurz to be direct and positive, and he is much more apt to be right than wrong. No one every doubts which side of a question or issue he is on. In a speech to a German audience Mr. Schurz said, in part:

The question is whether a system of mis-government resulting from the war * * * shall continue for four years longer.

I have been a Republican, but as a Republican I will not give my vote to uphold such a system of government.

During the war it became, as in the days of Rome, when the enemy was before its gates, necessary to clothe the Government with extraordinary powers, to enable it to save the country, and the country was saved in this wise. But Governments had a tendency under such circumstances to assume a despotic character, and the people had a tendency to submit to the exercise of extraordinary power. And through what political school had our young men passed? * * * They had not grown up in the spirit of our Constitution, and it is our duty to bring this young generation on the pathway of the Constitution.

If the President was clothed with the arbitrary power to declare an act of war, as he has done, his powers are as arbitrary as those of the Emperor of Germany, for this potentate has not even the power to overrule the officers and legislators of the empire. If the President of the United States shows no respect for the laws of the Nation, what can be expected from officers of the lower grade?

Fifty thousand Government officers, with a hundred thousand subordinates, form an immense political agency of the Administration, and a great machinery by which the President will enforce his re-election.

Just think of the Treasury of the United States as a great campaign fund. Is this a Government for the people and through the people? Do you believe this Government belongs to the people? If so you had better divest yourself of the peasant delusion. This Government does not belong to the people.

It [a re-election] would signify the sanction by the people of breaking the law. It would signify an indorsement of the man who violated the Constitution. It would signify a sanction of the violation of the Constitution.

I know that there are Germans sympathizing with this movement, but not giving it their support, for fear of loss in business. Such reasons for withholding their support from a great National movement, when such great interests are at stake, are too small. The Germans have become at last a great people, and it is now time they ceased to be a people of small cheesemongers. They should not consider small losses in business when the Republic is in danger.

This speech was not delivered in October, 1900, in opposition to the re-election of Mr. McKinley, but on Oct. 1, 1872, to prevent the re-election of Gen. Grant. It was followed a month later by an election, in which Gen. Grant secured 286 Electoral votes and Horace Greeley 47, Grant carrying the country by a popular majority of 762,000. Mr. Schurz spoke in 1872 as if he was convinced that despotism, loss of Constitutional rights, extension of arbitrary power, Governmental tyranny, gross bureaucracy, the loss of the governing power by the people, would follow disregard of his advice. The people did not share his gloomy opinions. Will they disagree with him in November, 1900, by a popular majority of 700,000, or will the verdict be more emphatic?

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