The Writings of Carl Schurz/To Wayne McVeagh, March 30th, 1886

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Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz and others, edited by Frederic Bancroft

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New York City: G. P. Putnam's Sons, pages 435–436

3493562Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz — To Wayne McVeagh, March 30thFrederic BancroftCarl Schurz and others

TO WAYNE MCVEAGH

New York, March 30, 1886.

I regret to say I cannot be with your Civil Service Association on the 8th of April on account of an engagement I have on that day, which cannot be set aside.

It would be easy enough to “skin” some of the President's accusers on that occasion; but I am afraid it would not be so easy to prove that they are altogether wrong. Did any one of the President's defenders in the Senate maintain that the President had really kept his word, that is, had abstained from making any removal except for cause including “offensive partisanship”? Is it not, on the contrary, generally believed to-day that in not a few instances that pledge had been violated? And can you think of a greater service the President could have rendered to the American people as a reformer, than by proving that there are public men who keep their pledges strictly and without fear of consequences?

Now, do not understand me as undervaluing the good things that Cleveland has done. But I confess to you that the so-called pluck with which he repelled the demand of the Senate for information concerning the reasons for the suspensions made, does not strike me as that sort of moral courage which the reform of the public service stands in need of. A frank statement of the case, expressly reserving, if you please, the Constitutional rights of the Executive, would have served the cause of reform better, and would have done him infinitely more honor. I see reasons for fearing that this “reform Administration” will end like its predecessors: sit down between two chairs—do just enough to disgust the enemies of reform, and not enough to satisfy its friends.

You see, I am not in a jubilant state of mind with regard to this subject, and would rather not make a public speech on it just now. The only kind of power we Independents have springs from the popular belief that we speak the truth without fear or favor. As soon as we forfeit that confidence by undue partiality, we are gone. I could not speak without saying what I think, and at the same time I should not like to touch that sore point hastily. Do you not think I am right? This of course is confidential, but you might, in confidence, tell Messrs. Parish and Wood why I do not send them a long letter in response to the invitation.