Carl Schurz

“ It is the people who want safety and good Government on one side, and it is a nest of politicians who want spoils on the other. That is all. To-day, I saw a good, an excellent cartoon in one of your illustrated papers, representing the Tammany bosses with the heads of the other confederated Democratic factions plotting to divide the lion's skin, while the lion stood behind them fully alive. I trust the citizens of New-York will show them on election day that the lion is indeed alive and let them hear the roar of his voice and the whole power of his strength. ”

“ Why, they bring against them simply that they have not been nominated by Tammany Hall and by all the Democratic factions confederated with it; that they will not be subservient to their behests and to their interests. Why, fellow-citizens, here it is — the honest independence, the very virtue you need most in your Municipal Government — which is made the only charge against them, and on account of these very virtues you are asked not to elect them. It is insisted that you shall defeat them simply because Tammany Hall cannot use and rule them. ”

“ When he rises in revolt they rise in revolt. He has convinced the other Democratic factions that without his support success is scarcely possible, that with his enmity defeat is very probable. In other words, he has brought them to the conclusion that they cannot get along without him. And now I ask you what has become of those Democratic heroes who, but a short time ago — as it were, only yesterday — swore so loudly that Tammany Hall must be swept from the face of the earth? ”

“ He does not rob the City for his own benefit and to spend the money in riotous living. He is, perhaps, not even animated by any love of money, but it is rather love of power that animates him. Why, he is a very good man, as bosses go. [Laughter.] He is probably the best men you can get, of the boss variety, but the breed of bosses is not a good thing for a country or a city to live under. ”

“ The City of New-York is universally known as one of the most magnificent and the dirtiest — [laughter] — one of the busiest and one of the most ill-governed on the face of the globe. It is frequently taken as a proof that the people of a large city are not capable of governing themselves? ”

“ My fellow-citizens, then the thing would come to this: That this great City of New-York, if electing a Mayor recommended by Mr. Kelly, may possibly get a good Mayor, if Mr. Kelly has deceived himself in his man. [Laughter.] In other words, we are living under this beautiful system, that the chance of this City for good government depends upon Boss Kelly's making a mistake. [Laughter.] Now, gentlemen, let us be just to Mr. John Kelly; we ought to be just to every man. He is certainly a far better man than his predecessor Tweed was. ”

“ Let me say to them that I sympathize with them in all good things to which they aspire, and I shall speak to Democrats and Republicans, and Republicans and Democrats, addressing myself to their good sense and patriotism with equal confidence. New-York City politics are a verry interesting subject of study. [Laughter.] But, like many of the things that students of medicine have to do with, their odor is not always very fine. [Laughter.] Our Municipal Government has a reputation — not only national, but world-wide. ”

“ He must find places and salaries and contracts and jobs for them. He must multiply offices to satisfy as many of them as possible. He must permit them to pilfer occasionally, for it won't do for him to quarrel with them too much and to stir up ugly feeling in his own company. He must demand of those who obtained office by his co-operation to put the patronage of their offices at his disposal. He must become the enemy of faithful officers who refuse to do that and prefer to perform their duty. ”

“ He must, in doing all this, take the money out of the pockets of the tax-payers for his own purposes. He must do it, and he cannot help himself. As soon as he ceased to to do so, he would simply cease to be a boss. ”

“ Now, as the boss has to find nourishing things for his henchmen, so he wants, of course, everybody that is put into a high place which has any patronage to it, with his co-operation to dispose of that patronage so as to take care of his creatures as matter of course. ”

“ In point of fact, a boss, if he be the best man in the world, has to obey certain necessities of his position. He has to do certain things, and cannot do otherwise. He must find places and food for the followers who are to obey him. ”

“ You may show me a very gentle specimen of the species wolf, and say to me that it is the very best wolf that human being ever laid eyes on, but I would not put that wolf in the sheepfold, for the breed of wolves is not good for sheep. ”

“ You may rather prefer to refrain from having these salutary and necessary works done, and yet all these things can be done with perfect safety and with benefit to you all with such men to conduct your Municipal Government as Mayor Low in Brooklyn [applause] and as Mayor Campbell [applause] will be. ”

“ You will have soon again play by the whole band if you elect this County ticket, but, as prudent men, I trust you will also count the cost. Your support of a lot of political strikers out of the City treasury, that is to say, out of your own pockets, the pockets of the tax-payers, is already rather an expensive luxury ”

“ The Mayor has already alluded to the fact that a new aqueduct must be built for the purpose of giving the poor people good fresh water in the upper stories of their tenement-houses. That aqueduct will cost many millions, any way. ”

“ The same thing that has been done by those who gave to Brooklyn the courageous and noble young Mayor they have, is done by us who propose to you to give you an equally courageous and noble Mayor in Mr. ”