Carl Schurz

“ Fellow-Citizens and Friends: I stand before you to-day not as a party man, but as an American citizen, and I see before me both Republicans and Democrats. I come forward as a German-American to say a few earnest words to German-Americans. We are here as citizens of this great Republic and have a duty to perform to this country that has given us a second home. This does not prevent us from keeping up the honor of the German name, and it is for the honor of the German name that I shall speak. ”

“ They give one Tammany man who has fifty votes a clerkship, although he cannot read. Another Tammany man who has 100 votes is given a fat contract, and some proprietor of a play hell, who has a few more votes, is given free license to ply his infernal trade.
Tammany is not a political party. It is simply a gang of politicians banded together to rob the city of New-York. ”

“ The administration of Mayor Grant has distinguished itself by broken promises, by the ruthless application of the principle to the victor belong the spoils, by appointments made in the interests of politics and without any regard to the capacity of the appointee, through which the public service has been debased and the community outraged. ”

“ Our streets have become dirtier in proportion as the cost of cleaning them has increased. In order to deceive the citizens as to the cost of administering the city, Tammany Hall has advanced the tax valuation of real estate, especially on the east side, where the market and rental values have remained the same. ”

“ I have grown old in American affairs, and do not hurriedly trust a man. But I am certain that Scott will prove the proper man for the place, and that he will not misuse the powers that you intrust to him. ”

“ We, German-Americans, assembled here, therefore bind ourselves without distinction of party to make this our objective point in the approaching election, and to use our best endeavor to defeat that organization whose domination renders impossible the consummation of this object. ”

“ Therefore we pledge ourselves to compass the defeat of the Tammany Hall county ticket with every legitimate means in our power, and to elect the candidates of the People's Municipal League, whose character and past give us a certain guarantee that the principles that we have announced will be realized, and who besides entertain opinions with reference to personal liberty that accord with those of most German-Americans. ”

“ Tammany Hall has furnished the proof during the last two years that it considers the interests of the Commonwealth as nothing but means to enrich its members with a view to the preservation and fortifying of its organization. An economical, capable, and progressive administration of the City Government is impossible under the domination of Tammany Hall. ”

“ Here is a united German Democracy. Its members say they have tried to divorce municipal from national politics. But until that is enacted by law they want to support Tammany. The German Democratic organization of the city of New-York says that because of the union ticket, because there are Republicans on it, they will not support it. What do they want? ”

“ Assessments on saloon keepers and other business men who are more or less dependent upon the good-will of the police and other departments, for the benefit of the Tammany Hall treasury, have been more actively levied than even at the time of the Tweed ring. ”

“ Croker reads to his men political morals. Perhaps people imagine Hugh Grant absorbed in thought over the tariff and Gilroy in engineering problems, and all are trying to elevate New-York to the highest pinacle of beauty and prosperity. ”