Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 2.djvu/468

448 much-to-be-desired disintegration of that party. I will admit also, that I had much better hopes of Greeley in case of his success than you had, while Grant's reëlection appeared to me so heavily fraught with danger to the future of our republican institutions, that I could not, even indirectly, favor his success. His second Administration will show whether I was justified in these apprehensions. I fear I was.

But while taking this opportunity to suggest that you spare the slain and wounded after the fight, whose lot is by no means the most enviable, I really write for another purpose.

I shall be at New York next Friday and Saturday and possibly Sunday. I should be glad to exchange views with you about certain things likely to come up in Congress this winter, e x s pecially the civil service matter, the postal telegraph bill etc. I shall probably not be in a situation to do much if anything of importance this winter, but things may possibly take such a turn as to make it necessary for the defeated to take position, and I should be very glad to act in concert with you. Having missed you several times at your office, I would ask you to be kind enough to inform me, by addressing a line to me, care of Dr. Jacobi, 110 West 34th St., when I shall be sure to find you.

Grant has made a good beginning in which we must certainly support, and if our support is superfluous, applaud him. But the true test is still to come. 



&emsp; I am astonished to hear that “nearly all of my friends” should be in favor of [General Frank P.] Blair's reëlection.