Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/158

134 to stop and look and think. That's exactly what we are doing now. 



&emsp; What you said to me some time ago about the “hard taskmaster” is still well remembered. I know the part of the “candid friend” is an ungrateful one, but to a man in your high position the friend who says things is sometimes more useful than the friend who wants things.

If it were true what the newspapers say of the new United States district attorney in Indiana, Mr. Burke—that he is a very improper person, representing the worst tendencies in politics, and that you appointed him to placate Senator Voorhees—it would mark the first step on the road to ruin. If only half of it is true—that Mr. Burke is an improper person—and if the other half, that he was appointed to propitiate Mr. Voorhees—although untrue, is widely believed to be true, the appointment will bring you no end of trouble. I do not mean only public criticism, for no reasonable person should blame you for making an occasional mistake, although it is to be deplored. But it will immensely aggravate the difficulties you will have with Congress. The Senators and Members who are after patronage will think that they have detected your weak spot and they will try to make the most of it. As soon as they see any reason for believing that you are willing to give them “favors” to secure their support of your policies, they will give you their support only on condition of getting favors. They will never have enough and constantly strike for more. Some of them will even invent schemes embarrassing to you for the very purpose of having something to sell. It is needless to say that you can not satisfy them without