Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/551

Rh practical usefulness. It will accomplish an important result at this election if it gets votes enough to entitle it, for future occasions, to a place on the official ballot. And of these votes mine will be one. 



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I received your letter this morning and at the same time read it in the newspapers. Permit me to overlook the acerbity of some of your expressions, which I regret, and to say that the risk of incurring the displeasure of old friends which was clearly before my eyes when I took my position in this campaign, and which at my time of life I greatly dislike, may be proof to you of the sincerity of the conviction of duty which impelled me to do what I have done. Before the campaign closes I expect to have an opportunity for answering the objections made to my course and you may be assured that I shall do it without the slightest personal irritation. Perhaps at some future time you will see that in my present position I was right after all. In my public life I have not seldom seemed to stand alone, and deserted, but never long. 



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I don't know whether you will think that the rather sharp political differences which have existed and which, I suppose, are likely to exist hereafter between your opinions on public questions and mine may not render it improper for me to write to you now. Indeed I ought to say frankly that if I were in New York I should zealously support Mr. Roosevelt now. I do not think there is the slightest possibility that he