Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/155

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
1893]
Carl Schurz
131

extra session is called and a financial disturbance occurs in the interval from whatever cause, it will be ascribed to the silver trouble and charged to your, responsibility. The selling of bonds will not prevent this. And as you well know, in such a case the best excuses are of little avail.

The situation is evidently a very perilous one and it seems to me your Administration will best serve the country and most surely maintain itself in the public confidence by prompt and energetic action. Every sign of hesitation will be calculated to increase the danger.

I have read your inaugural with very great enjoyment. It is excellent, and will, I have no doubt, make a very good impression.




TO PRESIDENT CLEVELAND

New York, March 11, 1893.

Taking advantage of your kind permission I enclose an article I have written on the policy of annexation with special reference to the Hawaiian business.[1] Of the political aspects of the question much more might be said that would apply to all acquisition of territory outside of the Continent, especially of tropical countries. I discussed this matter at length in the Senate years ago when the San Domingo scheme was up.

Yesterday I attended upon urgent invitation a small private meeting of citizens of this city who have taken alarm at certain clauses supposed to be contained in the extradition treaty made, by the late Administration, with Russia. It is believed that in this treaty the extradition of persons as provided for was shown prima facie to be guilty not of an actual attempt upon the life of the Czar

  1. “The Annexation Policy,” in Harper's Weekly of March 18, 1893.