The Writings of Carl Schurz/To George Fred. Williams, November 16th, 1884
TO GEORGE FRED. WILLIAMS
⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅
Well, we may say that we have fought a good fight and done the country some service which we have reason to be proud of. The Cleveland majority in this State has at last been confirmed by the official canvass in the counties, and this morning even the Tribune gave up its crazy pranks and confessed its defeat. To-day I thought it time at last to mail my congratulations to Cleveland, the last shadow of danger of a setback having vanished. Now we shall have to hold up his arms in well-doing to the best of our ability. We must not permit him to see and hear nothing but the talk of the officeseekers and their friends who from this time on will constantly press around and upon him.
There is one thing I would strongly recommend to you and our friends in Massachusetts generally. Try to get hold of Patrick Collins and other Democratic Congressmen from your State, to indoctrinate them as much as possible with sound civil service reform principles, and to make them understand that any failure in this respect would quickly bring about a reaction and sweep them out of power again. They should be made to see that of all things this is the one that cannot be trifled with.—Cordially your friend.