The Writings of Carl Schurz/To Thomas F. Bayard, July 2d, 1884

TO THOMAS F. BAYARD

110 W. 34th St., July 2, 1884.

Many thanks for your kind letter of June 29th. I must confess that I am seriously alarmed at the prospective issue of your Convention. There is good reason for believing that Butler and John Kelly are working together, not only for the defeat of Cleveland but for the overthrow of every other candidate giving promise of good government. Kelly gave out some time ago that you were his favorite. I hope you never believed it. If you do, the bitterest disappointment is in store for you. I predict that the Butler-Kelly combination will only use your name to head off Cleveland and then drop you too as one of those “of whom it is very doubtful whether they can be elected.” I read already of rumors about speeches having been discovered, made by you at the beginning of the war in the Delaware legislature, which are said to be “worse than the Dover speech,” the new discoveries to be used against you in the Convention. If the Convention has not courage enough not only to emancipate itself from the dictation and intrigues of Butler and Kelly, but to defy them, it will be in very great danger of doing not only a weak, but a disastrous thing.

I notice that Tammany has now put forward the “workingmen” to mask its own operations against Cleveland. The whole demonstration signifies only that a few corrupt politicians want to have their own way. The Independent vote will carry the State for Cleveland triumphantly, as it will for you. Of this I am honestly convinced, and I may say I am not ill advised as to the condition of things here.

There is no safety but in a friendly understanding and coöperation between your friends and Cleveland's. They have the same general objects in view and ought to act together, instead of being distracted by divided counsel, thus leaving the field to the intrigues of the common enemy. Two or three ballots, I should think, would determine clearly enough whether you or Cleveland can be nominated, and then there should be a concentration. Ought not this [to] be promptly arranged?

I repeat, if the Democrats fritter away their chances this time, when everything conspires to present them the finest opportunities, there will be no resurrection for them. While the final destruction of a party by its own imbecility might well be endured, it is dreadful to think of the almost irreparable detriment the Republic would meanwhile receive through Blaine's election.