h he espoused and
never, certainly for a great many years, that of a leader.
Mr. Schurz's arguments for the last thirty years would have
been as effective if published anonymously, and I dare say
more effective than they have been when given to the world
under his name.

Mr. Blaine says of him that he has not the power of speaking
extempore; that he requires careful and studious preparation,
and is never ready, off-hand, to shoot on the wing. I do
not agree with Mr. Blaine's estimate of Mr. Schurz in that
particular. I have heard him make very effective speeches
in the Senate, and elsewhere, that were undoubtedly extemporary.
Mr. Blaine says that Mr. Schurz is so deficient in this respect
that he has been known to use manuscript for an after-dinner
response. But that has been done, not infrequently, by persons
who have first-rate capacity for extemporary speaking, but
who desire to say something to a number of persons much greater
than those who sit around the tables, who are eager to read
what they say. That should be carefully matured both in thought
and phrase, and should convey their meaning with more precision
than off-hand speaking is likely to attain, and be reported
with more accuracy than off-hand speaking is likely to get.

I have never been intimate with Mr. Schurz. I deeply lamented
his action in supporting Mr. Cleveland, and contributing what
was in his power to the defeat of the Republican Party on
two occasions--a defeat which brought so much calamity to
the Republic. I have thought that in his dislikes and severe
judgment of individuals he lost sight of great principles.
His independence of his own party led him to support a very
much worse party domination, and to help to accomplish measures
and establish principles to which he had been all his life
utterly opposed. But the services to which I have alluded
should not be forgotten. They entitle him to the highest
respect, and should far outweigh his faults and mistakes.

Mr. Schurz made one very unfortunate mistake quite early in
the course of his administration of the Interior Department.
He had formed the opinion, I suppose without much practical
experience in such matters, that it would be a good plan to
get the civilized Indians of the country into the Indian Territory.
Accordingly he had issued an order for the removal of the
Ponca Indians, of Nebraska, to the Indian Territory. The
Poncas were a small tribe, living on excellent lands