Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/352

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328
The Writings of
[1896

what Christ answered. So the tempter now takes the American people up the mountain and says, “I will take from you half of your debts if you will worship me.” But then brave old Uncle Sam rises up in all his dignity, manly pride and honest wrath, and speaks in thunder tones: “Get thee behind me, Satan. For it is written that thou shalt worship only the God of truth, honor and righteousness, and Him alone shalt thou serve.”

This will be the voice of the American people on the third of November. And the Stars and Stripes will continue to wave undefiled, honorable and honored among the banners of mankind.




Executive Mansion,
Washington
, Nov. 6, 1896.

Your note of yesterday gratified me exceedingly, and I cannot refrain from letting you know this, and at the same time thanking you for your efforts in the cause of national honor and sound finance.

The manner in which the best Democrats turned away from mere partisanship to serve their country last Tuesday makes me feel that there is much patriotism abroad in the land even among zealous politicians.

The path of official duty has sometimes been very rough, though scarcely ever hard to see.




TO MARCUS A. HANNA

16 East 64th St., New York, Nov. 12, 1896.

Yesterday I learned from Mr. Isaac N. Seligman, to my utter dismay, that he had spoken to you of the desirability of my being in Mr. McKinley's Cabinet. I hasten to say to you—although I hope it is hardly necessary to do so--