The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-08-16
Speech Of Carl SchlrZ


The speech of Carl Shurz at St.
Louis, was one Of the most eloquent
and statesman-like efforts, which has
appeared during the present campaign.
We can only make room for the con-
Guiding part of this great speech.
Where is your dissolution of the gun
ion. The Southern States cannot de-
sire it, for it would defeat the very OBJ
jects for which it might be undertaken;
they cannot attempt it, for slavery
would lay them helpless at the feet of
the North. Slavery, which makes it
uncomfortable to stay in the Union,
makes it impossible for them to go out
of it. What, then, will the South do,
in case of Republican victory l
answer that question with another one ::
what can the South do in case of Re
publican victory? Will there be a
disturbance? The people Of the South
themselves will have to put it down.
Will they submit Not to Northern
dictation, but to their own good sense?
The have considered US their enemies
as as long they ruled us; they will find
out we are their friends as soon as we
cease to be their subjects. They have
dreamed so long Of the blessings of
slavery; they will open their eyes again
to the blessings Of liberty. They will
discover that they are not conquered,
but liberated. VIII slavery die out !?
AS surely as freedom will not die out
Loud applause.
Shareholders of America, I appeal to
you. Are you really in earnest when
yon.speak of petuating slavery? shall
it never cease? Never? Stop and
consider, where you ara and in what
days you live.
This is the nineteenth century. New
err since mankind has recollection of
times gone by, has the human mind
disclosed such wonderful powers. The
hidden forces ofnature we have torn
from their mysterious concealment and
yoked them into the harness Of useful
ness. they carry our thoughts over
slender wires to distant nations; they
draw our wagons over the highways of
trade; they pull the gigantic oars of
our ships; they set in motion the iron
finger Of our machinery; they will soon
pillow our fields and gather our crops.
The labor of the brain has exalted to
a mere bridling and controlling of nat.
ural forces the labor Of the hand-and
you think you can perpetuate a system
which reduces MAN, however degra-
ded, yet capable of development. to
the level of a soulless machine?
This is the world Of the nineteenth
century. The last remnants of feudal.
ism in the old world are fast disap>
pearing. The Gar of Russia, in the
fulness of his imperial power, is forced
to yield to the irresistible march of bu>
man progress, and abolishes serfdom.
Even the Sultan of Turkey can no long
er maintain the barbarous customs OF
the Moslem against the pressure of the
century, and slavery disappears. And
you, citizens of a Republic, you think
you can arrest the wheel of progress
with your bred Scott decisions and
Democratic platforms Enthusiastic
cheers.
Look around you, and see how lone
some you arein this wide world of ours.
AS far as modern civilization throws its
rays, what people, what class of society
is there like you? Cry out into the
world your wild and guilty fantasy of
property in man, and every echo res
ponds with cry of horror or contempt;
every breeze from whatever point of
the compass 1t may come, brings you a
verdict of condemnation. There is no
human heart that sympathizes with
your cause, unless it sympathizes with
the cause of despotism in every form
There is no human voice to cheer you
on in your struggle; there is no human
eye that has a tear for your reverses !;
no link of sympathy between the com
mon cause of the great human brother
hood and you. You hear of emancipa
ton in Russia, and wish it should fail
You hear of Italy rising, and fear the
spirit of liberty should become conta.
gious. Where all mankind reioices
you tremble. Where all mankind love
you hate. Where all mankind curse
you sympathize
And in this appalling solitude you
stand, alone against hopeful world,
alone against a great century, fighting
your hopeless fight, against the onward
march of civilization. Exhaust all the
devices which the inventive genius of
Idespotlsm may suggest and vet how
can you resist In every village school
house, the little children who learn to
read and write, are plotting against
you; in every laboratory of science; in
every machine shop, the human mind
is working the destruction of your idol.
You cannot make an attempt to keep