Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-11-02
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Carl Schurz's Speech ct Springfield,
MassaChuSetts.

THE Reuieu has not yet taken back its
base Islander on Carl Schurz-saying that he
denounces the Declaration Of Independence
and the Revolutionary fathers. In its last
issue, it publishes letter from one Stern, OF
Boston, which it says proves the charge, but
it proves nothing, except that this Mr.. Stern
has also villified Carl Schurz. Below is Carl
Schurz's great speech at Springfield, Mass,
in which he speaks Of the Declaration OF In
and the American Revolution as
"THE PROUDEST PAGES IN AMERICAN
HISTORY" Dare the ReUiew copy this
speech. and then re.erate its chargeP
Mr.. Douglas ambiguous position, which
makes it possible for him to cheat either the
North or the South, without adding new
inconsistency to those already committed,
makes it at the same time necessary for him
to nut his double-faccd theories upon an his
torical basis, which relieves him of the neces-
s,ty of expressing moral conviction on the
matter of slavery either way. 10 say that
slavery is right would certainly displease the
North: to say that slavery is wrong would
inevitably destroy him at the South. In
order to dodge this dangerous dilemma, he
finds it expedient to construe the history of
this country 50 as to show that this question
of right or wrong in regard to slavery had
nothing whatever to do with the fundamental
principles upon which the American Republic
was founded. Dealing with slavery only as
a matter of fact, and treating the natural
rights of man and the relation between slavery
and republican institutions as matter Of
complete Indifference, he is bound to demon
st-ate that slavery was never seriously deemed
inconsistent with liberty, and that the black
never was seriously supposed to possess any
RIGHTS which the white man was bound to
respect.
Rut here he encounters the Declaration Of
Independence, laying down the fundamental
principles upon which tho Republic was to
develop itself; he encounters the ordinance
of 1887, the practical application of those
principles; both historical facts, as stern and
stubborn as they are sublime. But, as Mr.
Douglas had no logic to guide him in his
| theories, so he had no conscience to restrain
him in his historical constructions. 10 inter
pref the Declaration of Independence accord
ing to the evident meaning of its words would
certainly shock the moral sensibilities OF thu
North. So he recognizes it as venerable
document, but makes the language Which ii
so dear to the hearts Of the North express I
meaning which comedies with the ideas o
the South.
We have appreciated his exploits as
Ilogician; let us follow him in his historica
discoveries.
Let your imagination carry you back to tn
year l776. You stand in the Hall of the oil
Colonial Court House of Philadelphia
Through the open door yousee the Continenta
Congress assembled; the moment of grca
decision is drawing near. Look at the earnes
faces of the men assembled there, and conside
what you may expect of them. The philosoph..
of the eighteenth century counts many o
them among its truest adopts. They welcomes
heartily in their scattered towns and planta
tons the new ideas brought forth by tina
sudden progress Of humanity, and medtatin
on them in the dreamy solitude OF virgil
nature, they had enlarged the compass of thei
though is, and peop!ed their imaginations witt
lofty ideals. A classical education (for mos
of them are by no means iliterate men) ha
put all the treasures of historical knowledg
at their disposal, and enabled them to appl.
the experience of past centuries to the ne'
problem they attempt to solve. See other
there of simple but strong cast of mind
whom common sense would call its trues
representatives. Wont to grapple with tn
dangers and difficulties of an carly settler
life. or, Inhabitants of young, uprising cities
wont to carry quick projects into speed.
execution, they have become regardless Q
| 4 Al, 80 vii
constant necessity to help themselves havin
developed their mental independence, an
Injured to political strife by the cont ua
defense of their colonial selfgovernment, the,
have at last become familiar with the idea, t
introduce into practical existence the princi
Piles which their vigorous minds have quietl..
built up into theory.
The first little impulses to the general up
heaving of the popular sprit-the tea tax, tn
stamp act-drop into insignifcance; they ar
almost forgotten; the revolutionary spirit ha
risen far above them. 1t disdains to justif,
itself with petty pleadings; it spurns diplo
matte equivocation; it Places the claim t.
independence upon the broad basis of eterna
rights, as selfevident as the sun, as broad a
the world, is common as the air of heaven
The struggle Of the Colonies against tn
usurping government of Great Britain ha
risen to the proud Dimensions of a struggle o
MAN for liberty and equality. Behold, fiv'
men are advancing towards the table of TIT
President. First, Thomas Jefferson, whose
philosophical spirit grasps the generality o
things and events; then Benjamin Franklin
the great apostle of common sense, the cleal
wisdom of real life bcaming in his serene eye
then the undaunted John Adams, and two
others. Now Jefferson reads the Declaration
of independence, and loudly proclaims the
fundamental principle upon which it rests
''All men are created free and equal" 1t is
SAID history tells you what 1t meant. The
sceptre of royalty is flung back across the
ocean; the prerogatives Of nobility are trodder
into the dust; every man king, every man q
! baron; in seven of the original colonies the
shackles of the black man struck off almost
everywhere the way prepared for gradual
emancipation. "No recognition of the right
of property in man!' says Madison. Let
slavery demolished by law! ~ says Washing
ton. Not only the sup; em'cy of Old England
is to be shaken off, but new organization OF
society is to be built up, on the basis Of liberty
and equality. That is the Declaration of In
dependence That is the American Revolu.
ton All men free and equal! Not even
the broad desert of the Atlantic Ocean stops
the triumphant shout. Behold, the nations
of the Old World are rushing to arms. Bastiles
are blown into the dust as by the trumpets of
Jericho, and, like pillar of fire by night and
pillar of cloud by day, the great watchword
of the American Revolution shows forever the
way to struggling humanity. Long continued
applause All men are created free and
equal! Whence the supernatural power IN
these seven words?
Turn your eyes away from the sublime
spectacle of 1776, from that glorious galaxy
of men whose hearts were large enough for all
mankind, and let me recall you to to the sober
year of 1859. There is Springfield, the
capital of Illinois, one of those States which
owe their greatness to an ordinance originally
framed by the same man whose hand wrote
the Declaration Of Independence. In the
al IS A or do w no,,n1oc