The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-06-24
cARL scHURz rN nnRLIr.

Whether our German fellov-eitizens Of
Texas approve or not the political career
and philosophy OF Carl schurz they cannot
the less boast OF bis triumphs and confess
an honest pride IN his genius and achieve
ments. Twenty-Five years ago Carl
schurz. then a student fresh from the uni
versitIes. saturated with the advanced radi-
caIIsni that is now and then bubbling up in
Germany, and carrying upon his body the
wound received IN the gallant but SHIRT
lived Baden revolution, came to America
an exile aud fugitive from his native land,
launching ont upon the strange sea Of a
foreign country TO earn livelihood. The
other day be returned to Germany, having
in that quarter Of century attained the
highest public honors possible to him in
the land of his adoption, having made q
national fame and gained reputation Of
which any man might be proud. It is one
OF the Tevenges of time that the young
revolutIonist Of other days has now been
welcomed to q public banquet in Berlin,
where, in 1s4s or 1s49, he would have been
summarily shut within prison walls had he
shown his face there. The dinner was ten
dered him by come Of themOst eminent men
Of the realm. The presidents Of both cham
bers Of the Prussian Parliament, Privy
Councillor Bucher, who sits at the ear Of
Bismarck, and other high officials Of the
empire united to do him honor. Times have
wonderfully changed in Germany since
Schurz fed from imprisonment to Danish
ment. The dream Of q free Germany,
which animated his own mind and that Of
the students who participated in the unfor-
tunate attempt at revolution, has not been
realized, but at least one of their ideals has
been attained. Germany is now a united
nation, welded together, it is true, by iron
bands, but still soIidified and powerful.
There have been concessions, too, to civil
liberty, and the supremacy of the State has
resulted in a strict guardianship of its do
nestle affairs from alien interference with
even more jealousy than inspires the gov
ernments OF freer countries. In the attain
ment of unity and power the German peO-
pie seem to DC willing to sink the longings
for entire freedom from monarchy which
burst forth in 1s40, and even Schurz, in the
wisdom of many years, and even after hav-
ing intimately acquainted himself with
Republicanism in America, is willing to be
the guest and accept a welcome from the
representatives of German Kingcraft as it
now exists.
1t is truthfully remarked by the Phila-
delphia Times that it "would be unfair to
charge the German people with the aban-
donment OF their aspirations for freedom,
and Mr.. Schurz, who is an American citi-
zen, with having forsaken the cause fol
which he fought and suffered in his youth.
The peaceful unity of Germany four years
ago was probably longer step towards
freedom than the success of the student
mobs in 1s49 would have been, and Bis
marck viii undoubtedly do more to adj
vance its cause than any of their leaders
would have done. The reception of Schur7
proves this, The fugitive revolutionist Of
twenty-five years ago is the welcomed pa
triot of to-day. The men who hunted hin
then delight to honor him now, and in do
ing so they honor the ideas for which ht
was exiled, and the free government o.
which he is a representative. Men o.
Schurz's stamp, given to dong that which
they consider right, no matter what thu
consequences, are not often justified in thei
lives as he has been. They ultimately hav
justice done then, but it is nearly Away
after the grave has closed over them.