The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-07-13
Carl Shurz's Speech at the
Berlin Banquet.

traditional, natural, and wise policy o.
tho United States, which no patriotic
statesman at the head Of the government
would inconsiderately abandon. But thii
circumstance does not imply that the
American people should hold themselves
with a cold impurtiality aloof from the
great events which are agitating the old
world No blow is given for great
purpose in Europe which does not find
its livelest re-echo in American hearts
| think, therefore, that speak not only
in the spirit of the German. born, but Of
all the citizens Of the United States who
understand the lessons of our century
when | heartily congratulate the whole
civilized world and, before all, you, on
the fact that the great national spirit Of
Germany (which has survived through so
many ages of sad dismemberment like q
ghost in the history of the world) has
again, through the ability and heroism Of
its leader and people, found SO powerful
and so proud an embodiment. With this
congratulation bring the assurance that
the acquisitions of the last eventiul dec.
ade will establish and develop themselves
into free, strong, loyal, and energetic
German commonwealth
stand before you like one of those
who, in dark days, were cast on the shores
Of distant land where they found new
home, and who, whilo they have not for.
gotten the old Fatherland, adhere to the
new one with faithful love and grateful
devotion do not undertake to describe
to you the impression which overpowers
the man returning home after such a sep
aration at the appearance Of the new cre-
alton. To speak 10 you Of the new great.
ness OF Germany would be to carry owls
to Athens. You understand that we'll.
But you will not grudge me a word in
behalf Of the country to which belong
and which though private citizen, in
certain sense represent. To cherish a
warm relation Of friendly sympathy be.
tween Germany and America is to me as
a public man matter Of sound policy, is
to me as a German. born American a
heartfelt desire, and everything which
occurred to cast a shadow in any way on
this international friendship has always
filled me with painful sorrow. do not
here advert to the possibility Of a great
conflict of interests between the United
States and Germany, since, no matter
whittier the eye can glance, you cannot
discover any interests of both lands which
can in any wise be opposed in hostile
spirit to each other refer rather 10
the prejudice which one nation may expe.
rience in the esteem Of the other from
warped impressions and ono.sided criti.
cism. My own observation tells me that,
in this relation, the American people have
recently suffered somewhat in the public
opinion of Europe. Since the year 1868,
when America astonished the whole world
not only in the fortunate result OF the
civil war but also in the sudden and en-
tirely peaceful disbandment of an army
OF nearly l 100000 soldiers; since that
time the opinion Of American relations in
Europe has grown in marked degree
more and moro to their disadvantage.
The reasons of this appearance may have
been various. The annihilation Of that
feeling which so abundantly follows a
suddenly forced admiration on account Of
remarkable achievement financial operas
tions Of an unsubstantial cast which were
set in operation in America and here,
highly praised, which worked more or
less injury or the knowledge of the cor.
ruption and fraud of our public life un.
sparingly exposed and painted in the
darkest colors by our own press and tax
en- up by the press here with spicy addi.
tions with its wonted fondness for the
piquant all this has undoubtedly tend.
ed to give to the European a picture Of
American life, in which the dark spots
appeared so much blacker because of the
absence Of all points of life.
was always one OF those in the Uni.
ted States who held it to be the citizens
true duty to disclose all corrupt practices
and frauds with fearless determination,
and to urge their reform. There We can
do this regardless of the national sclf.cs.
TEEN, since only secretly thriving corrup-
tion can become a mortal disease, and the
breaking Of way TO reform through its
open disclosure is sign Of sound life, and
there to our eyes the good is just as near
as the bad. But it is different with the
public opinion Of foreign countries. which
less frequently is aware of the true state
of things. II you paint a picture in
which the light is forgotten, even though
every line Of shade may be right of itself,
the entire impression of the picture may
be false. How false it may be | can
show you by single illustration. What
would you say Of picture of the Germa.
ny of to-day, which, omitting all the great
attributes and deeds of the people and
the government. should put forward the
prosecution Of press clenses as the only
test of political progress, the Vaccinations
OF the ultramontanes as model example
Of German patriotism and the temporary
operations Of swindling corporations as
the highest industrial development of the
community |, as a son of this country,
would feel most deeply the base injustice
Of the picture, and you would feel the
injustice none the less. BY the same
standard must the American nation and
its inner life be measured. As | touch
upon the outgrowths Of the public and
social life there, honestly, and shall con.
tinue so TO do, so will here not belu,ily
those things. that are really established.
But can permit no one 10 forget that
behind this is a great nation which is
sound at heart. This people, with a gi-
gantic spirit OF enterprise and irresistible
energy, overeame in a short time the
widness Of an entire continent, and made
it garden Of civilization This people
understood how to frame laws perfectly
adapted TO the requirements of many diff
ferent national cities This people, which
in this sense, was more conservative than
cd Europe, resLscitated on transatlantic
Z, il the ancient G Garman doctrine Of self
80, va.nn,anl 81. -. - .a..... -.