The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-07-06
GERMANY AND AMERICA.
Carl Schurz's Speech at the Bcr-
lin Banquet.

enCe. Not to mix in the affairs OF Europe
is the traditional, natural, and wise
policy OF the United States, which no pa
triOtic statesman at the head Of the gov
ernment would incOnsiderately abandon
But this circumstance does not imply thai
the American people should hold them
selves with n cold impartiality aloOf from
the great events that are agitating the
old world. No blow is given for great
purpose in Europe which does not find it
| Iiveliest 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 un
dcrstand the lessons Of our country
when heartily congratulate the whole
civilized world, and before all, you, on
the fact that the great national spirit oil
Germany (which has survived through
so many ages Of sad dismGmbcrment like
n ghost in the history OF the world has
again, through the ability and hcroism OF
is leaders and people, found so powerful
and so proud an embodiment. With this
CongratuIation bring the assurance that
the acquisitions Of the last eyenIlul de-
cadc will establish and dcvelOpe them
selves into free, strong, loyal and cner'
getic German commonwealth.
! stand before you like one Of those
who, in dark days, were east on the
shores Of n distant land, where they found
a new home, and who, while they have
not forgotten the old Fatherland, adhere
to the new one with faithful love and
grateful devotion. ! dO not undertake
to describe to you the impression which
OvcrpOwGrs the man returning home
after such separation at the appear
ancc OF the new creation, To speak to
you OF the new greatness Of Germany
would be to carry owls to Athens. You
understand that we'll. But you will not
grudgc me u word in behalf Of the coun.
try to which belong and which !, though
Il private citizen, in u certain sense repre-.
sent. 10 cherish II warm relation oi
friendly sympathy between Germany and
America is to me, rs public man, Il
matter of sound policy-is to me, ~ u
Gcrman-bOrn American, heartfelt de-
sire; and everything which occurred 10
cast II shadow IN any way on this inter.
national friendship has always filed me
with painful sorrow. do not here nd.
vert to the possibility Of great conflict
Of interests between the United States
and Germany, since, no matter whittier
the eye Can glance, you can not discover
any interests Of both lands which can
in amy wise be opposed in hostile
spirit to each other. refer rather
to the prejudice which one nation
may experience in the esteem Of tlc other
from warped impressions and onc.sidcd
criticism. 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 aslOnishpd the whole
world, not only in the fortunate result Of
| the civil war but also IN the sudden and
entirely peaceful disarmament OF nn army
Of nearly l0OO,0OO soldiers; since that
time the opinion OF American relations in
Europe has grown marked degree more
and more to their disadvantage. The
reasons Of this appearance may have been
various. The Nnnihilation OF that feeling
which 50 abnndantly follows a suddenly
forced admiration on account OF remark
able achievement; financial operations Of
nm unsubstantal cast, which were set in
operation in America md here, highly
praised, which worked more or less Of in
Jury; or the knowledge Of the corruption
and fraud Of our public life uIspnringly
exposed and painted in the darkest col.
ora by our own press and taken up by the
press here with spicy additions with its
wontcd fondncss for the piquant-all this
has undoubtedly tended to give to the
European n picture Of American life, in
which the dark spots appeared 50 much
blacker because Of the absence Of all
points Of life.
was always one 0ithOse In the United
States who held ii 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.Gstccm,
since only secretly thriving corruption
can become mortal discase, and the
breaking Of n way TO reform through its
Open disclosure il sign Of sound life,
and there to Onr eyes the good is just ns
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. fyOu paint picture in
which the light is fOrgOttOn even though
every line Of shade may be right Of it.
self, the entire impression Of the picture
will bc altogether false. How false 1t
may he can show you by n single illus.
tration. What would you say Of n
picture Of the Germany Of to-day which,
emitting all the great attributes and deeds
Of the people and the government, should
put forward the prosecution nf press Of
fenaes ns the Onl test Of political pro-
gress, the Vaccinations Of the ultramOn-
tnncs as n model example Of German pa.
triOtiam and the temporary operations Of
swindling corporations as the highest in.
lualrial development Of the community
as n son Of the country, would feel most
deeply the base injustice Of the picture,
and you would feel the injustice none the
lCss. lIy the same standard must the
American and iLs inner life he measured.
As ! touch upon the OtlgrOwtlIs Of the
public and social life there honestly, and
shall continue 20 10 do, All will | here not
bcautify those things which are really
established.
But can permit no one to forget that
behind this il n great nation which il
sound at heart. The people, with gi-
gnntic spirit Of enterprise and irresistible
energy, Ovcrcamc in n short time the vii.
lerness Of an entire continent, and made
II garden Of civilization. This people
understood how To frame laws perfectly
adapted to the requirements Of many dii.
icrent nationaitiCs. This people, which,
III this sense, was more conservative than
old Europe, rcauscitated on transatlantic
soil the ancient German doctrine Of self.
government, which in the course Of cen
turics had been lost in Germany and he.
come much weakened in England. This
people had .lcccsaCs in solving political
and social problems which are the more
remarkable from the fact that the measure
of freedom hns been determined through
the exercise Of this principle Of scligov-
crnmcnt This people, in time Of danger,
voluntarily sacrificed for the national in
tcgrity and tho idea of human freedom
with the perfect willingness Of true pat.
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