The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-14

Carl Schurz is writing lilo of Hen
ny Clay FOR tho "Americau Statesmen"
series. The size OF the volumes COM
posing this series preciudes tho idea
OF an elaborate and extended blogra-
ply Of ono who 40 eminontly deserves
such tribute. But thBre viii bs room
enough for something much better
than mere biographical deJail--an In
telligont, appreciative and discrimi.
mating sketch OF tho character and
career OF a great man.
Mr.. Sehurz has most OF tho
Indispensable qualifications for this
task. He ~ graceful as well as Wig
orous writer; his acquaintance with
tho national politcs in which Gay
figured su long and 80 prominently
may be presumed sufficient; ant.
certainly ho cen have small tempta,
ton TO bo other than impartial.
Who're he 10 most likely to fail is In
drawing n pottraiG OF the man himself,
aside frOm his political affiliations
and aotiyp. That fine sympathy Which,
IN this case, should exist Dotweeu tho
biograpber and his subject must in q
iarSe mGasnr0 DO wanting, Clay was
warn-h hearted, inpulslVe, chivalrous
SGhur2 Is n0Ol,caltu aud philosophical
Clay was daVOtod friend ana gon-
erous foe, Schurz is too much OF q
philosopher to DO deeply moved 10y
either friendship or onmiLy. Gay had
u personal magnetism ungqualled, we
think, among the public mon of This
country. Schur2 hAo none AT sll. Clay
was an American in every ilbro OF his
irt ~ sst HI -.
America has NOT AmericaniG9d
SchprZ.
But, with all those manifest disad
vantagas, thoro ii q wide margin OF
fitness lett which, w0may hope, VIII ho
properly utilized IN tho Forthcoming
book, These OF the present genera,
ton cannot realize what Henry Ciny
was 20 tho generation passed, or pasa-
my, from tho stage. Now he ia only q
dim and fading memory; then no was
u power recognized and felt from one
extremity OF the land to the other.
His name WAS the rallying cry OF u
great party; ga nNme To coDjuro byu-
name which filled tho pc
litioal air like tho blast OF bugle.
What u loader he was!-eyGr in tho
lists against all Corners, IA knight
without fear and without roproach."
And how his followers believed In him
and loved him! Strong men wept
like children over that dogeat In 1914,
which retired him forever from presi-
dontial candidature. The Wing party
went down with tho splendid chial-
tain who had 80 long borne its banuer;
FOR though IL elected Taylor four
yoarH later, IL never recovered It's
old spirit and prestige, and ScotL's
miserable failure simply drove the
nails In q coffin already occupied. But
With Clay in the field, whata superb
vitality was that which strobe after
him, ready to do all and dare all with
him mud for him! How the iamilisr
titles, Harry OF tho West" and "Mill-
boy Of the SlGshes," stirred tho Wing
blood in those long-ago dsysl To the
oldB,ora of us, genuine cam
paign enthusiasm and excite
meut seom TO have porlshod 10
years age; all since looks like q manu-
featured Standardization thunder
and guu.powdor lightning. Clay may
or may no. have been q great states
man, though no was a colossus as COM
pared with some who pose Tor great
Statesmen now; but he WAS az least the
very prince politicians, q leader such
IA ANorican politics never Jaw before
and has mover seen since, n pstiint
who loved his country above and be-
yond all else, IN orator whose mcgiC
elOqauuce stu fingers with us in fond
tradiiion-aud ono who, through rood
and through owl report,
Ever bore, sans blight or ban,
rho grand old name OF gentleman.
- Exchange,