The times., 1898-09-27
Mr.. schurx,s Bad Taste.

Mr.. Carl Schurz, it is fair to say, did
not seek home in this country from
the same cause that inspired SO many
of his countrymen who have become
useful, prosperous, and patriotic citi-
zens. He was a revolutionist in 1S4S
and was compelled to leave his native
land. Other Germans who had come
here because of their admiration for
our political institutions, readily enter
ed into the American spirit The very
reason that brought them, qualified
them for an understanding and appre-
citation of American character and as
pirations. Though a severe, if not pro-
found student OF politics, Mr.. Schurz
is, by his cast of mind, incapable OF
becoming an American or of appre-
hending or comprehending the traits
that have been of most value In the
creation of the Republic. This is ap-
parent not only in his antagonisms,
which are ingrained, but in his efforts
TO explain what is clear to the intelli-
gence of the ordinary citizen reared
in this country. For example, in his
sketch of Abraham Lincoln, he does
not distinguish between the progenitors
of that great man-between the Hitter
ate, but often admirable pioneers of
Virginia and Kentucky-and the poor
white trash represented by the
cracker of Georgia.
1t is an inherent defect of under
STANDING that oarcac Mr. Cob,r, 90 7;s
trust the judgment of the great body
of the American people. Though he
should live among them a thousand
years, he could never reconcile the in
congruities that make them so WON
derful to man Of insight like Kipling.
for example, or TO any observing Eng
lishman, who has got rid of his in
sular prejudices by travel With the
same training that Mr. Gladstone had.
Mr.. Schurz would never be able to
reach the same conclusions as to the
superior wisdom of the masses in re-
spect of large class of subjects that
are not to be mastered by mere book
study 1t is because our institutions
afford so great a degree of influence to
the people that he fears the results of
an attempt to extend our republican
rule to remote islands where the in
habitants are of peculiar type-fears
! the interposition of popular clamor to
| prevent the administration of the
trained statesman. Unfortunately, he
has some power over the German
American citizens, They are proud of
the prominence he has achieved In a
general way he represents their intense
desire for purity and efficiency in gov
ernment, though with his narrowness
of vision he magnifies the Importance
of mere bureau proficiency and is blind
to the honest patriotism and great use
fulness of men who do not regard a
desirable reform of the civil service as
vital enough for a fetch.
Not being of us, although natural
| iZed citizen with all the privileges of
| the native born, he is inevitably driven
by his defects to become a constantly
adverse critic. He is in sympathy with
no movement that has the earnest sup
port of "a majority of the people. He
Il
| is always one of minority and in time
becomes minority of that minority.
His course would be paralleled if an
ambitious American. born enemy to
| everything that is, should be driven
out of his own country for an
attempt to overthrow sthe govern
ment by violence, and should seek
asylum in Germany; should there.
after acquiring citizenship, display an
| interest and kind of smartness in po-
litics that would gain FOR him a con-
spicuous place among men in public
life, and should on all possible occa-
sions oppose anything and everything
the German people should approve
speaking and writing in criticism OF
their ability to administer their affairs
and standing alone among public men
as the active foe of that which they