Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-09
CARL SCHURZ
Honored on 10Th Anniversary
Of His Birthday.
Great Gathering Of Commandment
cans at New York City.
handsome Gifts and Diplomas Of Honorary
Society Membership Speeches.

Schurz was the guest OF nonor AT
dinner given, tonight, in Llederkfdhz
hall East 58th street, in celebration OF
Mr.. Schruzs 10th birthday annlver-
sary. and more than 600 German
Americans were present. From nrst
to last the occasion was on ovation 10
Mr.. Schurz. Diplomas Of honorary
membership in u number of differen,,
societies were presented to him. The
I.iederkranz Society gave him a mag
nificept punch bowl and ladle in silver.
The ladies' of the Liederkranz gave him
q big arm chair Of flowers.
An address Of congratulation signed
bv 100. 00o 'German-Amercans in al!
sections of the United States, and
bound in calf, was given to him and
il was announced that it had been de-
| cided to raise 500, 900 to found a library
| and endow a Schurz chair of German
literature at Columbia University.
| The dinner was under the auspices of
| the German Social Scientific Society
and was served in the big ball room
Of the Liederkranz hall. The banquet
ting began. at 7.30 O'Clock. but was in
| terrupted, IAN hour later. by the formal
presentation of the gifts and diplomas.
|
nouncement regarding the Schurzs
library and chair at Columbia Univer-
sity.
Speeches We're made by l.. e. Thorn
as, George " Skal. Kuno Francke and
DR.. r. W. Hollis.
| MIR. Willard presented 10 Mr.. Schurz
| with suitable remarks, an engrossed adj
dress to Mr.. SchurZ signed by fully 100,DJ
Communications throughout the coun-
| try, members of no less than 500 societies
| in 100 cities. The address is as follows
"Honored Fellow Citizen:
I'VE take pleasure in expressing to you
our heartfelt congratulations upon your
| 10Th birthday. 1t gives US great happiness
that you can attend this celebration with
undiminished health and vigor. We well
come this opportunity also 10 express the
universal esteem and the deep gratitude
which all German-Americans feel for you,
because of your long and great sacrifice
in behalf of our adopted country J
your life you have passed nearly five
upon American soil. For nearly 40 years
of this time you have distinguished your
self as powerful orator. proved leader
of the people. as diplomat. as geI-
eral. a senator and cabinet officer, du--
ing the most important periods in the his
tory of the republic.
Since the conclusion of your official
career, in 1881. you have unremittingiy
worked for the public veal down to this
day. with the deepest insights and with
admonished power. In the broad field of
thk reform of the tariff. of the currency.
and above all, of the civil service, you
have always taken the lead.
'For all this unselfish and ceaseless ac-
tivity, for the good of all your fellow ci.-
liens, you deserve the highest recognition
of your contemporaries as well as of fur
ture generations.
ITO this assurance OF our gratitude and
Of our veneration We add the warmest
wishes for your future prosperity. MayFit
be given to you to continue IN your
efforts for many years to come"
Hon. Carl Schurz was then introduce
ed. He was unable to proceed for some
minutes because of the applause given
to him. When able to make himself
} heard Mr.. Schurz in part said:
Believe me- it is no affec,ation when l
say that the evidences of appreciation
and regard that have come to me from all
from the old fatherland, and that have
found such eloquent expression. this even
ing. ls1ave filed me with. | .,rjgh,..s,nost |
known that both on this side of the ocean
and on the other | had SO many friends,
so many among you whom have often
have SO good an opinion of my endeavofs,
How sincerely l thank you, and altsth9Se
who have given me this gratiiying assga-
ance. the strongest words could not suhi-
GENTLY express. |
I'm many of the letters and addresses
which my German-American friends have
sent j have Deen .nOnOfeu py ueSlS- |
mated as a representative of the German
element in In public life of our republic.
| can accept this honor with good con-
science in SO far as that in all my parti-
cipation in public affairs, the thought has
been ever present to me, that ii was my
duty as a German-born citizen not to dis
grace the German name In America. But
have never presumed to pose as a leader
of the Americans of German descent, or
as if had demanded or expected in any
way that the German-Americans, or, in
| fact any other part of the people, should
blindly follow my leadership.
II have always appealed to their sound
| Judgment their sense of duty, their honor
and their patriotism. and have never
| failed to impress upon them that 1t is the
| first duty of a citizen III the exercise at
his political rights. to act according to
his conviction, with fearless, self-Sacri- |
ticing courage. ! have always believed
| that those German-Americans best repre-
scented the German spirit in America who
SERVE to be useful to the country and
conscientiously> exercise their political
rights OF such representatives there are
| many among us.
when just history speaks of those
who have transformed the, wilderness of
| this continent into blooming garden.
who in the American solitude built busy
towns, who filled the cities with indus |
tries, loyal and order-loving citizens, who
| inspired the nursery of popular education
and of science with the spirit of thorough
inquiry and effective teaching power, and
who in times of danger spilled their blood
n or 81 ri nti lf.Sa ifro tha,,