The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
& German-American Philosopher.

unusual numbers is DR.. Lewis Harley's
life OF Lieber. published under the title
Francis Lieber; His Life and Political
Philosophy" As may be inferred from the
name the work is not only biography
but to some extent study of the system
Of thought of which Lieber was the ex-
ponent during his long and useful life.
It is surely no less important that the
men who have helped TO shape the scholas
tic and political thought of this country
thould be recognized in history than that
the lives of statesmen and soldiers should
be written. On this account it is pleasant
10 find that this particular scholar has fall
len into the hands of so good a biographer.
He belonged during his youth in Ger
many, to the stormy period of the second
quarter OF the century; he spent the prime
of his life in America during the formative
age of her great colleges; he was one of
those German scholars who contributed 20
the Young nation the best OF the Old
Worlds thought. The influence of these
men of Heidelberg and Jena was perhaps
more noticeable in the East than else
where because the cultured classes OF New
England and New York were at that time
less actively interested in politics and ma
terial development than the South and
West, and at the same time less attached
to old English ideals than the gentlemen
of the South. They were thus eager TO
grasp new thoughts. and harbor political
refugees thrown out of European countries,
especially Germany. during the dis
turbances which followed the advent OF
Napoleon. Among these men were some
of the most learned and independent think
ers of their time and the gain TO Harvard,
to New York, and 10 the country generally,
was almost beyond calculation. Lieber is
perhaps as good an example of this type
of German-American as can be found.
Spending the greater part OF his life in this
country he came TO refer TO himself as an
American: yet he remained in thought and
habit essentially German. The strongest
tie. aside from that of residence. which
he had with this country was that of
devotion to liberty. He gave his life to
this cause by blood, word. and pen, and
never for one moment did he compromise
himself by any action which sanctioned in
reference with the rights Ct man. One OF
his sayings has become a proverb:
No right without its duty no duty without it,
right.
He was born in Berlin, March Is. 1890,
and the story of his life is closely con-
nected with many of the most important
died in 1872, having lived to see principles
for which he had fought firmly established
both in this country and in Europe.
At the time of his birth the German
States were in a somewhat demoralized
condition. and their conquest was threat
ened by Napoleon Young Lieber. being
natural fighter grew up in an atmos-
phere of patriotic feeling and endeavor- Hia
two older brothers both nisted
in the army as soon as they
reached the requisite age, ard
in due time Francis followed their
example His mother, one of the finest
types of the German woman. said that hal
she twenty sons. she would gladly give
them all TO their country. y little Incl
dent recorded in the first chapter of this
biography shows the strength of patriotic
feeling in Prussia during the years OF Lie
ber's boyhood:
No individual did more 10 arouse the national
shirt among the German youth than Friedrich
Ludwig Jsbn the author OF the modern system
of gymnastics. He was German patriot, born
at LAM Prussia, in l77s. In 1909 he Went &c
Berlin, where he became teacher at the hoI-
nisches gymnasium. From patriotic motives he Is
tsblished gymnasia. where young men were ntted
to endure the iatgues Of war. His motto was
''Frisch. frei, frohich, und fromm;' strong, iree
joyful, and pious" No French was allowed TO be
spoken: national songs sung; and every effort
was put forth to make the gymnssia nurseries OF
patriUfism Dr. jain called these schools the
Turnschulen, and the members wore short black
frock coat a black cap. linen trousers, hare
neck, with tufued-Cver shirtcollar. Besides gym
nastics. he taught German manners, and DIS
Outraged local lealousics and provInclailsnS Mhel
marching with the y0unE turner's out OF Beillh,
Or jain would ask the new ones as they passed
beneath the BrandeHburg Gate. WHAT arc you
thinking Of now2' If the hoy I'D not know
what to answer. Jahn would give MIN box IN
the car. saying az he did so, You should think
Of this how you can bring back the four fine
statues OF horses that once stood over this gate
and were carried by the French TO farls.
With this enthusiastic patriot Lieber
was closely associated for a period OF
eight years, and Jahn's influence mad
doubtless something to do with the later
movements for the uniication of Germany.
All his efforts were directed toward me
throwing off of the yoke OF foreign GUS
toms, languages, and morals.
little story told OF Lieber in his child
hood shows how earnest and single-heart-
ed was his nature: When his elder broth
ers answered the call to arms in 1913. the
younger boy went to his room, knelt down
and took a solemn oath that he would
study French enter the French army,
come near to Napoleons person and rid
the 18th of that son OF crime and sin.
Needless TO say. he did not do this, but
did fight against the Emperor after the
latters escape from Elba. He was wourd-
co at the Ddttit Oh ENaIiluT anu CANT uoHe
10 his FANNY. who had given him up Tor
dead His only personal effects at that
time consisted OF dog which had gore
through the Waterloo campaign and had
the end OF its tail shot off. After the
Napoleonic wars were over, he, like many
other young students, entered enthusiast
tically into the formation Of liberal and
political clubs. This resulted in brief
Imprisonment. and Lieber was prohibited
from receiving any appointment under the
Government or matriculating at any Ger
man university. Carried away by his de-
votion to liberty, he went 10 fight in the
Greek army during the Greco Turkish war.
was bitterly disappointed in the character
of the patriots, and left the country. Al
most penniless he arrived in Rome. and
made the acquaintance of the Prussian
Minister Niebuhr with whom he was as
sociated for considerable time as a sort
OF secretary. This association proved Of
inestimable value to the young philosopher.
On Niebuhr's removal from Rome. in 1923.
Lieber returned TO his native land on foot,
and was finally imprisoned, and rescued
by Niebuhr. who always proved a most
loyal friend 10 MIN Some time after this
experience he determined to go TO Amer
lea, and finally did SO, receiving an ap-
pointment as director OF the Boston gym
nasium in 1897. He wrote an encyclo-
paedia. which was a work Of note in its
day, and naturally came into association
with many leaders of the abolition move
ment, moEg them Sumner. who was for
many years his warm friend. The charac-
ter OF their friendship is shown in the fol-
lowing passage:
When sumner MAS about 10 sail FOR Europe in
lsfur strg I i,ltar t,f11