The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-10-11
OFFICIAL PAPER. KENOSHA COUNTY
A statesman's Picture of schurz.

A Statesman's Picture OF Schurz.
Probably there is no more conspicu-
GUS and kaleidoscope figure before the
American people today than the Hon.
Carl Schurz, a man of accounted great
ability. who loses the friends today
he won yesterday and will abandon to-
morrow the position he holds as the
only safe one today. In 1861 ard 1868
he dipped his pen in vitriol to write OF
Lincoln. whose image he now mounts
upon a pedestal and worships as
god. In 1896 he threw himself with
his accustomed fury into the fight
against Bryan, today he follows Bryan
as the defender of the nations tradi-
tons and champion of it's sacred in
situations. Of this remarkable man
James G. B1ain drew the following
lively picture:
The loss of Mr.. Schurz's popularity
"a popularity that was very marked IN
the earlier period of his career-1s due
in part to certain unsteady and cratic
tendencies, some of which are IN strong
contrast with characteristics that are
recognized as belonging in an especial
degree to his race. Through all the
centuries since Tacitus drew his vivid
picture of the habits and manners OF
fhe Germans, their attachment, it
might almost be called their passion,
for home, has been a marked and
meritorious feature of their character.
To Father1and first, and then to what
fa4
them. their devotion is proverbial.
This admirable trait seems altogether
wanting in Mr.. Schurz. When he left
Germany he lived for three years in
other countries of Europe-frst in
Switzerland, then in France, then IN
England. In 1852 he came to America,
and resided first in Pennsylvania, then
in Wisconsin, then in Michigan, then
in Missouri, and then in New York.
He has not become rooted and ground
ed anywhere, has never established
home, is not identified with any COM
munity, is not interviewer with the
interests of any locality or of any
class. has no fixed relation to church
or state, to professional, political, or
social life, has acqaired none of that
companionship and confidence which
unite old neighbors in the closest ties,
and give to friendship its fullest de-
ve1opment, its most gracious attributes.
The same unsteadiness has entered
as a striking feature in the public ca
reer of Mr.. Schurz. The party he up
held Yesterday met with the bitterest
denunciations the day before, and to-
morrow he will support the political
organization of whose measures he is
the most merci1ess censor today. He
boasts himself incapable Of attach
1nent to party, and IN that respect
radically differs from the great body
of his American fellow citizens. He
cannot even comprehend that exalted
sentiment of honorable association in
public life which holds together sue
cessive generations of men-a senti-
ment which in the United States
causes the Democrats to reverence the
memory of Jefferson and Jackson and
Douglas, which causes his opponent to
glory in the achievements of Hamilton
and Clay and Lincoln; sentiment
which in England has bound the
Wings in a common faith and common
glory from Wa1po1e to Gladstone, and
their more conservative rivals IN
creed of loyalty whose disciples, from
Bolingbroke to Beaconsie1d, include
many of the nob1est British patriots.
For these party associations, to
whose influence, under the just re-
straint of intelligent patriotism, the
wisest legislation is due, Mr.. SChurz
has neither appreciation nor apprecia-
ton. He aspires to the title of ''1nde-
pendent" and has described his own
position as that of a man sitting on
the fence, with clean boots, watching
carefully which way he may leap to
keep out of the mud. A critic might,
without carping, suggest that it is the
duty of an earnest man to disregard
the bespattering which fidelity to prin-
cip1e often incurs, and that beaten
path to safe place for ones self is not
an inspiring or worthy object of
craftsmanship.
Nor is Mr.. Schurz's independence of
party more pronounced or more COM
plete than his independence of true
American feeling He has taken no
pride in appearing under the simple,
but lofty title of a citizen of the United
States. He stands rather as repre-
sentative German-American He has
made his native nationality political
resource, and has thereby fallen short
of the full honor due to his adopted
nationality. The large body of Amer
lean citizens of German birth are in
tense1y attached to their new home,
and seek the most complete Identified
ton Of themselves and their descend
ants with the development and destiny
of the Great Republic. This is wise,
and is in accordance with the best ira
ditions and best aspirations Of the
Teutonic race. But to Mr.. Schurz the
Republic is not great! This coun-
try" said he, in his Centennial lee
ture, sis materially great, but nor
ma11y small"