Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-14
An Exile From Germany.

Carl Schurz was one of the most remark
able foreign-born citizens that this country
has ever adopted For half century he
was one of the commanding figures In the
politics of this country, and as politician,
a writer and a teacher, he showed many
sided capabilty that would be hard to equal
anywhere.
He was bornat Liblar In Cologne in 1929
and educated in one of the German gym
nasia. He was apt at politics, held adj
vanced liberal views even young man
and when he entered the University of Bonn
he was among the ultra liberal il not the
radical students of the university. 1t was
at time when the political pot was SIM
mering In Germany, and the universities
were the hothouses that ultimately brought
out the generation Of more liberal and far
seeing politicians under whom the warning
states of Germany were finally welded into
empire by the great Wilhelm /. But
Schurz was before his time in Germany.
He followed his natural bent for newspaper
work and published a liberal newspaper in
Bonn in 1919. But its opinions were too
radical for the authorities, and in 1S49 he
was forced to flee from Bonn and Joined the
army of the revolution.
How he Jared in that enterprise he re-
Gently told In a magazine serial, as well as
how the last remnants of the revolutionary
force were cooped up in Rastatt, and how
he and two faithful companions finally es-
capped, and after rescuing a. fellow con-
spirator from prison were obliged to flee
to Switzerland. where they remained for
q time exiles, hearing now and again OF
the execution of their fellow revolution
lists across the border. This was one or
the most romantic chapters Of a career
that had much more of incident and ad-
venture than falls to the lot of most men.
From Switzerland SchurZ wandered to
Paris and thence to London, supporting
himself as teacher and as a newspaper
writer, for he had mastered both French
and English in addition to his native tongue
and Sxlc UQl1 IN he WI h.
out country.
Emigrated to America.
1t was in 1852 that he finally succumbed
to fate and married in Hamburg Marga-
retta Myer, with whom he came to the
United States in the same year and settled
at WATERFOWL, Wis. Here his natural apt1-
tude for politics at once found full play.
The revolutionary ideas TOR which he had
been banished from Germany were nothing
terrible in this country. and in 1857,
five years after he came to this country,
he met his first political defeat as candi-
date for lieutenant governor of the state
on the republican ticket.
Then came the time when he left state
politics and came into national prominence.
He was member OF the historic national
convention that nominated Abraham Lin
coin in 1869. and the next year he was sent
as minister to Spain.
But there was fighting afoot, and he did
resigned the post of ease and comfort
among the oranges and sunshine of old
Madrid and came back TO enter the Union
army as brigadier general. post for
which his early military training in Ger
many had well fitted him. The next year
ne raised to major generalcy and
commanded a division In the disastrous
second Bull Run. He went through blood
and fire again at Charlottesville. one OF
the historic battles of the war, and then at
Gettysburg took part in the dearly bought
victory that marked the high tide of the
rebellion.
Newspaper Life and Politics.
But he was born newspaper worker
and could not keep out of 1t. He had
scarcely quit the saddle In 1865 when he
was in Washington working az the corre-
spondent OF the New York Tribune, and 1t
was there that he formed the friendship
with Greeley that led to the latter's nomi-
nation In the liberal republican convention
of 1872. over which Schurz presided
But there were many years Of newspaper
work between those dates. In 1868 he went
to Detroit, where he founded the Post and
next year to ST. Louis, then, as now. one
OF the most Teutonio citizens OF the conti-
nent, where he founded the Westliche Post
He was temporary chairman OF the ma
uonal republican ecnvention In Chicago in
ate from Missouri Here he was at once
recognized as q debater OF strength and
skill. He crossed swords with Conklin9 In
the general order scandal OF New York, and
It was said by auditors that nsver since the
days OF Clay, Webster and Calhoun had
there been such genuine oratory heard
within the Senate chamber
Then came the nomination of Greeley
and his disastrous defeat, and the next
campaign saw 6ehurs back In the republi-
can ranks supporting Hayes, who made
him member of his cabinet with the port
folio of the Interior
He again switched parties in 1884 and
supported Cleveland. and later Joined the
forces of the anti-imperialists
His energy was not to be gainsaid From