University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-31
Germany's Gift to America

ways to follow the path of conscious
ness and the endless road leading
toward his ideals. he became Ameri-
ca's first great indenendent in poll
tics.
Carl SchurZ was member OF the
cOmmittee that notified Abraham Lin
coin OF his nomination for president.
Notwithstanding the fact that he was
one of the leaders in the fight TO give
thar honor to William H. Seward. Lin
coin afterwards appointed him minis
ter to Spain. His service as diplO-
mat was short, for in six months he
etnrned TO become Brigadier-General
in the Union army. Ii was while in
the service OF the government as ii
special representative to investigate
conditions in the South after the war,
thar he came TO be so widely known.
He became United States Senator
from Missouri January 10, 1869. His
service in the legislative branch of
the government made him still more
famous. He could not be tied to pre-
cedent or guided by a party hand
He reserved always the right 10 think
and act freely, but, through it all. kept
the friendship and respect of serious
minded people. Like free lance. he
split from the majority i'm its dealing
with the ku kluy klan in the South,
the Louisiana election question and
he matter of amnesty. Honest money
was his hobby, and he never lost an
opportunity 10 speak in its behalf.
Ii was after his term in the Senate
hat he served under President Hayes
as Secretary of the Interior
Carl Schurz as newspaper man
was not as successful as he
was in other fields. He loved to write.
but he could not adjust himself TO
the material side of life. with which
a newspaper man must deal largely,
nor could he bind himself 10 any par
ticular policy. He wanted to say al
any and all times just what he felt like
saying. and he wanted TO do whatever
touched his fancy. He was an ideal
ist-almOst 4 drcamer-and il did not
suit him To pin up his ideals for the
qualification of editors. NOrwithstand
ing all this. he was brilliant when he
did write. English was "A foreign
tongue TO him. bur he is said TO have
had the most thorough mastery of il of
any foreigner ever TO take up its study.
lie manipulated its idiOms al will, and
his pronunciation and accent were per
feet.
He was Washington correspondent
lOf the New York Tribune in IsG,
and lS66. In 1861 he was associate
editor Of the Westliche Post. a ST.
Louis German newspaper still pub |
llshed. coming TO il after short ser |
vice on the Detroit Post. From 1881 |
To 1883 he was an editor on the New
York Evening Post.
After his retirement TO private life
Carl Schurz published in one of the
leading monthly magazines, the story |
of his life. 1t is considered one of the
most remarkable autobiOgraphies of |
recent years. While il is exhaustive II
II is never lacking in interest. Ii is
fitting that this should be his las,
contribution 10 the American peOple II
He lived with them, worked with them.
loved them and was loved BY them in
return. lie was honest. hard worker
and the possessOr OF keen intellect
and pure heart. Born in Liblar. Ger
many. March 2, 1929. he was educated
at the University of Bonn. He served
in the Revolution of 1S4S ard was
forced 10 flee the country After teach
ing music in London two years. he
cane to make his home in America
BY exhibiting those qualities so fitted
to America, he became one of the
greatest. That is what made Ger
many's richest gift TO America none
other than Carl SchurZ.
J. {.