University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-31

Germany's richest gift to America
Carl Schurz. This is the conclusion
that has been reached by the people o
lof this wonderful man. Although born
lin castle. he was of common people;
Ialthough native of Germany. he was
$50 far as his influence on the world
lis concerned, American. Unlike Dis
raeli, the great Hebrew statesman OF
lEngland in the time OF Gladstone, in
THAT he came 10 fame in an adopted
country. he was like him in that he
Hame 10 prominence among a people
not his own.
Following the tendency of Germans
Ito adapt themselves TO customs and
conditions wherever they may be and
forgetting, TO great extent, Der
Faterland''. Carl Schurz landed at
philadelphia in 1852 a German, then.
rs an American, ran for lieutenant
governor of Wisconsin in 1857. From
then until few years previous to his
death in 1906. he was a public figure
Throughout the United States. News
paper man, minister to Spain. soldier
in the Civil War, a worker at Recon-
structiOn, Secretary of the Interior,
senator from Missouri. author-all
these things, and even more, was he
AT one time or other in the fifty-four
years he was an American.
Whatever may have been occupying
the attention of Carl Schurz. he was
at all times an idealist. To him pres
ent conditions were always foundations
for greater things. better conditions !:
to him present-day ideas We're the
mere fundamentals for fuller ideas to
materialiZe from: to him present day
things were makeshift until something
better could replace them. lie would
work TO acquire something only to use
ii as Il helpmeet in reaching for some
Thing still little further on. His
id. alisiic inclination may well be illus
trated by a quotation from him on the
future of this country:
You may tell me that my views are
Missionary. that the destiny of this
country is less exalted, thai the Ameri-
can people are less great than ! think
they are or ought 10 be. answer,
ideals are like stars: you will NOT
succeed in touching them with yonr
hands. But like the seafaring man
on the deserts of wafer. yOu choose
them AS your guides and. following
them, You reach your destiny"
While Carl Schurz was an idealisl
and may have been too much of a
visionary temperament. il can never
be said that he was switched entirely
ont Of the practical mans column.
Rather. il may be said that he was
so far in advance OF his time il was
hard for him 10 &c; his ideas adopted.
Contrary To the general practice of
Germans who come TO This country. he
became affiliated with the Republican
party. Although he never separated
himself from the part. he eagerly he
gan to do independent thinking. This
resulted in his breaking out of the
Republican corral and acting many
times like a present-day insurgent.
Such high treason was often dis
comforting TO members of the ortho- |
dOx majority and efforts were some |
times made TO discipline the erratic |
hereto. Such movements, though |
were rejuvenating on his part and as |
stimulating as is the sight of a yellow |
pond to waddling duck When oc- |
casiOns arose that demanded more |
than action. he could use tongue and |
pen. Although a brilliant orator, his |
speech was not caustic to extreme;
although a forceful writer. his pen was
not vitriolic TO excess. He chose to
to act independently and
preach the doctrines of perSonal>duty
rather than TO quibble with those who
disagreed with him. Continuing al