New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-04

Schurz was beyond doubt one of
the greatest three American states
men of foreign birth. OF the other two.
one radically differed from him; the
other somewhat resembled him in the
circumstances of his identification with
American affairs. Hamilton was only
technically an alien. He was from the
beginning one with us in race, Ian
guage and training: at a time when all
Americans were either Of foreign birth
or of not remote foreign ancestry. He
never had to be "Americanized,' With
his great rival in national finance, Gal
latin, the case was different. He was
an alien in race. language and train
ing; but coming hither before reach
ing his majority he quickly became
IAN American In fact-in thought and
sentiment and speech-as well as in
name. But he also came hither when
the distinction between native and
adopted was slight. Schurz also was
alien in race and language and train
ing, and he came hither when he was
older than Gallatin had been, and
when his foreign points Of view and
manners Of thought were more fixed
and his mind had presumably become
less flexible-though he was stlll
young man. Moreover, he came at
time when determinations between ma
tive and naturalized were drawn with
peculiar force. But even more speed
lily and more completely than Gallaun
he became so Americanized as to be, if
we may say it, more American than
most Americans.
This is the fact which above all else
is salient in the letters and addresses
which mi these handsome volumes.
Hamilton, said Talleyrand. OWNED Eu-
rope. Scarcely less, it may be said,
Schurz OWNED America. He was twen-
ty-three when he came to this country.
Within a few weeks he was writing
letters which showed in every line not
only acute and accurate observation.
but a singular power of analysis, in
depreciation and divination. such as
would have been remarkable in one
who had spent a lifetime in tile study
of American affairs. Note. for example.
his observation, made in the very year
of his coming hither. of voluntarily
made laws treated with contempt
an epigrammatical diagnosis Of one of
the gravest evils of our system. then
as also now. He had already referred
TO our strange indifference to life"
which is unhappily also thing Of the
years ago.
A little more than two years later
we find him writing to his favorite
professor at Bonn an analysis Of the
conditions of political f1ux in Pierce's
time which is almost uncanny in its
power Of searching, of exposition and
OF demonstration. He discerned the
vast problems of that day, appreciated
the motives and purposes Of public
men in their attitude and conduct tow
ard them, and forecast the trend of
events with the authority Of true
seer. Then year later. In 1906. how
keen was his prescience! Buchanan
administration" - this was written
three months before that administra-
ton began-"will be- to the Democratic
party what Fillmore's was to the WING
party-namely, the end. From now on
there can be only two parties in the
Union: a Northern and Southern
party-an anti and pro-slavery party
and at the present moment the Demo-
Gratis up here are only the outposts
of the slave-power in the free states
The next four years will de-
eide the fate of the United States. &.
am not sure that this fight can be
decided without powder. / doubt 1t.
However. should the force Of arms be
resorted TO as a last measure. the re-
suit cannot be doubtful, for the mate
rial superiority OF the North Is I'M
mense."
Most OF his letters in the first half
dozen years were written in German
but he was soon using the English Ian
guage with the accuracy. grace and
mower which thereafter so greatly dis
tinguished him. Those who were priv
ileged to hear him remember how sin
gularly free he was from German pro-
nunciation. save in perhaps half
dozen words, and how free, without
any exception, from German forms
~ construction Of sentences. His use
of English was not only correct; II
WAS idiomatic to the point OF raciness.
And he was a ready. fluent and facile
orator. Yet in 1888 we find him mod
estly lamenting that he could never
become an extemporaneous speaker
81 do well enough in debate. but TO
extemporize, that is, simply to trust
TO the inspiration Of the moment TO
make a great and beautiful speech
that will always be difficult. 1t would
ne invaluable; but l believe / lack the
reeded ready command Of language.
THE hest possible answer TO this sincere
hut mistaken self-depreciation is found
An the ELOQUENT passages with when
the pages of these volumes abound.
Note. for example, his speech Tue
worry next year. in Faneuil Hail. on
True Americanism." You VIII search
FAR in the oratory OF English speech