Evening star., 1932-08-13
THE LIBRARY TABLE
BY SARAH C.. BOEERMAN.

Born In O castle near the Rhine and
buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Carl
Schurz was. during all his mature life,
a loyal and enthusiastic American. The
history of his vigorous and varied life
is related with much sympathy by
Claude Moore F'uess in his biography
Carl Schurz: Reformer." volume In
the series American Political Leaders, I"
edited by Allan Nevins. The birth Of
the son OF schoolmaster OF peasant
ancestry in a castle was accidental.
The maternal grandfather of Carl
Schurz was overseer Of The Gracht, :"
estate Of Count Matternich. and with
him the Schurz family made their
home for some years. Carl was born
In the tenants portion of the castle.
In his 23d year, after taking part in q
revolution in Germany and rescuing
from prison fellow revolutionist. Carl
Schurz landed in New York in the
Autumn Of 1852 and began his long
career as prominent American citizen
and statesman. This career led him
almost Immediately into politics. He
was natural insurgent end reformer.
Within six months he had learned Eng
lish so well that he could converse and
write with ease. He used his new know
ACd6C w oId6y hAAiCliSdA AAotoiys POil-
tics and current affairs. "SchurZ'
early g!impses of the operation Of
American democracy had filled him
with dumb anazement,' as he saw the
principle Of individual freedom carried
to its ultimate consequence He
found himself in violent opposition TO
Negro slavery and took an equally vio-
lent dislike to Stephen A. Douglas. BY
1856, after only four years IN the coun-
try, Schurz, having become a citizen.
was making speeches in Wisconsin In
the Republican party compaign. His
influence with German American citi-
zens was very great and he was largely
responsible for the substantial ajor-
ity In Wisconsin for Fremont. His
modest political beginning as q cracker
box statesman in the grocery store of
Watertown, Wis. led him eventually to
the United States Senate and to the
cabinet Of President Hayes.
The association of Carl Schurz with
Abraham Lincoln was to him one of
the most satisfactory parts of his politi-
cal life. His first meeting with Lincoln
was a chance affair. Schurz was max
ing speeches in Illinois IN connection
with the senatorial campaign of 1858.
"AASAA A]AAiSOAl RAAQ A|Ou84do WCLC
dates. He was on q train for Quincy,
accompanied by a member Of the Re-
publican State Committee, when, "at O
way station, tall man, wearing bat
tered stove-pipe hat and carrying on
his left arm gray woolen shawl, look
ing uncouth and even grotesque with
his faded cotton umbrella and black
satchel, entered the car and was hailed
effuSively by the crowd It was Abe
Lincoln, whom Schurz now saw for the
first time. After the necessary intro
ductions were effected, Lincoln greeted
Schurz with an 'off-hand cordiality,
well aware Of what this scholarly Ger
man had been doing for his cause.
Lincoln talked in so simple and familiar
a strain that Schurz felt as If he had
known him all his life. The two sat
down side by side, Schurz observing
Lincoln very carefully, trifle perplexed
by the latter's personality. It was the
beginning of relationship which was
to mean much in Schurz's education
and progress" When Lincoln later be-
came President, Schurz was appointed
of diplomacy never suited him and at
this time, with the Civil War started,
he was anxious to be in the United
States and in the field. In the Spring
Of 1852 he was back in Washington and
received a commission as brigadier gen.
eral. His military career was not an
unqualified success, but was creditabls
and throughout the war he corre-
sponded with Lincoln and advised him.
He must also often have annoyed him,
for Schurz was persistent and by no
means modest person. One letter OF
Lincoln to him shows considerable ir-
ritation: BE assured, my dear sir, there
are men who have heart in It that
think you are performing your part as
poorly Is you think I am performing
mine"
As a Senator, schurz stood for civil
service reform, libeal policy toward
the South, sound money and strict hon.
esty in Government administration. He
opposed imperialism, the spoils system
and too-high protective tariff. He was
from the stert an insurgent and was
soon "out Of sympathy with the ad-
ministration (Grants) and the regulars
in his party" but he won "a place In
history as an intelligent, independent
and honest legislator" He had only one
term. Before 1t was over he was drop
sped from nearly ell committees and was
completely estranged from Grant. Louis
A. Coolidge, one of Grants eulogists
has insisted that Schurz had an in
satiate appetite for oppcsition'-a charge
which James @. Blaine had earlier made
against him. But this Is not an ex-
PLANTATION. Schurz's liberal philosophy
his repulsion at political corruption, his
sensitive moral nature-all these tri-
umphed over party regularity. To him
party was a means of promoting the
execution OF certain measures of public
good When 1t ceased to do this he
had no longer any desire to be afiiliated
with it. Carl Schurz was neither a prie
nor a hypocrite. He was a political
idealiSt with the passion of a crusader. u
The papers Of Windsor Castle were
brought out for the inspection Of Hector
Bolitho 50 that he might write his book
Albert the Good" life Of the Prince
ccnsort, husband Of Queen Victoria
That the utmost accuracy, good taste
and discretion might be insured, the
proofs were read by the Grand Duke OF
Hesse, the Duke OF Saxe-Coburg and
Gotha and the Dean of Windsor. In
spite CT all these advantages and pre-
cauticns, it Is very readable book. Nc
doubt exists with regard TO the excel
lence OF the character of the Prince
consort, but faulty human nature has
sometimes been wearied by the adora-
ton rendered him by the Queen and
tho2e whom she induced to join her In
the worship. The virtues Of the Prince
were the more remarkable because virtue
was net hereditary in the Coburg family
Mr.. Bolitho gives evidence to disprove
the, scandal that the Prince was the
illegitimate son of his mother Luise and
lover of Jewish extraction and that
thus the royal family of England has
Jewish blood. He says Of Lulse, 1T Ia
certain that there could have been nc
misdemeanor until at least tour years
after her children were born"
4 y 4
Simplicity Of material and form OF
freedom from both conventionaiity anu
straining for modern effects marx tha
collected Poems" Of Padrai. Coium
Ills material is what he has found in
tine Ireland OF past and pres ~, wnisn
he knows and loves so WelI-the Old