Isaac Seligman on
Carl Schurz
I cheerfully avail myself of the opportunity of giving my views on the life and career of my late friend, the Hon. Carl Schurz, as I had the privilege of his acquaintance and intimate friendship uninterruptedly for the past twenty-six years.
The lives of but a few eminent public men have been more fruitful in results or have left a deeper impress on the history of our country than the life and career of Carl Schurz. His public life is closely woven into all the historic and stirring events of our country. Coming to these shores as a young man, a refugee, without means or friends; with but an imperfect knowledge of our language, but with a heart beating loudly for liberty, that he should have scaled the ladder of fame and attained to such a prominent position, is, as I conceive it, a remarkable achievement.
One need only read his autobiography, which has been published fragmentarily in the magazine, to realize how his youthful efforts to gain liberty of speech, liberty of conscience and freedom for his native land, permeated his entire being and dominated the actions of his future life. To this country he brought that passionate love of liberty which found expression in his noble and patriotic services on the battlefield, on the platform and stump, in the Senate Chamber, and in his extraordinary articles and messages. These services justly won for him the affection and esteem of the American people.
There were, in private or public life, but few men whom it was my lot to have known, who were better equipped to aid in the struggle for political and moral progress of our country than Carl Schurz. Broad in his views, disinterested, courageous, an accomplished scholar, just in his dealings; he combined in a rare degree these qualities, which enabled him to aid in the solution of the different problems which faced this country in its days of peril and stress.
In the Senate Chamber his voice was always lifted for what was true, honest and patriotic. His eloquent speeches in that chamber in favor of sound money, when the country appeared to have temporarily lost its bearings and to be in flame for inflation, must always be thankfully remembered.
The late Senator Hoar (in his admirable autobiography) refers in exalted terms to the splendid services and effective aid rendered by Carl Schurz, not only in his speeches (which contributed largely to the defeat of the Inflation Bill) but to the many dangerous measures which met their death at the hands of those valiant and uncompromising senatorial gladiators, Charles Sumner and Carl Schurz.
As Secretary of the Interior in the Hayes Cabinet, his tactful, honest and successful dealings with the Indians, who had been despoiled of their lands by political chicanery, must always be regarded as one of the beneficent acts of that administration, and will entitle Carl Schurz to an eminent place among the successful cabinet ministers.
After his open secession from the Republican party, he was bitterly assailed by many leading Republicans. It is quite true that he might, perhaps, with better results to the Republican party, have exerted his powerful influence in correcting its abuses, within the ramparts of party lines, rather than by fighting outside of the lines. However one may have differed from him (which I frequently did), I have always believed, and am profoundly convinced, that his actions sprang from a lofty sense of public duty, as he conceived it to be, and for the best interests of his beloved and adopted country. He believed, as President Lincoln so aptly stated, that, “Providence has never gifted any political party with all political wisdom, nor blinded it with all political faults.”
In addition to his consummate tact and subtler qualities of statesmanship, his ruling passion was his love of national unity. His bitter opposition to the acquisition of Porto Rico, Philippines, &c., and apprehension of additional foreign conquests, all sprang from his fear that our national unity would be weakened or destroyed. Let us and those who dissent from these views never question his loyalty and sincerity.
His eloquence, logical and rich in illustration, always clearly grasping the strong points; his fervid peroration, appealing as it did to a higher sense of duty and obligation, will never be forgotten by those who had the privilege of listening to him in the Senate or at public meetings.
It was, I believe, a prominent college professor who publicly stated that he considered the knowledge, perfection and versatility of the use of the English language employed by Mr. Schurz as nothing less than marvelous. Although a foreigner by birth, he was always in full sympathy with the ideals and destiny of his adopted country. As a German born, he was proud of the country of his birth, and he unquestionably wielded greater influence among the Germans of this country than any other man in public or private life.
There were but few men of eminence in public life who took such a deep and lively interest in the career of young men fitting themselves for their life work. He was in active correspondence with a large number of such young men, and he was ever willing to give these young strugglers a large share of his time, advice and experience. They looked up to him as their teacher, and were powerfully affected by his views and suggestions. He always referred with pride and pleasure to this incident of his life. By his hopeful and helpful advice, the future of many a young man was diverted from a comparatively useless career to a true realization of the spirit and responsibility of citizenship.
Combined with his eloquence, keenness of vision, uncompromising courage, and stern and strict adherence to justice in all his dealings, there was blended a charming and fascinating personality, an unfailing courtesy, a lovable and responsive nature, traits rarely to be found in one person. His home life was ideal, and the adoration of his children for the father was beautiful to behold. He was ever modest, patient and forbearing, both as a father and friend, never obtruding his views unless some earnest topic arose requiring a vindication of his motive, and which impelled him to speak. It was then that the old fire in his eyes was lit up, and his whole frame would shake with a fervor and intensity of his subject, reminding one of the inspired orator and monk, Savonarola, as he must have appeared when exhorting the Florentine public.
He frequently stated to me that when he felt he was right he could not be too radical, and when in doubt, never too conservative.
The two subjects which I think, during his life, were nearest to his heart, were: —
Firstly: — His deep interest and successful labors looking to the improvement of our civil service system. He was the recognized leader of the Civil Service Reform Association throughout the land. He clearly realized from his long public experience that, like a cancer gnawing at the vitals of our very beings, the spoil system must be absolutely eradicated, otherwise, public and private morals would continue to suffer. His voice and pen were ever ready to aid in the uplifting and purifying of our public life.
Secondly: — His interest in the future of the Negro race. His public speeches and his articles all attest his broad and noble views in discussing this vexed and delicate problem. Like our own worthy President, he pleaded that the negro be given a fair deal and a reasonable hope for the future.
It has therefore seemed to me eminently fitting that these two subjects, both patriotic and elevating in the tendency, have been accorded a prominent place in the consideration of the plans which the Carl Schurz Memorial Committee have devised, desirous as it is to recognize and perpetuate, in some substantial form, the heroic services of Carl Schurz.
Carl Schurz has shown to us by his life work that the knowledge of duty well done is the best stimulus for permanent and lasting success in public and private life.
As long as this Republic endures or its history is known, so long will the noble life of Carl Schurz thrill the hears of the American people, and become and inspiration to our children and to generations to come.