The Reminiscences of Carl Schurz
McClure's Magazine
| FACSIMILE OF THE LAST PAGE OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY GIUSEPPE MAZZINI TO CARL SCHURZ DURING THEIR SOJOURN IN LONDON, 1851 |
Translation: |
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Party spirit has not crept in among us, at least on my side. Dominated by the idea,
which you must find sufficiently just, that the initiation of the movement belongs to-day
to the Alliance of Nationalities, and weary of the systematic discussions and disintegrating
methods which have come to us from French socialism, I have done the utmost I could to
choose a common ground and bring you all to it. I have stood in equal relations with
the men of different shades of political opinion. I have acceded — the matter of the
money is a proof of this — to all demands, no matter whence they came. I have been
unsuccessful. I have found ten centers instead of a single one; rivals instead of
the compact ranks of combatants I sought. To-day I do not know where to be looking
for Germany — I mean, for that which represents the aim, the hope, the activity
of Germany. On one hand I meet French communities, on the other,
Proudhonian independence. This deeply grieved me, for I aim singly at action, and feel excessive
shame for democracy which talks, talks, talks, and allows itself to be beaten at every
point by those who do not talk, who hate one another, but have the sense to remain
united for the purpose of defeating us.
To-day I no longer have faith in any but ourselves. And I work to convince my countrymen of this. That is all, Believe me. Devotedly,
Jos. Mazzini.
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July, 1906, pp. 316 and 317.