New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung, December 3, 1888, p. 5

print this page

Speech by Carl Schurz at the Schurz festival at LK with Arion on December 1, 1888

Whoever spoke the beautiful words: 'The nation, which honors its great men, honors itself,' would have found great satisfaction in the manner in which the Liederkranz building practiced this yesterday. The festivities arranged by the Liederkranz and Arion in honor of their recently returned fellow countryman Carl Schurz looked like an overpowering demonstration free of all stiff ceremony; The hearty welcome greeting Mr. Schurz as he entered the great hall, the spontaneous shouts interrupting his speech often for several minutes, showed an imposing genuine declaration by our German population for the man who in excellent ways has promoted the respect of German-ism in the United States.
At entering the illuminated building it became evident to the casual observer that the expected 'solemn' reception for Mr. Schurz would go beyond the framework of a social event advertised by both clubs. The air was filled with a reverent mood, a latent need to express enthusiasm just waiting for the signal to explode. And when Mr. Carl Schurz entered the densely filled hall accompanied by members of the Arrangement Committee the applause bursting forth for this fellow countryman, not often heard even by this practiced ear, continued until the honored guest had been seated at the President's table. Mr. Clausen rose and informed that Richard Katzenmayer, President of Arion would be MC this evening.
Mr. Katzenmayer gave a strong welcoming speech pointing out Mr. Schurz' merits and emphasizing that the Germans need to recognize in Mr. Schurz their finest representative of their wishes and demands. Mr. William Steinway gave a biographical sketch of the guest, lauded his love of freedom and endless patriotism; the energy with which he has always defended self regulation by the people and his fight against corruption of all forms, even if it surfaced in his own party. His political career has distinguished itself through rare honesty and unwavering fulfillment of duty; in one word, his whole life and actions have contributed extra-ordinarily to elevate and anchor the respect of the Germans in the United States. He concluded by asking the guests to toast the health of the honored guest.
When Mr. Carl Schurz silently rose to give his speech, the assembled listened quietly and intently to his colorful diction, rich examples and heartwarming eloquence achieving the known impact on the audience. He feels more obligated to express his thank you for the demonstrated ovation since this was obviously free of all party influences, particularly in the political sense, and visibly only had the purpose to express to him the friendship and respect by the German population. As regards to his trip to Europe he has to recognize that the warm reception there was without a doubt not directed towards him alone but to the German-Americans. He was honored as the representative of the German-ism [Deutschtum] in the United States. (Applause) Last time he appeared in front of the Germans in New York he had the honorable duty to speak of a historic world event: the death of William I. under whose aegis the Germans eager wish for political unity had been satisfied. Mr. Schurz can reassure with conviction that the sympathy demonstrations displayed by the Germans of the United States towards their old fatherland are heartily acknowledged overseas. The devotion to the land of birth harmonizes well with the duties of the adopted fatherland. It can be honorably said that the German feelings for the old homeland never interfere with the duties of citizens of the new fatherland, that it would never occur to them to interfere in European politics and that they would keep laudable neutrality. We should foster the long existing friendship between the United States and Germany; that all of us are united in the wish that these connections continue for a long, long time and that they flourish and thrive. (Loud applause)
What emotions move a person returning to his old homeland after years of absence could well be imagined by many in the audience. The pulse is faster and the heart pounds louder when approaching the red tile roofs, the fields, fortresses and castles, which still occupy the fantasy of our younger years. You can say what you want: We Germans are always a little sentimental (loud applause), but we don't have to be ashamed of it, and particularly at the moment we view our fatherland again: Germany really is a beautiful country!" (Loud, long lasting applause)
Mr. Schurz continued by saying: "you will not ask me to give a critical illumination of the conditions in Germany. I want to say only one thing: The German in a foreign land still sees the big happenings in the development of his old fatherland; he is not interested in the smaller things, in the internal party fights occurring over there. An astute observer cannot escape, that in Germany the desire for liberal institutions by the population is only expressed haltingly and slowly, which stands as a peculiar contrast to the thinking of the American people. This however can be explained through the political plight from which Germany is slowly recovering to stand as what it is today: A large powerful whole, at whose slightest movement all of Europe tremors. In Germany one is still enamored with the own unfathomed dimension; one only works on national consolidation and the Nation idea by far surpasses all other ideas. That explains the fanatical allegiance to the Chancellor [Reichskanzler], who presently is probably the most powerful minister of the world and who exercises his power even over the minds and hearts, over will and thoughts of the entire people. Only when the German people feel totally reassured in their accomplishments will the people continue on the started path with total independence of the verdict.
In order to demonstrate the dominating strength of the thought of unity Mr. Schurz described tow scenes he witnessed: how in the white hall of the imperial castle in Berlin the German dukes, whose petty ambitions delayed the unity of the Reich for so long, demonstrated their homage to the emperor; and how in Hamburg 200,000 citizens of the free city greeted the young emperor enthusiastically, for they see in him the embodiment of German might and unity.
Mr. Schurz spoke warmly about Hamburg; he called it the most beautiful of German cities and insisted that he could describe himself if not as Hamburg's son certainly as Hamburg's son-in-law. (Laughter) The happiest moments of the best part of my life were born in this city. My children could view their grandfather's monument in a public park. He was one of the most diligent and useful citizens in the first half of this century and I still have many dear relatives and friends there. It was in Hamburg, the free Hanseatic city, where the old independent pride of citizenship is still alive, it was there, where the emperor appeared to celebrate the joining of the Tariff Union [Zollanschluss; see August] I saw the streets, bridges, canals, harbor, windows and roof tops filled with citizens, estimated at more than two hundred thousand. Hamburg was never subject to the power of the Prussian King.
But the changes in Germany during the last tens of years are most visible in the physiology of the cities and many of them can compare themselves with pride to American cities. Berlin is the financial center of the European continent; should Germany enjoy a few more years of peace it will develop into the industrial world market. Although there is still great poverty in Germany, the general standard of living is rising visibly and reports of the disappearance of the middle class are pure fairytales. In almost all classes of society there is a feeling of strength, a desire to excel, an energy, which cannot miss to move Germany, with uninterrupted development, not only militarily but also economically, to the front of the continental nations.
The German fatherland will have to face difficult ordeals before it can finish the started work; it is the sincere desire of all Americans of German birth that it will rise victoriously from these ordeals so that peace is preserved for a long, long time. Mr. Schurz emphasized that in Germany no one, from the Emperor and Chancellor down to the poorest farmer, wishes war. May Germany's power position remain steady and develop a free society, not according to a theoretical design or foreign example, but according to the internal needs of the country, its customs and habits, its historical preamble. In conclusion Mr. Schurz said, 'In our circles we will honor the German name in the finest manner in which we preserve the best elements of the German-ism and join them with the best elements of the American spirit.' For us German-Americans it is our duty to honor the German name in our everyday life. We will not just do that by pointing to our German birth or to what great things our kinsmen over there have done or might do. We will do it by honoring in us the best elements of the German character and join it with the best elements of the American characteristics. We will do it in that each one us as true patriotic citizen of this republic will search with all his strength and honesty to discover what the general interest is and steadfast follow in his truthful conviction to fulfill his duty. We could honor our fatherland no better than to be counted among the best citizens of our new fatherland."
The best writer cannot describe the wild applause following the last words of the honored guest. It only stopped after it was announced that on the occasion of his honor Mr. Schurz is the subject of a huge salamander scheduled next. After this was completed with pizzazz both societies presented chorus numbers, which left the departing audience in high spirits.
Besides the already mentioned arrangers of this successful evening, conductors von der Stucken and Reinhold L. Hermann deserve notice, along with the gentlemen Weinacht, Wesendonck, Hauselt, Steiger, Villard, Jesse, Seeligman.

[hhv]