Visit of the Hon. Carl Schurz to Boston/Reception by German Citizens/Address by Professor Krauss
Professor Krauss said, substantially—
That he felt highly honored by having been requested by the committee to greet, in the name of the Germans of Boston, that man to whom the Germans of the whole Union looked up with the highest esteem, with pride, and admiration. Then, addressing Mr. Schurz, he said that he did not greet him as general or minister, senator or secretary, for these titles he shared with many others; but in the whole United States there was only one Carl Schurz,—and to him, to the man for whom these titles were only garbs, the greeting of the Germans of Boston was tendered. The fact that he had risen to the highest honors open to a foreigner in this country had filled the German population of America with pride; but the warm feeling and admiration which they entertained for him were not called forth by the mere fact that he was senator and secretary, but by the manner in which he acquitted himself of his duties as such. Even as citizens of Massachusetts they owed him thanks for the assistance he had rendered them a few years ago by his speech in Tremont Temple, when the struggle was to be fought against the party that aimed at the depreciation of our national currency and credit. His activity in the Senate had been an uninterrupted contest against wrong and corruption,—even against members of his own party, he for some time standing almost alone with the great Senator of Massachusetts, Charles Sumner. The speaker praised President Hayes for his sagacity and courage in calling Mr. Schurz into his cabinet in the face of party hostility. Though Mr. Schurz was now returning to private life, his countrymen hoped he would continue to fight for the noble principles he had advocated heretofore, as in the present state of politics a man of his ability, experience, and firmness could not be spared. After assuring Mr. Schurz of the warmest love and sincere admiration of the Germans of Boston, who were conscious that no other man had brought the Germans of America such honor as he, the speaker, in conclusion, turned to the audience and invited them to join him in giving Mr. Schurz a heartfelt welcome as their German countryman, their American fellow-citizen, and their highly honored guest.