Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 5.djvu/355

Rh credit of the Nation was to be maintained! How ready, disinterested, self-sacrificing and effective was he always in giving his service, so often called for by public interests.

He was a pattern of German-American citizenship—blending in himself the best traits of American character with the best of the German—a great American in enterprise and affection for this Republic, all a German in soul and true reverence for the old fatherland, the patriotic American with a German heart. He was a pattern of the master-manufacturer on whose heart the weal of his workmen lay as on a father's and who found in their contentment his happiness and pride.

And—what is in our day of special significance—he was a pattern as a rich man. I wish I could call the millionaires of the land to this bier and say to them, “Those among you who lament that at times poverty looks with mutterings on riches, learn from this dead man.” His millions were never begrudged him. The dark glance of envy never fell upon him. Covetousness itself passed him by disarmed and reconciled. Yes, every one would have rejoiced to see him still richer, for everyone knew that everything he got contributed to the welfare of all. No one fulfilled better than he the duties of wealth. There was no puffed-up pride of possession, no extravagant prank of display. Simple as ever remained his being, modest his mode of life. But he knew one luxury and he practiced it; that was the luxury of the liberal hand—a princely luxury, that few of the world's greatest have indulged in more richly than he.

I speak here not only of the gifts of large sums, of which the world knows, but of those much greater amounts that he spent quietly for his fellow-man and of which the world knows nothing. And it was not money alone that he gave. It was the hearty joy of the genuine benefactor, with which he bade the worthy welcome, and often