Schurz, Carl

Schurz, Carl (1829–1906),born in Germany, participated in the unsuccessful revolutionary movement (1848–49), and emigrated to the U.S. (1852), where he became prominent in the Republican party and was active in antislavery work. His other services in behalf of Lincoln brought him an appointment as minister to Spain (1861–62), from which he resigned to become a brigadier general. Although his division was accused of cowardice at Gettysburg, a court of in‐quiry found the charges unwarranted and com‐mended him for his actions. After the war he was Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune, and edited a Detroit paper and a German daily published in St. Louis. He left journalism to become a senator from Missouri (1869–75), in which capacity he opposed political corruption and jingoism. Hayes appointed him secretary of the interior (1877–81), in which office he was noted for his iinstallation of a merit promotion system, humanitarian treatment of the Indians, and interest in the conservation of natural resources. With E.L. Godkin and Horace White, he became editor of the New York Evening Post, which they made famous for its liberal independence. After differing on editorial policies, he resigned to write for Harper's Weekly (1892–98), which he left when he refused to support the policy favoring war with Spain. His later years were devoted to writing and speaking on domestic and foreign matters. In addition to his Life of Henry Clay (1887) he left for publication Reminiscences (3 vols., 1907–8) and Speeches, Correspondence, and Political Papers (6 vols., 1913).