The Writings of Carl Schurz/To Gustav Schwab, March 21st, 1884

by Carl Schurz and others

 

TO GUSTAV SCHWAB

45 East 68th St., New York,
March 21, 1884.[1]

My dear Mr. Schwab: I saw the Tribune only late this afternoon, and found in it a statement that some of my friends were engaged in raising a fund of $100,000 to be presented to me. Upon further inquiry I learned that you are the treasurer of a committee organized for that purpose, and that a very considerable part of the sum named is already available. Let me confess to you that this matter is very embarrassing to me, not as though I were in doubt as to the general line of conduct to follow, but because I should be exceedingly sorry, in obeying my impulse, to do anything that might in the least be liable to be interpreted as a want of appreciation on my part of the generous motives of my friends who prepared this valuable surprise for me. Let me assure you that I esteem it a great honor to have such friends, and that I am proud of being thought by them deserving of such rewards. Nobody can appreciate this more than I do. At the same time I feel as if, while I am able to work, I could not accept such sums of money without giving a proper equivalent for them. This may be a mere matter of feeling, but as such it is of great importance to the person concerned. To this feeling I should have given decided expression had I been consulted when this enterprise was begun. I consider it, therefore, proper, before any formal presentation is made to me, to ask, through you, my friends to forgive me if, with the highest possible appreciation of their generous sentiments, I feel obliged to decline in advance this valuable sign of their friendship and esteem, so that no further steps be taken; and I wish to say further that I shall be indebted to you, dear Mr. Schwab, if you will kindly return to the respective contributors the various sums paid into this fund. I am, cordially and gratefully, your friend,

C. Schurz. 

1. The original was in German. Probably the translation that was soon printed in the New York newspapers, to explain the status to the contributors, was made by Mr. Schurz.