Carl Schurz
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"Carl Christian Schurz" was a Germany/German revolutionary, United States/American statesman and reformer, U.S. Minister to Spain, Union Army General officer/General in the American Civil War, U. S. Senator, and United States Secretary of the Interior/Secretary of the Interior. He was also an accomplished journalist, newspaper editor and orator, who in 1869 became the first German American/German-born American elected to the United States Senate.

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Ideals are like stars: you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the ocean desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny.

From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own.

If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarantee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors. There is no other.

Ideals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them.

Consider: if you incorporate those tropical countries with the Republic of the United States, you will have to incorporate their people too.

Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right.

The peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: "Our country -- when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right."

My country right or wrong; when right, to keep her right; when wrong, to put her right.

Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.