The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-05-06 00:00:00

THE GERMAN PEACE FESTIVAL.

Ot iNronday night the Germans resident in London
held a Peace Febtival in the Gymnasium of the Turn-
Verein, S. Pancras road. The Gymnasium, which
is o considerable size, was filled to overflowing. Toe
wol's were dbcorated with flags, laurels, hints, and
portraits of the Eno peror-Kiug, the Crown Prinz'', ita.
On scrolis enc;rcled with wreaths were inscribed the
names of the German victoriee, from the storming of
Wiasembourg to the capture of Paris. About 1,600
G.-nouns were present, among whom were his Excel-
lency Count Bernstoff ((lentian Ambaadador) and
family, Count Hompesth (Bavarian Auabassadoz),
Baran and Baroness Schreider, Baron Henry Schroder,
Probs-or Max Mulier, Professor Lnbreith, Prat esor
Siemer'', ER S., Herr Ravenstein, Sir Julius Bone.
diet, Dr. Ferdinand Hiller, and Dr. Max Schle,inger.
Among the Engliehman invited were the Duke of
Manchester. Mr. TIII IBM Carlyle, Mr. P. A. Ta3lar,
M.P., S r Tollemachs Sinclair, M.P., and Mr. Hep-
worth Dam.

The prosraretne consin'ed of tome well.selected
vocal and instrumental music, the fernier of which was
executed by the different "Geraugvereiee" and the
latter be the Crystal Palace orchestra, under the
lea lerehip of Herr Reinecke, whese " Peace ()vertu ea'
(not yet heard in Eugland) opened the Festival.
The Rev. Louis Cappell, PD.. miuiste r of the
German lutheren Church in London, made the first
speech, in which he said that the Geroaare in London
hal assembled toeether to rejoice in their c salmon
netionality, and in the tuccessee lately obtained by
their Fatherland, SUCJOi.,IOI which had gloriouely
achieved unity for the people, eecnrity for their
boundsriee, liberty for their political development,
and the recent-meet ef the fair pro,iuces of Alsace and
Lotraine. He prophesied that, by the help of Gel
and the patriotism of its united citizene. on the basis of
a Pound morality, respite t for law, and nnity in spirt
and action, that new Germany would enick'y rise to
be a co etpact, self-reliant, mid invincible Power.
The old German hymn "Nun thicket alle Got—,"
WM thee smite This, as well as the "Watch on the
Reice," was Hued in by all present. Then followed
a tableau. "The call Warms," repretenting Germany
distributing arms to her children. Other tableaux
were "The Warrior's Farewell," "The Sleep," and
'The Waking of Barlierease and his Wand re," and
" United Gertuany." These tableaux were all prettily
given and, a, may be imegitted, were received with
humane entlm Mem. Th-y alternated with well-
chosen and well-executed music and speeches, the
meet noticeable of which w.s that by Pr 'tenor Max
Milner, who began by describing the mixed feelings of
gratitude and hope, joy and mouraing, pi le and
regret th must till the heart of evety German in eel&
beating this festival of peace. Toe Gei mans had begun
• the war with a heavy and not with a light heart; they
had thou ht of 1800, but also of IAI3. Tacit hops of Suet
"vierory was feuded noon German courage, represented
,ly Be re seek ; Germ en diligence, re pnesented by Moltke ;
Ge-man dutifuluerw, repreeente d by the Crown ['rime;
I and German pe sev. rence, repreeented by the Emperor.
Th. y were now ce!ebrating their Peace Festival in
Eneleed, hut to a German Eneland was scarcely a
foreign coon, ry- at all events, it was a friend's and
not an enemy'e c untry. During the war hint words
mitht have been used on both tides, hut the kernel of
the English satin VIM not hostile to Germany.
There was a brotheileiod between the two nations, lied
by this he referred not to a common descent, a common
'menage, a common religion, and common feat of
' arms, but to their common allegiance to the majesty
of conscience, their common receignition of conscience
as the highest authority on earth -higher than crowns
and churches, books and Articles, blame and praise
of the world. He declared that the political guidance
of Europe belonged in future toG ermany and E agland—
the guidance of the whole civil zed world to England.
America, and Germsny—and that a cordial under-
standing between these three Germanic nation° meant
peace. He proposed that the let of May' should be.
come again, like the Campus Maine of the Carlovingian
times, the great national festival of the Germans in
Eneland and in all parts of the world to keep alive the
memories of 1870, to strengthen the feelinge of brother-
hood among the Germane, to remove all causes of
former divisiona, and thus to maintain the position
of Germany as the strongest guardian of the pewee
of the world. The MIIAIe and tableatix were succeeded
by a supper, served in the large upper room of the
Gymunium. The chair was taken by B .ron Henry
Schrader, who gave the first k ast, "The German
Empire and the Emperor of Germany." This was
succeeded by "The King of Bavaria and the rest
of the German Princes," "The German Army and its
Leaders ;" after which "The Health and Pro,eetity
of England ; was given by Profegeor Siemens, F.R.S..
who, after alludine• to the French sympathies and the
eusl,ieioosnew if German ambition which had found
expression in England, went on to say that the dignified