The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-10-16
t From the Wisconsin. 9
A Letter from a German to bis
a.e ,j4 ,Father.Iand.

airy taste, tOr u JTauSlatlOn OI lne 1Ol-
lowing interesting letter, in the Sctnel-
Post, from a German in our Territory,
to his friends in his father-land. 1t
breathes of the true German heart,
and will be read with interest. 1t be-
trays that passion for trees, which Pc
culiarly characterizes the German
wherever he goes. 1t is often remark.
ed that they prefer the dark woods to
the open prairie.
The whole letter is repIcte with in
struction, as it manifests how much our
privileges are priced by those who
have never previously enjoyed them.
Trade is free to all here. Very few
will understand the full meaning Of
this sentence. BUTT is pregnant with
the deepest import, as in Prussian
Germany, and too much so throughout
Europe, every thing is.so fettered by
caste, and privilege, and arbitrary reg
ulations, that every one cannot trade;
that is, be a merchant without paying
an exorbitant tax; or, in some Of the
provinces, it is absolutely forbidden, if
he be mere peasant. Italmost makes
the mind shudder, when it marks the
cruel chains with which power and
privilege, in the hands of few, have
| burthened the many.
The slape land is a strong expression;
vet those only who have felt. the gall
ing chains OF European bondage, are
capable Of appreciating the priceless
blessings which we possess in our fa-
| vored country. Here, we regard them
as our right, as they Justly are; but the
emigrant considers them almost as a
boon from heaven, SO cruelty has he
been trodden on, in his own country.
The letter shows that the patient
German does ieel. The deep enthusi-
asm Of his character, and the sense Of
past wrongs, breaks out in every line.
But to the letter. 1t is so expressive,
that it had led us into many reflections
on kindred subjects. We may add
THAT il is impossible, in any translation.
/ to give the full beauty and force of the
original expressions:
"DEAR FRIENDS: We arrived in
America in good health. We reached
Milwaukee on the 10th of July, and
hope that this letter will find you in
good health. We have had a good
Journey. We came from London to
New York in 80 days. We were all
sea.sick, but no body died. The Sd Of
July we took the steamboat to Alba
ny, and there took the railroad for Mil
waukee. We then bought land Of the
state. 4, John -, bought me 80
acres, (that is, in German measure, 90
|morgen.) Then we went by wagon
to place SO miles from Milwaukee,
where we could feast our eyes on trees.
There built me house of the trees,
90 feet long and IS feet wide, and
have bought stove for $l3, upon
which we can cook and bake too. We
have boughta COW with calffor SIS,
which could not be bought in Germa-
ny for $40. i.ie.n2
'aThey think, in Germany, it is all
wild in America; no, the wild part is in
Germany. The cities are prettier
here than there, and we have all kinds
of frees, which they have not got in
Germany. ] have on my land many.
trees-..oak, beech, linden, sugar-cane,
(maple,) and citron, (cedar) trees.
ave are two miles from church.
We have mass every month; after
New Year, we will have it every Sun
day. Here we live Catholic---here we
can nightly pray. The very poorest is
as good as the richest. One can every
day and year 60 to the highest officers.
We need not touch our hats; we can
keep our pipe in our mouth. Nobody
can say, 'out with your pipe We
THANK God thousand times that he
has brought US out of the land Of bond
age into the promised land; for we have
here a fine land, and liberty.
~ pay every year So taxes, for
$3.50 morgen; it is fixed by the United
States o. America. There is every
thing enough in America. Flour costs
SIS a barrel, and there is every thing
cheap here. On one acre here, there
grows more fruit and corn than on any
| two in Germany.
,sTrade is FREQ TO all here. ! wish
you would al come 10 me. You need
not be ashamed to come, for people
come hare who have more money than
lJohn W. Of Berg. Who is once
lin the Kingdoms, United States, he
never goes back, 70 Prussia. The very
poorest in America isnore than the
very richest in the Grand Duchy Of
Luxsmbprg., "A day, laborer earns
every day q dollar, and he need not
Igiye, any drunken lawyers clerk any
~ spl ptr ..tfft a al >t1ti .Il 49, Ut LII