The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-26

The German Element I'm tho United States.
The statistics the German population Of
this coun ry NJ b newspapers-which are
published elsewhere-will be likely to command
general attenti n. II g not generally under
stood tha' the Gern ans whom we see landing
on the wba yes n uncolth COS ume, and staring
vacantly at the queer asp ct of the Western
World, become in tn q nee Of . few years one
Of the m I intellect lal elements Of the Ameri-
can people and requ as much If not more
intellectual food han the same number Of ma
tives. Previous TO 1880, the Germans who
immigrated TO this cOuntry were insignificant
in numbers as n influence, and tended to ASST
initiate to the old Dutch who were among the
early settler. Of the ointment They sought
eervative in their ideas Of learning as in their
cabbage gardens. But the revolutionary move
ments which were cotemporaneous with Louis
Philippe's accession to the French throne
effected Q material change in the character Of
the German immigration. MN Of talent and
in som cases men Of forum. found it conye-
nient or necessar, to seek new home in the
Western Continent. The eventful year ls4S
gave still stronger impetus to the emigration.
All who refused to acquiesce in the movement
Of that year or in the reaction Of the following
one, struck their tents on the borders Of the
Rhine, the Oder or the Danube and sailed for
New York or Philadelphia. The consequence
is that much Of the education and best blood Of
Germany lie now settled in the United States
and, instead Of two or three hundred thou
sand, from one to two million of Germans
are living under the American flag. The num-
Der is elsewhere estimated at five million ; but
two is much nearer the mark.
These two million support thirty daily, and
from $50 to 10 semi-weekly and weekly news
papers, published in the G rman Ian suage.
Many of these are cond cted with talent and
spirit, and afford hand, ONE remuneration to
their proprietors. That they are extensively
read, their number certifes. L. is estimated
that the aggregate subscription lists Of the
whole amount to 100000 copies, which number
is probably about equal to the entire German
vote in the United States In this respect
striking contrast is presented by The German.
ard Irish. The Irish may be said to have no
news papers, save few Insignificant orgaus Of
she Roman Catholic hierarchy, which seldom
receive anything like a remunerative support.
Now ard then an Independent Irish paper is
started by some refugee or other, but these
sheets possess no vitality, and usually expire
after the first novelty has worn Oft The reason
Of the difference is obvious. For that class o.
Irish who seek on arrival here to blend will
The native population and become good citizens,
the American journals supply sufficient read
ing; they rather object to newspapers founded
with view Of keeping up distinctions of race.
The others for many reasons are bad reliance
for newspapers Most of the Germans who land
here read; of the poorest class of Irish, very
few Allowance must also be made for the To-
iuepce of The Roman Catholic clergy, which il
Generally eAertedin opposition to the Interests
OF Journals not under the immediate eye Of /, e
priest,
Il will be no,ic. d OH reference to The Stats
tlcs in smother column that the widest differ
cnces OF opinion and creed exist in the Germla
press OF the United States. Some journals ar,
Catholic; such are those edited by and written
Others are Lutheran; but the bulk, beariua
the impress of the Northern German mind, are
decidedly infidel in their tendencies. So in
politics. Most of the German papers are de.
mocratic; large proportion are imbued with
aholiionist doctrines; tut every shade Of opiu.
ion is presented By far the greater rumbei
have followed the lead OF the America press
I assuming position of hostility To -" b esent
administration Mr.. Pierce had lie ne en-
tire German vote at his election; ~ same
vote would LOW be cast with equal strength.
against him and his party.
Not little anxiety is felt among IT,, GER
mans with regard to the Know Nothins move
ment; and some besitancy is manifested ~ taeir
organs in dealing with 1T. The question does
not seem one of peculiar difficulty In 30 far
as the Know Nothing movement is directed
again.t foreigners, the Germans SIRE far less
likely to suffer from it than the Irish. Their
priests have not medded in the elections their
people have not been bought and sold as openly
as the Irish, their conduct as citizens has been
ore orderly, their intelligence is decidedly
superior. These point of distinction win tell
in their favor. But it has been pointed ont
over and over again in these columns that hos
tility to foreigners is mere collateral aud in
some respects delusive doctrine of the new
party. The true secret of the Know No.hings'
rise and progress is their opp osition to the cor.
ruption' and vices of the old parties, and espe-
cially to the infamies of the present admins
tratioD. If The wings and democrats had not
Disguised every one by their shameless pcrver
sion of the electoral franchise and If Nc. Pierce
had not sunk himself and his party to depth
ofcontempt never reached by any former Pre-
sident, the Know Nothings might nave take
till doomsday about the wickedness of the 70,
reigners without rallying strength to elect an
alderman. They have started their new party
with a creed reasonable in itself though no.