American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-08-18
From The Pittsburg Weekly Times.
German Emigrants in the United
States.

German Emigrants In the United
States.
we have read in "The New York Tines
n communication written by a German.which
he has styled "a Vindica,ion of the German
Americans against Know Nothing Prelude
ces." The writer argues, in the first place,
that the American Party is unjustly exclu-
sive and prejudiced, because America is a
land of emigration, and that Americans are
merely descendants OF conglomeration of
English Irish, Dutch, Germans and French.
This is all true, but yet it does not deprive
Americans of distinct rational character.
The children, grand children, and more re-
mote descendants of the original emigrants,
have become homogeneous by living under
the same kind of government. They speak
the same language and have similar habits
and manners. They have been reared under
the same system Of government and are as
simulated in their general course Of thought
and action. The Romans were conglom-
Grated people at first, and yet they very soon
acquired a s,ernly marked national character.
England is a conglomerated nation, and yet
has very distinct national character. The
national pride of Rome in ancient, and En-
gland in modern times, was their best safe
guard and bulwark. They both cherished
the feeling Of pride among their citizens.-
They both carefully guarded the rights and
privileges of their citizens and both disliked
foreigners. The Italians have 70 national
pside, and 'shat are ,heya Fiddlers, npe-
dancers, organ. grinders, priests and lazaroni.
America is yet land of great emigration,
but there is strong reason why the rights
Of American citizens should be well guard
ed. Were the emigrants in this country
"few and far between," Americans could
afford to be generous, and admit them at
once 10 the rights Of citizenship. But for
eigners by hundreds of thousands pour into
the country every year. They speak often
strange language, German, Irish, Welsh
Norwegian or French. They have strange
habits, strange opinions, strange prejudices
and often dangerous purposes. The very
great number Of the emigrants, and the pc
culiarity of the emigration, make it abso-
lutely necessary TO guard our tights, cherish
our national pride, and impart more mark.
cd individuality TO the American character.
The second argument by this German
writer conveys the impression thatthe Amer
can people are under obligations TO the Ger
mans. He says that the German emgrants
are educated, industrious and experienced in
agriculture that without Them the United
States would have no Wisconsin, no Iowa,
no Indiana or Illinois, no vineyards on the
Ohio, and no orchards in the West.
Now on the contrary, we think that the
obligation is on the Germans, although they
will scarcely be induced to acknowledge il.
The Germans, who settled in these States,
did so after the Independence of the country
had been gained, after the Indians had been
expelled subdued, or civilized so far as no,
TO be dangerous, and after steamboats, had
been introduced into our waters by AmeIi-
can citizens. Many Of the German emf.
grants bought lands for small sum, from
one to two dollars an acre, which are now
worth 90, 80, so and 100 times their oripi.
nal value. Many of them squdtted on the
public lands, remained on them until they
had made money TO pay for them, and the
United States then passed laws and gave
them right of pre.emption. Some of them
made fortunes out of the ignorance, credul.
lily and vices of the aborigines. And after
all this, q German claims for his county,
men, who have just arrived and who arc
s,ill arriving, the rights Of American citizens.
because his coun,rymen, who preceded them
some years, made fortunes out of the terrific
ry which the United States had wrested with
great expenditure of blood and treasure, from
the British and Indians. Suppose Jonathan
is farmer with 1000 acres of good land. -
II is more than he can ill, but it may be
TILED by his grand. children. Suppose Fritz,
alaboring man, goes 10 him and says tha, he
will give 81 an acre for 200 acres, some in
hand and some in five years. Jonathan has
Too much land TO work himself, guesses that
his children will have enough, and reckons
that s.grand. children viii go to the far
West. He sells FdN 900 acres. Fritz tills
II and il becomes saluabIc. Frits then tells
Jonathan that he Jonahanl is under an OBJ
,'gauon to him for buying the 200 acres, and
hopes that in his will he will give him an
e9ua' share with lis children. Jonathan in.
quires the nature of the obligation. Fritz
says that by iilling the 200 acres he has