Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-10-08
The Flag Presentation.

We are unable to comply with the promise
made yesterday of giving our readers correct
report eff the speeches of Mr.. Darwin and Mr..
Binder, made Thursday on the occasion of the
Flag presentation. Mr.. Darwin's speech, which
was one of surprising beauty, polished to the
last degree, we are unable to give. Below we
give the remarks of Mr.. Binder. They breathe
the right spirit-they glow with patriotic devo-
ton to Republican freedom.
GENTLEMEN OF THE FREMONT CLun: I feel
proud to be called up to return to you the
hearty thanks of the German Republicans, for
the beautiful souvenir this splendid banner,
your kindness favored us with. 1t shall be our
aim to show ourselves worthy of your gift.
Gentlemen, l am not accustomed to address
public meetings in the English language-ma-
king to-day maiden speech-so you will ac-
cept my apology for combining myself to few
remarks only. t5a-@4a 81 .is tess
In the days OF. the great American Revolu-
ton, in the days Of Franklin, Washington and
Jefferson, the Germans of the Colonies stood on
the side of Freedom taking an active part in
the glorious struggle for Independence The
names of Leiser, siuehenberg, DeKab and
Steuben, are written in the heart of every true
American patriot.
since ttiat time the Gerinans were true to liberty
and when they were ms.led some times by side
issues or political tricks they always stood firm
when the true issue was presented before them
and in the great question of Freedom or Slavery,
the Germans proved to be 'sou,ad." .J.s9s,.l
Loving republican institutions anxions to
serve the cause of freedom in their new father
land, and induced by the once so dear name of
Democracy, the Germans swelled the ranks Of
the Democratic party and for many year their
votes were cast for that once glorious organiza-
ton.
But when the Democratic party began to be
the tool of ambitious leaders-when that party
became the main pillars of that "peculiar in
stitution" of slavery-when Democracy turned
out to be, not the government of the people, but
the regime of those so called ''wel-bredn but
negro-selling gentlemen of the South, and their
agents, Messrs. Douglas, Stringfellow s. Co.
then the Germans left the ranks of the Democ
racy, party sold out to shareholders and
pledged to the extension of Slavery
In nearly all the Free States the Germans
join the Republican party, and in Slave States,
even, they show their strong sympathies for
freedom. In Missouri, where they voted for the
irecsoiler, Bair-n Tennessee, in Maryland,
and even in Louisiana, German papers boldly
protest against the extension OF Slavery and
speak out in favor of the great movement for
Free Kansas and Fremont
In New York, in Chicago, in Pittsburgh, the
Germans hold imposing mass meetings, declaring
their adhesion to the Republican party, ind-
eating the true principles of Jefferson and
jackson in all their speeches. and l believe, they
did well but the Germans of Iowa, especially
those of Burlington, they did BETTER undoubted-
ly: they uoted for the Republican cause, and
hope, nay, am even convinced OF it, they will
do SO forever.
Thus we Germans showed, and will show
hencetorth, that our deepest affections are with
the free institutions of our new home, that we
are anxious to rally with our American friends
around this flag of freedom, that, although born
in a country where despotism yet rides rough
shod over the rights of the peoplc--we still
cling to our old tradition of freedom and cher
ish free speech, free labor, free soil and Fremont,
the next President of the United States. ~