Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-06-20
Address to the Germans Of Kentucky

lFrom the Louisville Journall
The following address to the Germans of
Kentucky from the pen Of one Of their coun-
trymen well deserves their attention.
FRANKFoRT, KY, June II, 1861.
TO ma German Friends in Kentucky.
You and | are Germans by BIRTH but we
are all American citizens from choice, and as
such we are now called upon to aid either in
sustaining or overthrowing the Government
of our adoption. Let the enemies of the
country disguise and falsify facts as they
may, there is really but one question sub
mitted to the brave and free people of Ken
lucky, and that is this: Shall we any longer
have free Government or not? warn
You, my German brethren and fellow-c citizens
Of Kentucky, not to he deceived by those
who are trying to overthrow the government,
and reduce you and me to bondage again.
We all left our fatherland because we de-
sired to rid our necks Of the heel of the
tyrant that trampled upon our rights. We
have learned to hate tyrants--the proud
spirit of our race will never submit to the
yoke of bondage which jeff Davis and his
followers are striving to fasten upon Us. My
countrymen, beware Of all the tricks aud
treachery of disunionists, for they are trait
ors TO their government. They will ap-
proach you pretending to te your best
Friends, and under the sacred guise of friend
ship seek to seduce you from your allegiance
thus approach you that you have left the
homes Of your fathers to enjoy the blessings
of this free government-that you have
crossed the ocean to enjoy its benefits; and
tell him also that you have taken a solemn
oath to support in good faith its Constitution
and laws, and that you intend to make good
your obligations and your oath; and should
he still ask you to violate your oath, ant
assist him in destroying the government
which you have sworn to support, reply tc
the insult as becomes your patriotism and
your unquestoned manhood. In all your
department show yourselves worthy of the
freedom which this glorious country ha'
hitherto bestowed upon you, which you cal
only do by yielding to il your earnest ant
unreserved support-follow its fortunes ant
its flag wherever they 60, and proudly share
their fate.
Having once tasted of the sweets of liberty
let MS surrender it only with our lives II
this Government is destroyed, liberty vii
be again banished from the face of the earth
l The Southern States will soon become :,
many little monarchies and despotisms, con
tinually at warwith each other, subduing an,
subdued in turn, until they will become
hiss and by-word among the nations of tn
earth. They will be far less desirable for u
than the oppressed lands from which W
have all fed.
The plain duty of the United States Gov
ernment is to protect us, to guard our right
Q as its adopted citizens wherever and b
whomsoever they may be invaded, and thi
duty has been performed to the letter. N
adopted citizen ever claimed the protection
Of this Government upon any land or SCI
where its flag waved, where his rights wer
not Immediately guaranteed and his wrong
redressed. In return for all this our plai
$ duty is to support the Government that pro
= tects us in good faith-to stand by it in thi
D hour of peril, and sustain it, if need be, wit
Q our fortunes and our lives
t Then stand firmly by the Union which yo
S have sworn to support-vote for Union me-
: and Union measures alone---respect and ODE
n the laws Of your adopted State and nation
and labor increasingly for their peace an
Il prosperity.
$ Again / say, take an immoveabe stand 70
y the Union, which is alone able to protect yo
: from the despotism with which VIC ali ar
= threatened.
n Very rcsp'y, LEONARD STREIFF.