The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-18
@ H A r L E STON.
MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 1s, 1866.
GERMANY.

In our issue Of Saturday short article was in
advertently inserted purporting to be picture Of
German life and manners, but being really moth
ng moro than libelous caricature. We found
the piece in q Cincinnati paper, read the heading
and scanned tho first third Of the article, cut it
out and gave it to the printer. This is not an un
frequent occurrence in a newspaper Office and in
consequence articles appear occasionally, which,
upon more mature consideration, would not have
been printed.
1t is scarcely necessary for us to say, that far
as we are concerned, no disrespect was intended
to our German follow citizens. For our constant
and habitual course this subject, we refer to
our files; and it will there be found that We hsvo
at all times given full appreciation to the many
excellencies Of the German character; to the high
position Of Germany in the world of literature,
science and arts; to the proud pre-eminence sh e
holds as the civser Of the world Tho pasqui-
made on German manners, here animadverted
upon, was doubtless written by some disappoint-
ed Black Republican politician of one Of the
Northwestern cities. 1t is we'll known that Know
Nothingism is one of the elementary tenets in the
creed Of that party; and many of their papers
make special business Of daily vilifying foreign
ers in general, and Germans in particular for
they have more to fear from the intelligent oppo-
bined.
Whatever ignorant prejudice or villainous SLAM :
der may assert to the contrary, the German inn
migrants, as class, are the most intelligent, the
best educated, the most orderly peaceable and in
ustrious, and therefore the useful and des ir-
able acquisition to the population Of this countr y
ALI fair and candid persons arc ready to aoknow
ledge this. The German carries the cviliza ton,
the habta mannara cnatOma MI md ali io;o
of his native land to every sky and clme whe re
the vcissitudes of fortune may appoint his future
habitation There are German colonies in Russia,
Poland, Turkey, Palestine, at the Cape of Good
Hope, in Brazil, Australia Iceland and KANT g.
chatka; and in all OF these upon examination you
shall find that they are exercising benign and
humanizing influence, radiating in every direc-
uon from this centre. Habits Of prudence, econ
omy, order, peace and industry soon make them
selves felt; and refined and innate taste throws
fowery charm around the lowliest cot. The
noble soul and fair, blue-eyed German housewife
rises above the pressure Of adversely; and by her
magic touch her sweet domestic virtues, her deli
cate taste snd ntuitve love of the beautiful, she
converts the desert waste and dreary heath into
little paradise The rose, the violet and tho for
get-me-not soon unfold their slender buds, and
pervade an air Of fatherland around her new, far
off home.
The civilization and manners Of Germany are
very similar to those of England and America;-a
fact selfevident to every one who knows that Ger
many is the chief source whence emansted the
stream Of light and knowledge that has given the
first impetus that aroused them from the long
night of barbarism. Germany again in the
renaissance blew the blast that awoke the nations
to sense Of their individuality and manhood, and
century after century she has contributed the
largest quota to the sum Of human progress and
development.
German manners have often been portrayed by
English and American travellers and novelists. A
fair and perfectly correct representation is rarely
met with, inasmuch the generality Of writer's
either cannot divest themselves of their precon-
ceived opinions, or else have not sufficient inde-
pendence to run counter to the general prejudice
of the readers they address. Thus we could emu
merate vast collection Of books on this subject,
too, we have every reason to believe with the very
best Intentions; and yet, nearly all, from igno-
rance, prejudice party spirit, or less run
ming into slanderous caricature. To sum up the
subject as whole, it may be stated that in all es-
sentials there is no difference between life and
manners in Germany and America; that the same
moral religious and social code is recognized there
as here.
We regret the publication Of the libel in Satur-
days NEWS, but are pleased to have had this op-
portunity of recording our opinion Of the German,
and our high admiration OF his character.
SOUTH CAROLINA TREASURY NOTES..