Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-06-23

izena, members Of the Mannerchor and
Turner Gesangsection returned yesterday
from, Chidago. where they have been in
attendance upon the Gree. North American
Singers Festival. They are, without sx-
ception, profuss in their praises Of the
artistic success ofl.he whole affair, and
the very handsome manner in which they
we're rccei9ed BY thair fellow eountrymen
in Chicago This festival was beyond oil
question the gsandest aFair'of the kind
tha. has ever occurred on this continent;
and, in view OF the tendency to political
and social disintegration among the Ger
mans: arising out Of the political situation
Of the Fatherland, since the close Of the
thirty years war. these gatherings are the
surcst means Of promoting union and bar
mony.
Several Thousand delegates were present
and represented, probably, oil the differsnt
sections ofths Fathsrland, coming together,
in tbs spirit Of song. with melody speak
ing from heart to heart, and finding its
warmest repose in the animated feelings OF
the occasion, no other result could follow
than that the bands Of love and friendship
should bs woven around those who were
once strangers to each other, and, who are
the descendants Of those onos inimical to
each other. Such are the feelings Of those
in attendance from this city. Who will
ever remember the pleasures Of the occasion
and think and talk Of il - possessing .
deeper significance end an historical justi-
6cation.
We very much regret our inability TO
attend 90 important . gathering and give
our readers foil report Of its proceedings.
W. however copy the following from yes
I rdsy's Chicago Post. in.rsgard 10 thscles
ing exercises at Wrisht's grove on Sunday.
The procession WAS formed about noon
At Uhlich's Hall, and numbered twenty six
hundred men, carrying banners and devices
Of all kinds, eighty -four in number, and e.
coRted BY bands Of music and mounted
marshsls Tho street was denssly lined
with spectators on fost, in carriages and
cars. aud the scene Was one Of excitement
and hilavity seldom seen in this country
where people have been sseusto ned to the
religious observance Of the Sabbath.
The picnic grounds were reached BY the
great majority soon after two o'clock, and,
during the entire afternoon, were thronged
with about IN equal number Of Germans and
Americans-from $4,000 TO 10000 in oil,
| according TO different estimates. The
grounds were gaily decorated with bowers,
/ arches, flags, etc., and were thickly inter-
sperssd with beer stsnds, tables, seats, and
places for games Of various kinds, which
we're carried on in . most hilarious manner.
Tho bands and the singers furnished music
In abundance, and, in spite Of the chilly
| weather. the multitude seemed to enjoy
/ themselves in their various ways until near
nightfall.
During the afternoon orations we're de-
livered by Gen. August Which, Of Cincin-
natl. and Gen. Hasbrouek Davis, Of this
| city, sloqusntly eulogxing the occasion
whichs had called them together. and the
art Of music, which did 90 much to make
| life enjoy able, and claiming for the Ger
mans the right to spend the Sabbath in
| their own way.
The following extract from the speech Of
Gen. Which shows the sentiment Of his
| countrymsn in regard to the observance Of
| the Sabbath in their own way:
''But there 10 yet another enemy. II is
hs who keeps aloof from US, who remains
on the outside Of the fence, end, viewing
our festivities from the distance, psays
With sincerity and from the bottom Of his
heart that We may all 60 to the devil. The
very thought OF this should raise cloud
and obscure our bright sun, ~ it now shines
clearly from the heavens. tits tho power
Of bigotry Of the Church. We, As Germans.
must not submit to the dictates Of
this puritanic bigotry. Applause. J.
Angles, and he'll to the devil,
Immense applause and laughter. Sunday
amusement is the only recreation left to the
workingman. They shall not take away
the bloom from the cheeks Of our maidens
by incarcerating them in closed'rooms dur
ing the warm sunshine Of Sunday. No, art
and song shall beautify them, aud cure the
natural ailments Of the body. Neither
shall thcy abridge our rightsto to enjoy those
terrible things dare name them--be
and vino. Applause. We need no po-
liceman to correc. our morals. Our in dull
gsnces arc governed BY reason and common
sense, and we do not allow = craving storh-
ach to run away with our understanding.
On the contrary, these are sons Of the
means by which We shall eventually break
down the rules Of Puritanism-th rule Of
the men who hold ita sin for young nan
to look into the love-lit eyes Of . maiden,
or Tor . man to kiss his wife on Sunday.
We will not suffer the chains that gall our
brethren from New York. tisa crying
shame that our most advanced freinds, the
representatives from New York, should live
in the Egyptian darkness Of the metropo-
lis. She mnst do there 40 Cincinnati and
Chicago have dons--throw of the yoke Of
oppression and slavery"
Al about six o'clock the great throng be-
gan TO issue from the grounds aud to make
their way to the city, and before dark the
place Of festivity was deserted, and tho Fest
was ended.
To-day began the exodus Of the singers
and By night most of them will have re-
turned 10 their various: homes, though some
lingsr for . day or two more the occasion
has been memorable one, not only TO tho
Germans, but to oil Of our citizens who
heard the splendid music which Il afforded.
and many will wish 10 be present ak the