The New York herald., 1869-03-08
TIE GERMANS IN AMERICA.
ARE WE A NATION?
The GrOwthOf the German Element Among
US---Its Causes and Sources.
Relations Of the Germans to the
Commerce, Industry, Society and
Politics Of the Country.
What Should Be Done to Produce Con-
guilty Of Sentiment Among All
Portions Of the People.

We call ourselves nation. In all Fourth OF July ha
rangues and from the platform at all political gather
ngs the glory OF the American eagle and the prowess
ofthe American nation eloquenty dwelt upon and
patriotically praised. No can object to such out
bursts OF love OF country to this sort OF segorin
cation. 1t indicates deep-seated feeling for the
land OF ones BIRTH and Is justly applauded and ap-
preclated as such. But mere empty words bear but
dry fruit The growth ana prosperity OF the country
proceed not from polished descriptions OF its great
ness Words are mere sound, vanishing In the air
ske the baseless fabric OF vision,n and count for
but a very minute portion Of the modern agencies
for the development Of progress Montecuculi,
when asked for the three means most necessary to
carry on war with success, replied:-First money;
second, more money; and, third still more
money. And In like epigrammatic manner 1t
may be said that to promote the progress and de-
veopment OF a country action-continued action,
resolute unceasing actton-on the part OF its people
is most required. This action, 10 be profitable,
necesstates study OF two thingsnrst Of the object
whereon TO expend itself, and second Of the means
wherewlth to act. 1t Is not the province CT this
article to say more Of the first OF these two subjects
mentioned than to refer merely to the admitted
axiom that steady advancement in all material and
intellectual pursuits Of man is one or the greatest
objects Of nations political and social life and that
ali measures OF its internal and external polity
should be shaped and dissected as to foster and
accelerate this advancement. To be able fully to
perform this incumbent duty t is necessary to have
recognized and understood the means which the
people themselves yield for the statesmen and the
government to apply. These again depend on
the peculiar condition and situation OF the people,
on the relations ana resources OF the country,
on individual and national characteristics OF what
be termed the cOmnonent narfs of he honula.
ton. Aud it Is especially to this latter subject that
we propose TO address ourselves at present Nor is
1t intended to discuss the whole subject with all its
many and intricate ramifications. single branch
win suffice for cursory glance and even that affords
matter sufficient that the political economist could
write volumes of instructive essays, and yet never
come near exhausting IT, This branch is indicated
by the title to this article.
1t Is all very well to insist, as against the whole
world outside our limits, upon the one undivided
nationality OF the American peope-upon our ma
tlonal American character having been rendered
compact and sodied by the late war; This is true to
certain extent and to certain limited extent only
In tue eye Of the world the American citizen no mat
ter where born, ought be vested with all the rights
and privileges conceded to or demanded by the Anne
rican nation. And at home In the eye OF the law
citizenship confers upon all alike the same preroga
the technical application OF municipal ana inter-
national law Is concerned, we are in every sense OF
the word nation. But true craftsmanship looks
beyond and behind the technicalires Of law: 1t
dssects, not like the coroner, to find the cause OF
DEATH but to search for the source OF new ana In
creased vital power, which, wisely applied will fer
tilize the mental and physical labors OF the people.
Bringing this method OF inquiry TO bear upon the
must come Ia the conclusIon that n every otber
view, except the technical aspect OF the law and In
grandloquent, spreadeage speeches, we are yet far
from being nation. To make US such there Is more
needed than the gradual abrasion OF state lines
state rights through the conclusion or the late
iuiIonary strife Community OF interest alone win
do II. lt requires certain degree OF homogeneity
In all tnat pertains to national lie to constitute the
inhabitants q country to all intents and purposes
q nation. Looking at IL In this view the conviction
forces itself upon the mind that we not even a
people, but only an aggomerate OF the people OF DIFF
Ierent natiouaities, living and developing the same
country each IN his own way, and bound together
only Dy the technical lgament OF American citizen
some Dy the judgment OF court acting under The
law, upon their voluntary desire and application.
All the countries Of the earth have their representa-
tlyes here, making up the a9est half OF the
4o,Ooc.OCo OF people inhabltlng the land known in
political geography as the UniIed states OF America
what is, under these circumstances, the duty oi
wise craftsmanship surely, nrsf to know the ele-
ments OK which this varlegated population Ia COM
posed and Ihcn 10 shape the system OF laws ard
administration that In It's influence upon fhe life or
tic country IL may result not only in an external
commingllng OF these many parts but In cementlng
mogeneuu5 IN interest, objects and aims. Neither
similarity OF habits, OF customs and methods OF social
be botn inaaylsable and inpracucable. II COM
mon sentiment Of political unity, OF nationa, cohe-
renee pervade the whole mass OF the people, they
VIII constitute an inscparable nation whether
Individual portions OF II trace their origin to Ger
many, Ireland. France o. elsewhere. IL Ia this SEN
tment OF naUonA congruity which makes the
French great nauon, and It ~ the want OF il which
tnreatens 70 snap the cord OF cohesion between
aaying thus briefly and in this Introductory man
ner prouxnt nome 10 the reader The importance OF
the Inquiry proposed we snaii follow II with ex-
~. f1pf
growth Of the German element, It's causes ana
sources; me relations the Germans have sustained
and the influence they nave gained In regard 10 the
commercial, financial, Industrial, social and poit
cal lie OF fDc country; and lastly what is necessary
70 be done - produce and perfect thai congruy Of
sentiment between all portions OF the people Inn
pelatIyely required Tor the further Development on
the American nationality.
CAUSES AND SOURCES.
Fifty years ago there was not any German immi-
grafton into tins country worth the name. There
were isolated arrivals with Germans Intending 10
settle here but systematic migration OF
large portion OF the German people 70 the Repub-
lic OF the West not known. Similar arrivals
occurred even In colonial times, as FAR back
as the nrst bali OF the last century. They were gen.
esahy poor laoofers. VINO on landing were sold for
the passage money aud q profit 10 whomsoever
needed their laoor. by such the James River Canal
IN virginia, was built, wnat is now a poi,uous
and industrious part Of tina, state. RockInSham
county, Tor instance. and what IL known AZ the
Tenth Legion aud also many districts OF North
Carolina and portions OF our own state were settled
by them. A more concerted movement was induced
by religious persecution, and large tracts In Made
aud Northeastern Pennsylvania. and the Mohawk
valley, In New YORK, were peOped by Jealous rcii-
Eionista, prohibted by local prejudice IN GERMANY
from wOrshlppng God according to the dlcintes u
Their own consciences. During the Revolutionary
war the auxiliary troops under Knyphalsen sold
70 King George w the Elector Of uesse, fufnlsned
also many permanent settlers TO the country
and n after years g9Ody number OF tia
descendants OF these "hessIans'' rose TO proml-
nencc and distinction. During this ceutary and be-
fore the year $50 these occasional arrivals of Ger.
mans coninuedFgenerally IN svial numbers nut al
times In whole communities. ike the Rappists wha
settled IN Penn syivana: the Stephanltes In soat,-
eastern Missouri, aud Others. Bot. as has been re-
marked, 10 sdch ssstenalizcd IMMIGRATION of 1en.
mans, pouring IN upon our shores ia unprokeu
stream, as ht present. was then known.
The first impulse ~ tltls was given by the failure
OF tho Revolutionary movement IN Germany in
1g91-x which followed the revolution IN France the
expulsion vf Charles X. aud the Installation os Louis
Philippe ~ Aing IA july 1850 II was then. partIcu
larry 1laer tue year lSi2, that thousands OF wetodo
families ~ educated young men, OF pr0le ssonal
men. Of Den who had been IN the civil service OF
fhcr native country. and VINO had become objects OF