The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-08
BlSs MEETING OF GERMAEs.

Tie meeting last night at the Academy O
Music was ono of the largest gatherings O
Germans We have ever seen in Charleston
Every shade and variety of the German ele
nent was represented. Swedes, Danes, Swiss
Poles, and even Nsatians, Joined in paying
tribute to The great cause. The large hall and
galleries were filed with vast throng of the
enthusiastic sons of Yaterland. There were
also present many native Americans doubt.
less glad Of this opportunity to pay homage to
German vaor and German worth.
The hal! end the building were profusely
decorated with q protusion of German flags
both the battle flag and the 'Schwarz-roth-
goldene." (b!ack, red and gold-the German
| national coiors.l
Metz's brass band was present, kindly con-
trlbuting their quota in playing the envening
airs of the patriotic and war songs of Ger.
many.
Over lie dais, on the west side Of the hall,
in bold German text, stood the following dis
itch:
.s!.ieh yater.and, kannst rnhig seln,
Fest steht und treu, die Wacht am Rhein.':
lThe refrain oil the new war song-"The
Watch on The Rhine."]
On the speakers stand were seated the
| presidents of the several German societies OF
this city: Messrs. Jacob Small. Of the Freund-
schaftsbund: D. Werner, Of the Bruderliche
Bund; Alexander Melchers, Of the schutzen-
Gesellschaft; J. H. Albers, of the German Fire
Company: H. Harms. of the German Artillery
Charitable Association; c. o. Witte Esq, Con-
sui of the North German Confederation; Rev.
L. Muller, Professor A. Sachlleben, and others.
A few minutes after 8 o'clock the meeting
was called to order BY ]. Small, ESQ.,, who
| nominated c. o. Witte. ESQ.,, for chairman.
Mr.. Witte, on taking the chair, modestly
stated that the selection Of himselfas chairman
was doubtless due to his official position,
rather than to any personal merit of his own.
He stated the object of the meeting-to do
something toward aileviatins the distress Of
the wounded and other sufferers from the var.
! He stated that not less than 10000 Germans
had probably been wounded in the battles of
the past two months; that however perfect the
arrangements for taking care Of these wounded
that may have been made by the government,
the number is so unpreceden,edly large, that
the means at hand must needs fall far short OF
the exigencies of the case. TO remedy this
evil, patriotic aid societies have been
formed all over Germany, with parent
society at Berlin. Similar societies have
also been formed in the United States,
'and it Is the purpose OF this meeting
to form such an association in Charleston that
shall show our countrymen beyond the Allan
tic that We also have German hearts In our
bosoma that beat in unison with the great
throb that now shakes the Vaterland, from the
ristula to the Rhine. We feel for the wound
ed, distressed and suffering at home, and an
opportunity will now be afforded us to testify
our sympathy by deeds" [Appiause.l
Theodore Melchers, Esq, moved that the
presidents of the several German societies Of
Charleston be vce-presidents. B. Bollmann,
ESQ.,, treasurer. and F. Melchers, Esq, secre-
tary of this Aid Society. Adopted.
a patriotic song was then given BY quar-
tette.
Professor Sachtleben was next introduced
by Captain Small. He said:
The popular legend tells us that the old EN-
peror Barbarossa has for nearly seven hum
dred years been sleeping in the kyfhauser
mountain, and dreaming OF the regeneration
of the dear fatherland. In this year OF grace.
1870, the nations enthusiastic cry has awaken
ed him: he raises his hoary head from the
marble table on which 1t has been resting 80
long; with eyes still heavy with the sleep oil
centuries he looks around; the old crown Of
the holy Roman empire lies broken, and
family glimmerlng at his feet, but q new I'M
perlal crown-that Of the coming thrice holy
German empire appears before him In youth
fu splendor. and the great Hohenstaufen re-
cognizes with patriotic JOY IN the knightly
Hohenzollern, the worthy tnheritor OF his
power.
Yes, gentlemen, the great day for which our
ancestors have looked with piouS longing;
for which our brave fathers have shed their
blood with joyous trust; for which the valiant
German people have made so many heavy
sacrihces-the great day Of q strong,
united. and Independent Germany, has
at last dawned. The glorious sun Of German
unity rises incarnadtne from the misty
cloud which has hitherto Obscured t-all the
more resplendent, all the richer in promise
will that sun now shine. clarifying with Its
noontds radiance the SnnFg Tg ss 4s tSs e hew ne
phew of his uncle who, in order 10
preserve a toiterlng throne to his in
FAINT son, sefshly sacrificed immune
rable lives Thanks to the French greed
for the lett bank of the Rhine, which Eraed
was threatening peaceful nelghbor viii in
vasion and conquest Thanks to the foresight
and heroic determination NJ King William of
Prussia Thanks to the myrlads ofbraVe men
who rallied promptly, from the uttermost ends
of Germany, under PrllSsie's victorious flag
Thanks to these, the times OF Germany, dlsu-
nited and weak within aud dependent without,
have passed away. Hencetorth, In the fullest
sense of the word, there Is one nation from the
marshes OF the Baltic to the foot Of the alps,
and from the forests Of Bohemia to the golden
waters OF the Rhine. Germany now assumes
the proud position which is hers of right
among the nations OF the esirth-the pro;ag0-
mist or modern civilization. The Latin na-
tions, the representatives of the middle ages
and the teachers and custodians OF their cirili-
zation, must bc content to take the second
rank In power and influence, and the Germanlc
race leads the van In the new era of cultivated
and enlightened freedom
Or IS this all dream? Could 1t be possible
that the streams of blood poured out by our
brothers beyond the sea for the security OF