Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-05-12
The MAI-FEST.
A Fine Day and Very Large Attendance
-AH Glasses Of Our Citizens
Represented.
Speeches Of Colonel A. ]. Kellar and
Mr.. GTOnauer-SOBgs and
Dances.

Yesterday the fourteenth annual Mai
fest of the German societies of Memphis
was celebrated at James's park, with
the customary games and amusements
which render this occasion always pleas-
ant to those who are so fortunate as to in
duige in its festivities. The attendance
during the day was quite large, and at
night the entire ground was covered
with visitors. Every street-cAr that left
the city was packed full, and conveyed
hundreds of visitors to the popular en-
tertainment, which, in every respect,
wss most enjoyable and agreeable. In
fact. the Aoifest of yesterday did great
credit to the German citizens, who GER
tainly understand the art of social enter
tainments. In the afternoon, Colonel
A. ]. Kellar, of the AUdldRche, deliver
ed short address appropriate to the oe-
casion, which we are permitted TO give
in full.
LADIES AND GENTLENEN-The an
nOuneement that my remarKs would be
brief because 3 violent sore throat
makes it imprudent to speak in the
open air, may be made stronger by the
acknowledgment on my part that a
MdJest is not to be celebrated byspeech-
making or Orations. You would not
take the time to hear, and perhaps /
would not take the time to speak.
But the goodwill and good opinion of
my felloW-citizens of German birth de-
mand a recognition, and l rise simply
to acknowledge that l admire the Ger
man character; the German mind and
its modes OF thought; the habits and
of the German people, between
whom and the English-speakiGg nation
there is an indissoluble chain Of sympa-
thy and reason, the offspring Of COM
mon blood. The MdifeSt, though some
what appropriated by our German fell
was celebrated five hundred
years ago in England, and as a national
custom is in harmony with the charac-
ter Of the American people. 1t is 10 be
expected that q peo, le, who like the
Germans, have impressed their ideas
on finance, war, science, and peace upon
the world, will also foster their customs
upon America. And beer drinking and
other Open-air sports are part of the
German nation, and go with its people
to America. So on the banks of the
Mississippi you will see the Mdifest as il
may be seen on the banks of the Rhine.
Besides, we need not overlook the
fact, that in this country there is no
pT1ue OF DlFbll-nO DiONO privileges, no
family traditions to fix one station in
life or society. Those who loved free
dom better than their native land and
household gods, came to America-and
the republic OF the United States was
made and will be perpetuated by
them. Hence in this country, we are
all emigrants or the sons OF emigrants.
Those who leave their native land-the
banks of the Rhine or the hesrt Of the
German empire for America, come
with minds prepared to understand the
great principle of freedom and
constitutional government. The
suggestion of the name Of Senator
Carl SchurZ by some one in the audi
ence is the logical result of what has
been said. L may add, without quslifi-
cation, that Senator Schurz has as thor
oughly mastered the constitutional doc
trines OF this country, and as thoroughly
understands the character Of the Amer
ican people, as any senator that now
occupies a seat in the senate. Some
time since be was under cloud, raised