National Republican., 1883-10-10

Papst, Lutheran, and Calvinist broke each
others hard heads; there was no time for
colonization But after that sad period, poo
pies minds in Germany were turned toward
America The sect of arAbaptists or turner's
arose in now form only TO find tho old perso.
cution. AZ that time William Penn came
over twice to Germany, hold communication
with this sect, and finally invited them TO
Join him in his American possessions. Penn
landed i'm the fall of 1852; in the fall OF 1858
Pastorius. with his coroligionsts, Joined him
in Germantown. This, was the beginning of
German life in America. These first German
rOlouists were afterward followed by refugee
protustants from the PalatiratC, by Mora
Niana, Schwcukielders and others. What part
tlc Germans tool, in the war of independence
is well known; less well known is the fact
that Washington had u German bodyguard,
which, at his request staid with him
for some timo after the conclusion Of peace,
aud escorted him finally to Mount Vernon,
where u feast was prepared for them by their
beloved and admired goneral-tho very last
scene Of tho war; The second century of
German life in America was interrupted,
lhtu the first one, by great war, that against
tho southern rebellion, in which the Germans,
true to their traditions, took the Same part
which thcy had taken in the war of indo-
peudenCe. As each century in the life of n
political organization has its problems to
solve, the coming century, the speaker con-
tnucd, will also have in these United states
its problems in tho solution of which the
German citizens have TO take part A
hundred years ago tho political independ-
cnco only from ENrope was secured,
but tho United States cannot hope
to reach the acme Of their development
without achieving also full economic inde-
pendonce Mondays procession certainly
showed that tho sons Of Germany and their
descendants are well prepared to enter into
the struggle for tho economic independence
of America, together with their fellow citi-
gems of different extraction.
The speaker concluded by saying that the
Germans could leave it TO impartial history
to Judge Of what they had dono III America
in every field of human activity, in science
and art, in industry aud agriculture. He
gave expression to the hope that tho third
century Of German life in America would
show the same progress which was shown by
the two preceding centuries.
When the music had ceased and silence was
once more restored, President llabercom de-
liVcrcd neat valedictory, stating that the
Germans would never forget that they had
found in this country an asylum of liberty,
and would maintain its honor to tho last drop
of blood in their veins. lie concluded as
follows:
"We thank the people of this, the capital city
of the nation, for their sympathy and support
and for the cordial manner in which they CO.
operated with us in what we 80 willingly
undertook. aud, ] am proud to say, what we
have so gloriously ended"
The meeting then adjourned.
When the meeting had adjourned collation.
was served to the members of tho executive
committee and few invited guests, including
number Of ladies' Speeches were made by
nearly all the members of the committee,
Hon. Simon Wolf, DIR. SChoenecker, Mr..
Poesche, and others. Among other toasts one
was offered by Rev. DIR. Wolf to the press of
this city, supported with some highly
eulogistic remarks by Mr. Spier. A general
good time was had by all present, and the i'm
provised little .iollifcation lasted until nearly
midnight.
THE sAENGERRUND's STATEMENT.
The Sacngerbund held a special business
meeting last night before the regular re-
hearsal Mt which four now passive members
were elected.
The following statement in regard to the
alleged conflict Between the Saengcrbund and
the executive committee OF the bicentennial
celebration is furnished upon the authority
of the society:
delegation from the executive committee
waited upon the SaenEerbund at the rehearsal
Tuesday night, Sept. 10, and requested the CO.
operation of the society in the concert of Oct
Z. This the Saengerbund unanimously, and
without debate, resolved to do. The director
selected Harmony" by Tschirch, as the
chorus to be sung, and the society at once
commenced practicing this composition.
At tho meeting of the Saengerbund Sept. 30
Tor the election of officers II proposition was
made that the society take part in the process
sion on Monday
After an earnest debate, in which il was
urged that the society would make but an
insignificant appearance, us SO many of its
mcmbers intended to represent their own
business interests, and that by taking part
in the concert the Saengerbund would do all
that could be expected of u musical society; it
was voted not To participate in the procession.
A few days thereafter the members of tho
Sacngerbund were astonishod to learn from
the daily papers that the executive committee
had Excused" the ociety from participating
in the concert, upon the ground that "the
president and several prominent members"
had attacked tho German citizens of the
district in the most shameful manner.
This was not true, but to avoid further
misrepresentation, the society thought proper
u defer this statement until the celebration
was over, so that it could not with truth be
said that the Sieugerbund had done anything
TO foment dissensiOn among German or other
citizons OF the district, or in any way to OBJ
struct the complete success of the procession
in which so many of its "most prominent
members" individually participated.