Daily globe., 1883-05-13


form my duty in carrying out the trust i'm
posed in me.
In return, gentlemen, you will permit me
to express to you all my highest apprecia
tion of the privilege of having been asso-
ciated with you for so many years, the
numerous courtesies you have extended to
me in all our intercourse and of your val
liable counsel in the management of the
affairs of our bank. For more than year
have felt the damaging effects upon my
health from long, uninterrupted confine-
ment to active Office work. l felt that the
time had arrived whenI could not much
longercontinue to do full justice to the
trust imposed in me- as your chief execu-
tive officer.
After due deliberation I decided that it
was best for myself as we'll as for our in
stitution that should withdraw from my
position, and therefore some eight months
ago 1 placed my resignation into your
hands. appreciate the kind spirit that
governed you in decling its acceptance at
that time. Meanwhile my action had nee
essarily some influence in the suggestions
that led to the subsequent organization of
the National German-American
bank. This result is to me more
than an ample reward for the
time and labor have devoted,t to the interest
of the institution that is just about to dis
appear under the wings of its greater sue
cessor.
1t was in the early spring of 1856, just
about twenty-seven years ago, when, on the
rocky bluff side of upper Third street,
some little distance above the st. Paul
Roller mill, aided in planting little
acorn, and very insignificant little seed it
was. 1t sprouted, but in the rocky soil it
found but little nourishment The little
tree grew but slowly, and for a number of
years afforded but little shelter against the
inclemencies of the weather. Severe
storms, that were more frequent in those
days than now, shook it often unmerciful-
ly, but that only seemed to promote the
gradual development of its roots and
branches. At different periods it was
found necessary to transplant the little
tree into better soil. By constant careful
nursing and as its surroundings, became
more and more cultivated it grew stronger
and stronger. Within a few days, in its
new spring foliage, it will occupy a prom
inent place in the history of st. Paul, as a
fully grown Oak of more than ordinary di-
mensions, that no storm can shatter, an or
nament to this city and monument to all
the friends who have aided in nursing it
and who have otherwise contributed TO-
wards its superior development.
1t is certainly excusable that we should
feel little pride in adding to the bust
ness interests of our young city fnan-
cial institution, second in strength to but
few in the United States. 1t may not be
known to you all, but it is nevertheless
fact that there are but ten banks in this
whole country with larger capital than
100000.
Our citizens at large believe feel an
equal pride in the successful establishment
of our new enterprise and do not underes-
innate its important influence upon the
further development of the commercial
interests of ST. Paul and the country tribu-
tary to it. With public sympathy in
our favor, large capital contributed by
list of 250 stockholders from among all
classes, board of directors composed of
many of the most solid and most success
full business men of our city, set of Off
GERS of superior character and business
ability, it would be strange if our new en-
terprise, based and conducted upon sound
and conservative business principles, free
from all damaging outside influences and
obligations should not attract the most lib
eral support at the hands of the business
community.
We have German song commencing
with the words:
My love adieu,
1t pains my heart
From you to part.
But this sentence should not be made to
apply to this occasion. 1t is not with sad
ness that part from you as your presiding
off fn 7 I-,,o bo4
into better hands. 1t will be filed by
man of far superior business ability who
has deservedly earned the enjoyment of
the highest esteem of all who have come in
tt on act with him. It should not b. wi h
sadness that we part from each other
Many of US will meet again in the board
of the new bank, and on my part you may
feel assured that I shall transfer to the
new organization the same warm interest
that 1 have entertained in the past in the
German-American. 1 am also confident
that it will be the aim of all to maintain
the same good will and harmony that have
always marked the relations between the
members of this board and their inter
course with the officers of the bank. am
equally confident, nay 1 know, that the
management succeeding US will always be
governed by the highest principles of
business and by the same conservative,
disinterested and impartial course that it
has been your constant aim to pursue.
Farewell then, my best and kindest
wishes to you llfor your continued pros
perity and good speed to the National Ger
man-American and its new management.
When Mr.. Willius had concluded, Mr..
Walter Mann, the new president, was call
ed out, and responded as follows:
feel compelled to take exceptions to
one of the remarks of cur friend Mr. vii.
liams. He has said that the German
American bank will soon die. This cannot
be. Good deeds will never die. Their re-
suits at least are perpetuated and extend
through all time with ever in
creasing influence. The business of the
German American bank will in few days
be transferred to its successor the
National German American bank, thus
perpetuating the name, but the prestige
and reputation connected with the name
perpetuate themselves and cannot die.
Whatever success may attend the future
of the new institution will to a large ex-
tent be due to the reputation of its prede-
cessor and to the unremitting, faithful
care of those who have had the oversight