The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1883-09-22
AMERICAN CATHOLICITY.
Senator Bayard on the VOIks-fest
and German-American
Schools.


day at Schuetzen Park, Senator Bayard de-
livered the English address, to an immense
audience of citizens. The erudition and
eloquence of the Senator were so magnifi-
Gently displayed on this occasion that we
need no apology to our readers for reproduc-
ing it in full.
Mr.. Bayard said:
Ladies and Gentlemen-.Hy Friends and Eel
loo citizens: The pleasing duty has been as
signed To me by the committee having
charge of this festival to speak words of gen.
eral welcome to you ALL and in their name l
express their hearty satisfaction at this as
semblage of so many of those citizens who
so fully and fairly represent the intelligence
and productive industries of our community.
The presence Of our honored Governor, and
the Secretary of State, and many worthy
friends from beyond our borders is matter
of hearty congratulation to us all.
This is the first celebration in Delaware of
the Yolksfest, and l trust is but the inaug-
uration of an annual custom.
The Volksfest is, and is intended to be, in
its simplest and fullest sense, the peoples
meeting and the peoples greeting-not an
ordinary verein or association-but gather
ing of all the caliings and occupations of the
people-mechanical manufacturing, profess
sional, agricultural-to mingle freely togeth-
Ell, and relax the lines and separate in
terests and occupations of their usual
lives.
1t is German custom, and imbedded in
the most ancient roots of that country's
history. The Fest or festival, was an occa-
sion of jubilation-and as often of expia-
tion-for it had its origin in the religious
disposition of mans nature, and was, in
fact, serious and deliberate expression of
popular feeling and not mere jollitication.
The word "Fest" included the two words OF
English, Cast and Feast" which in
time have come to be used in such widely
differing senses. All the grave incidents
among the Germans-of death as well as of
life, of scarcity as well as abundance, of de-
feat as well as victory, of sorrow as well as
joy-were marked by feasts. These festi-
walls had other ends in growing civiliza
ton, for they stimulated mind and body
with glowing spirit of emulation, and led
the way to higher excellence and endeav-
or.
They created contests of skill and genius
and all that men held honorable and admir-
able in its many forms. The rivalries so
begotten were generous and unselfish, for
they all had the common weal-the good of
the Volk and not of the class or individual
for their object. No gain OF pecuniary
profit was sought-no schemes of personal
continuance were nterwoven-therefor
liberality and catholicity became the ruling
spirit of the Volksfest, and by its aid rude
ness was educated into grace, and rustic
extravaganza into refinement. Enthusiasts
are engendered, generosity is promoted pub
lie spirit is enc outraged, and personal mar
rowness is rebuked. In short, the sense of
acommon brotherhood among all the call
ings and occupations of men is recognized
and developed, and zone touch of nature
makes the whole world kim"
1t has become a common saying, ''that
one-half the world does not know how the
other half live, which plainly means that
wrapped in our personal pursuits and in
tent only on our individual objects, we do
not give ourselves the trouble to find out
how it fares with our fellow sojourners here
in this lifebelow.
And tits this Indifference to the welfare of
society-of one class or occupation to the
other classes-this ignorance Of each others
hopes and fears, sorrows and joys-which
create the social and political troubles which
so frequently convulse society, and led to the
coercive and harsh features of legislation
which in the end prove such poor substitutes
for even-handed justice.
Trace the history of nations or of individ-
uals and there can scarcely be found pub
lie war or a private quarrel which was not
the result of a mutual misunderstanding of
the relative facts or the relative intentions
of the two parties. Ignorance of each other
leads to Observation-Disclosures from this to
a blind and bitter conflict is a short and
natural step-and settles no question of
right, but merely decides on which side are
the "heaviest battalions." The Volksfest
is intended to let the people know each 9TH
er, to exhibit the progress made by each in
his own path of labor, to show the depend
encies of the various lines of occupation and
industry upon each other so that the great
fact ola wholesome and friendly co-opera-
ton for the good of all may be brought and
kept before the eyes of each individual work
en-
Therefore view this festival as having
important public functions, and containing
in its simple and pleasant obseryances the
germs for high usefulness in the solution OF
the difficult problems which confront civiliz
ed governments everywhere
The basis of every well-ordered life--of
every well-ordered family, and every we'll
ordered community-is useful industry