The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-06-26
THE GERMANS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

The Lancaster NetC Era saws: Penn
sy lvania. more than any other State in
the Union, has from its first coloniza tiOn
been the favoIite home of the Germans.
Although settled by Englishmen, and
under English auspices by an English
proprietor, the liberal tendencies of the
latter were 50 great that he made a spe-
cial effort to secure colonists from Ger
many, the more, perhaps, that he had
become acquainted with their habits,
thrift, industry and religion by personal
intercourse with them in their native
land. The Mennonites of the Paliti-
nate did not differ widely IN their re-
ligious tenets from the English Quakers
who came over with Penn. At least,
the differences were not deemed of suffi-
cient Importance to form a barrier be-
tween the two races in their onward
progress. Mild laws and religious toll
Grafton were the great inducements
held out, and not vainly. for from this
early colony brought over by Pastorious
in 1888. until the present day, there has
been steady stream of German colo
nists into Pennsylvania until the Com
monwealth is more Germanized than
any other in the Union. perhaps one
half of her entire population being able
to speak OF understand the German lam
guage as modified among US by time
and usage.
What the German element has done
for this State is too wei! known almost
to require any mention. It's industry
has developed its mines and laid low its
forests bas given it a wide and just
| code of laws has fostered Thousand
industries, and made it one of the no
hlaCf md m IN hn TTninn
From the earliest period of their ap-
pearance in the colony they became
! prominent. They protested earlier than
either Puritan or Cavalier against the
/ curse of slavery. Although many OF
| them, from their religious views, we're
| non n-combatants. they had from the first
| formed an important element in the
military force of the State. AS early as
| III thousand OF them Joined a Brit
/ ish expedition against Canada. In later
/ colonial times they were the defense of
/ the settlements against Indian incur
sions during the frequent wars between
! England and France. AS settlers, they
preferred the wooded frontier, and were
therefore more exposed TO the raids of
the savages. No man in the early his
tory OF Pennsylvania rendered the colo
ny greater services than that steady Ger
man, honest Conrad Weisen.
During the Revolutionary war they
were the bulwark of the province. A
number of regiments were organized,
composed solely of Germans no regi-
ments were without them. They were
not only carrying muskets in the ranks
but they carried the swords of general
othcers. Their blood was shed on every
battlefield from Charleston to Qebec
| FThpV Mod :
Congress, as we'll as out of it. and every
where they did their duty like the true
patriots they were. Read over the list
of those who became prominent both il
civil and military life and strike from il
the names of the Germans, aud how
much will he left The war of the re
belllon shows an equally proud record
Fully 100000 Germans served in The
Union armies, and once more they wort
generals epaulets, as well as marched
in the ranks. They came direct frou
the Fatherland in many instances, bu
of course by far the largest number wer,
born on the soil and were citizens by
natural birthright
But it has not been as soldiers onI,
that the Germans of PENNSYLVANIA havl
earned an honorable record. They bav,
invaded the domain of education in al
1ts various raml6catiOns. As scientists
hnanciers and Statesman, and as mem
Oers of the learned professions. the,
have upheld the high reputation of th
Fathe1land- In The healing art. at th
bar. and in the pulpit the German eIe
ment has ALWAYS been in the very for
rank, ranking second 10 none other.
The people or this State are a heterope
neous community. composed of man
nat1onalitIes, but AL those apart from
the Germans, united, do not carry tn,
same weight, Importance, OF infinenc
as the latter. 1t is to them that Penn.
| sylVania owes her prominent position il
the proud galaxy of States. They hav
made her rich and prosperous. The
nave given her the advanced position il
euncatlon and general progress she nov
hoids Few people, even those of Ger
man ancestry, give thought to hov
much Pennsylvania owes to her German
citizens.