The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-12

assuring SURROUNDINGS voice my sen'l
ments. The thought Of home, although
an adopted home, is one that awakens
a train of noble sentiments in ones
bosom. When the German comes "a
this country he comes to make this
his permanent future home, and very
often comes gifted with many at.
tributes that 20 to make a good
citizen. He brings with him his
idiom, his language, his social predi-
lections and his domestic endear-
ments, but he comes with the deter
mination - be an American citizen
henceforth, and, nationally speaking,
he is no longer a German. but an
American, usually called a German
American, simply to designate his de-
scent, and not with any reference to
his national allegiance. When he
comes to America he is not burdened
with a self-imposed task to help to
regulate from this side Of the ocean
the political affairs of the country he
has lett behind. He leaves that big
job TO the Germans in Germany,
and confdes in their ability to exc
cute it. The causes that impel him
TO disrupt his tocial, and, in many
cases, his his family ties and Geek a
home in the new world are many and
various. In come cases it was his
burning desire for personal and relig-
ious liberty; his search for freedom Of
thought and speech in other cases he
has fled from political persecution
and oppression, or to escapet the melted
punishment for being too ardent n
worshiper at the shine CT the God
dess of Liberty or his inability to
bring his ideas OF personal liberty in
conformity with these Of his IulFrs.
In many cases he comes TO better
his material condition. But, what
ever the causes that led him
to follow westwardly the star
Of his destiny, he fnds on
his arrival that he has not
listened with credulity ID the whis-
peTs OF but fancy, or pursued but a
phantom OF hope. He finds Columbia's
promises not empty words-sweet
promises ID the ear to be broken 10
the heart. In return he renouncss
his allegiance 10 the country Of his
birth, and VOWS allegiance to the
country Of his adoption with all the
earnestness begot by mature delibera-
ton. He still speaks the language of
his mothers lullabies, and the
nursery tales of old Germany are
handed down TO his children.
Time and distance have not I'M
hallowed the spot where rocked
his cradle. His memory oft re-
verts to the scenes of his childhood.
In imagination he plays on the
meadows where first he plucked the
- and forget-me-not. In his
S Ssss; ho l,ns.ers a'ong the pathway
I hv tbs d tS where frat he heard the
nigEtingaies sweet songs. But
awakened from bis dreams to rea!i-
ty, turning his eyes from yon dim and
distant vista he sees before him,
stretching from his very feet into lin
itless expanse, the sublimely grand
panorama Of his adopted country; his
heart wells up in emotion; he breathes
a vow Of renewed allegiance and
thanks God that he can say; This
is my home this ia my country p
thanks God that it is free, from end TO
end, from lake to gulf, from ocean to
oct an--iree AZ our torrents that leap
over rocks, az orr rivers that pillow our
valleys, IS our mountain peaks that
wear caps of snow in the very pres
ence OF the regal sun.
Rx, gentlemen, | do not stats this
asa'tase Of merit, no more so than I
would a youths love for the maiden OF
his choiCe-a maid with golden
tresses, liquid eyes and SURPRISING
beauty Of lace and form.
Compare the sacrifices, though great
they be, with the advantages gained
We come to live under a government,
the best under the sun, whose laws
and political institutions are so well
calculated TO promote intelligence
prosperity and happiness. Oul
dreams Of political aud religious
liberty are realized. We become
pant and parcel Of the government
subjects aud rulers at the same time
What wonder we ST ould go rapidly
acquire a patriotism worthy OF oul
country, worthy OF its advantages anC
of its duties to the woTld-an enlight
ened patriotism OF loyal devotion
Everything here tends to dilate the
heart and inspire the noblest senti
Inents. Even nature has combined
all elements Of sublimity and grandeur
The sky itself takes dimensions o
grandeur fitted TO the glorious scop,
Of the empire it overhaneq. 1t il
deep, broad and lofty, and should up
raise freeman's soul.
Nowhere is the calm more diviuel,
fair, nowhere il the storm more awful
" sublime, nowhere does the SUI
shine forth in more peerless majesty
nowhere do the stars beam down Will
a more holy luster. Health lives il
every breeze and plenty comes TEEN
ing from the soil. Broad dominion
| to be measured in leagues only by
scale OF hundreds snatch imagination
from every belittliDg influence ant
carry 1t from narrow thoughts Il
an ennobliug eXCursiveness. Their
there are ocean lakes, river
that sweep over cataracts, eterna
and resstless, that hem in noun
tains that stretch into the uppe
light, and mock from their snow
crowned pinnacle the clouds and thu
thunder. Through al the granC
objects-our country enriched-speak
a voice for patriot; in chorus OF on
woods, tsmpests Of our valleys cease
less, sobbing lakes and oceans, vagu
low murmurs OF forest and prairie
mighty bass waterfalls, silver melody
streams--it speaks, and the voice is
voice for patriot, equity and goodness
The measure Of our duty is the great
ness OF our advantages. To this stand
ard shall we be subjected by the judg
ment OF hesven-histoTy. With sue
inestimsble privileges, such might
means Of intelligence, and virtue, an
happiness, there is room 10 Look 70
good interminably to future generf
tons. Therefore let US not be foun
wanting. In order that sue
anticipatioPs be not empty dTeam
be not promises to chang
ito mockery, vanity and griefi
/ should be the labor Of genuine an
noble patriotism, to raise the lille
the nation TO the level OF its privilege
f.ok. the