New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-07-04

Extracts from Col. W. Pfaender's
Speech, Delivered in Turner
Hall Park.
We celebrate an ;lnniYersay. the I'M.
porJance Of which will not be appreei-
ated by those, who only Judge and val
ue It BY What is brought before the eve
OF a casual observer, but nevertheless.
what has been offered the attentive OBJ
server during the last two days of prac-
t1cal exercises, is more than sufficient
to pronounce the aims of our. oIpaniza-
ton to be the most preferable and most
popular means of thorough education,
and we are only astonished, why the
American people should not with en-
thuslasm adopt a cause, which through
the awakening of the physical powers
OF the individual, and the inevitable
harmonious development of the BODY.
tries TO educate a people of healthy,
strong and self-possessed citizens. SO
much needed in our republic.
LIE success OF a century have placed
the United States Of North America
upon a basis of prosperity, forcibly re-
mlndlng us OF the ancient Republics,
which Tor long time existed as luml.
nous examples OF human greatness, I'M
til their success rendered them over
bearing, when the vices of immortality
and unavoidable corruption in a short
time resulted in their dissolution.
II we observe carefully and without
out prejudice, our own condition we
cannot fail to discover in this, the free
est country in the world, an evidence
of dissolution, which in the course of
time will produce the same result,
which ended in the destruction Of those
ancient model Republics.
Look at the physical condition Of the
present American people, and we must
admit, that ii is far from showing the
strong generations which decades ago
cleared the timber regions of the east
and transformed the prairies of the
West into prospecting settlements. If
we frequently meet the figure of the
stalWart, energetic Pioneer, the degen-
GRAFTON OF the people as a whole has
undoubtedly progressed very much.
The success OF thousands in the getting
OF so called fortunes encourages other
thousands to follow their example, the
morals are unfavorably affected; extra
Vagance, caused by the easy accumu-
latlon OF means, increases constantly,
and as a natural consequence each
generation leaves 4 more eneryated
pesterity.
Vice, particularly in the so-called
higher regions of American Society,
even prides itself over its frequent sue.
cess, and although the descendant of
Pilgrims who first settled this country,
is accustomed TO look with contempt
upon the foreigner, and amongst them
particularly upon the German emil
grants. he cannot deny the fact, that by
this very element new blood is infused
into the arteries of the American,
which, true enough, sometimes circu-
lates very lively and becomes some
what initiating.
The German '.Turnereio is one of
the elements of this new blood. ana
wherever it makes itself felt, by 1ullili-
ing It's educational mission, it Llnus due
appreciation amongst the liberal ele-
menb OF the native Americans.
Ihe organization for the develop.
ment OF physical culture existing in the
East and the North American Inrner-
| bund, have united their efforts, to make
| gJ mnastics branch OF public instruc-
ton. Ibis is the first acknowledgment
OF the value of physical culture which
encourages the hope, that gradually
our system will supplant the wasted
worthless plays OF our American youth
l ON RI Nroo,1 ot lo<> j Or {
enthuse our youth and to encourage
them to do their best, that the Ameri-
can people may become and remain
| thoroughly healthy and strong, physi-
cally and mentally.
| But it is also the comparatively more
Important object of our organization,
to educate men of strong and clear
minds, who are able to fill their posi-
| tons as citizens of this Republic in the
spirit Of 1.-THE declaration of Indepen.
dence, and if we are subjected to at
tacks from certain quarters,it is only by
elements of a reactionary character
which become more and more visible
in our republic.
| the Turner's, who since 1913 have
transplanted their cause into this Re.
public and formed the North American
Turnerbund, did not only establish
their system of physical culture. but
also directed their endeavors to the
| liberal development in all branches
OF science, politics and religion, and
| their position has always remained an
unshaken effort for progress in every
| direction, and must necessarily retain
this feature if their system should not
love its character as the highest means
of popular education.
Forcible efforts have been made by
opponents to identity the Turnerbund
| with anarchistic ideas. and for this pur-
pose manifestations, which originated
in sympathy with misfortune and in the
| most humane motives, have been inter-
preted as approvals of Anarchy, while
the Turnerbund, Notwithstanding its
radical principles, has always most
strenuously opposed and condemned
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