Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-16
SECOND CHAPTER.
THE LITERARY PART OF THE GERMAN DAY
CELEBRATION.
A Large Throng at the Park-Eniertaining
Speeches by hon. A. w. Campbell and Rev
William Ulfert-0thsr Features.


tinued from a week ago last Monday,
took place yesterday afternoon at Wheel
ing Park. and large throng OF people
gathered to do honor TO the occasion.
Providence seemed to smile her sweet
est on the event, and more favorable
autumn day could hardly have been Sc
lected. The one and two o'clock mo-
tors were loaded with people, ana the
early motor also had on board the opera
House band, which discoursed entranc-
ing strains throughout the afternoon.
After season of sOciability and
promenade, there were two minia-
ture balloon ascensions, which
afforded much merriment. Shortly be-
fore three o'clock the exercises TO which
all had been looking forward to with so
much pleasure, commenced. The exer-
cises took place on the high plateau just
beyond the dance hall, and seated upon
the stage under the canopy, in addition
to the two speakers OF the day were DR..
A. +. Stifel, who presided over the
meeting, Augustus Pollack, Anton Key
mann. Capt. Salterbach, and Col. August
Rolf. Mr.. Stifel, upon opening the
meeting, made in substance the follow
ing Introductory remarks:
The demonstration of October q, the con-
clusion of which we celebrate to-day, is an
evidence of the esteem and the love OF the
German Americans for American rights
and American liberty. For although they
are proud of the achievements OF their
forefathers in the Fatherland yet you have
not gathered to glorify these, but to give
expression TO your feelings of gratitude for
being citizens of this great Republic, and
to honor the German pioneers FOR having
led the way for US and our fathers into this
great country.
The German American is far from being
an inferior citizen, because he still retains
some love for the land of his ancestors. 1t
is true he continues 10 cultivate his mother
tongue, and TO retain many OF the customs
which he has brought from over the great
water. He clings to that language in which
the poets Of his fatherland have sang, that
language which gives him access TO a
literature which for profoundness OF
thought, stands unequaled. He clings to
German song, the sweet lullaby OF which |
soothed him in infancy, and the soul stir |
ring notes of which whether heard at the
club, upon the battlefield, or when gather
ed with friends, inspire him with noble as
piratiors, and impel him to good and |
patriotic deeds.
DR.. Stifel's opening remarks were
listened to with the deepest interest,
and after the applause had subsidized he
introduced as the next speaker Rev.
William Ulfert, who gave Il most elo-
quent and able address in the German
tongue. In opening he said:
rrLo - Ia,- ic NOW mast ie NOT !
impossible to recall the spark Of love that
lies deep in the heart of the German citi-
zens, and to-day with rekindled enthusiasm
we gather here in this park, the pride OF
Wheeling. Under these bushes and trees
we celebrate thankfully the day which our
forefathers have made. The German
day was to show that the energy
and patriotic spirit OF Germany's sons
is stiu alive The Germans sons thank
fully gather under the flag OF America:
The German Day recalled the coming of
the Germans to America two hundred
years ago But little over two centuries
have passed since the city Of Germantown
took root in America The Germans Of
America feel free from all the warfare
that harnesses their native country, and
from Niagara to the waters of the Rio I
Grande, and from the stormy waters of the
Atlantic to the oceans on the other side, Is
a praise for all.
This was but the introduction OF Mr.. a
Ulfert's admirable address, which con-
tanned in full many rich historical al Z
Iusions. and was delivered with a vigOr,
force and eloquencc that was marked,
and found warm and responsive chord {
IN the hearts of the aSsemblage.
Mr.. Stfel then introduced Hon. A.
". Campbell, who delivered In English
a very entertaining address, and one J
which was the result of much careful
and systematic study. Following are
few abstracts from his remarks: ,
We are here to-day TO commemorate the
pioneer immigration of Germans 10 Amer
ga IL seems to be understood that on this
lay POI years ago the first regularly organ
zed body of German colOnists set foot on
the shores Of the new world. Prior to that /
time no distinctive scheme OF German set
Element in America had been attempted in r
any part Of our territory.
This long deferment of German mmigra-
lion seems all the more remarkable in the
light of the early history Of the Teutonic
race. The various peoples who to-day are
called Germans and who share Teutonic
origin with various peoples who are not
allied Germans, were a migratory and con
luerng race from the days OF their earliest |
records. They seem to hear the same voice
that spoke to the Semitic race in the wilder \
ness. commanding them TO ''go forward"
And they did go forward, overrunning
and subjugating nearly all of the European
continent and crossing also the British
Channel. succeeded TO the Roman occupa-
ton of England and there laid the f0unda-
ton OF the noblest system OF civilization
that the world has ever known. We owe
not only our Anglo-Saxon speech but like
wise its vast heritages of liberty and law,
TO the three German tribes, the
Angles. the SaXons and the Jutes, who oc-
cupied England for five hundred years
prior to its conquest by the Normaas.
Hence. when we commemorate to-day the
first settlement of Germans in America we
can truly say that in the sense OF our
ancestry we are all Germans
and all Americans.
The most important colony Of Germans
that ever came to the Ohio Valley was that
of the Economics, under George Rapp,
who settled about twenty-five miles below
Pittsburg, over fifty years ago. Much
might be said of other German settlements,
old and new, in this region, not forgetting
the most recent one ut Helvetia, IN Ran
dolph county, West Virginia, with which
the late DR.. Richard Blum, OF this city,
was prominently connected, nor that other
one at Santa Clara, Doddridge county, OF
which the now notorious DissDebar was at
one time a member.
There are to-day in the United States
over four millions Of persons who were
born on German soil. Ofpersons who can,
ancestrally. speak the language there are
fifteen millions.
In speaking Of what the Germans had
done, Mr. Campbell said: You have per-
formed great deeds in the past. You have
illustrated your prowess on thousand
battle fields. You have wonderfully ad-
vanced the world by your countless discov-
cries in the arts and sciences. You have
enriched the literature Of all time by some
of the noblest contributions OF prose and
poetry. You have exalted music to pc
destal that overooks and commands the |
homage of an admiring world.
Mr. Campbell at the close Of his adj
dress was greeted with loud and long |
continued applause.