The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-07
Mr.. SCHURICHT'S SPEECH.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF HIS
FINE ADDRESS.

lie Urges the People to Follow the Advice
of rastorius-A Careful and Instructive
Review Of German Life In Virginia In
Colonial Times.
Below will be found an English transla-
tion Of Mr.. Hermann Schurichts address at
the German celebration in Richmond yes
terday:
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
This day POI years ago the first German
emigration society landed on the shores OF
the Delaware. There were thirteen fam
lilies from the old city Crefeld, and In wise
recognition Of the importance Of the event,
their leader wrote in the Register of the city
Of Germantown. built by them, the follow
ing greeting 10 the coming generations:
ave welcome German descendants In
GermanOpOlis. Know that their parents
and predecessors left, voluntarily, Germany,
the land Of their birth, TO spend less sor-
rOwfully the rest OF their days in this wild
region Of PENNSYLVANIA. Know also that
many hardships had 10 be endured on their
trip across the Atlantic. and that II was
very difficult 10 plant the German tree IN
this section Of North America. Dear de-
scendants, follow our example wherever
We did right. but wherever we were mls-
taken avoid the dangers which we had 10
run. 30 wise and careful. Hail thee,
German descendants; hail thee, German
brethren. and the old country, hail thee
forever.
GRAM DANIEL PAsT0RIUs."
Like the voice OF a prophet this greeting
reaches us from times long past, touches
orr hearts and fills them with pride and ad-
miration. both for the genuine German and
patriotic feelings Of our countrymen.
And still more than that. Ii reminds us
MAT without the energy Of the Germans,
without their diligence, their idealistlc feel
ings. and their unconquerable love for lib
erty. the United States would not have
made such progress and the American life
would not have received such humanistic
coloring which now fills the civilized world
with admiration.
PROPITIOUs DAY.
Therefore dear countrymen, il was for
inmate thought 10 fix the celebration oil the
first German Day in Virginia on the 9TH day
Of October, the day ofthe landing OF the ilrst
German migration society, especially as
our state has been settled 10 considerable
degree by Pennsylvania Germans.
The honorable task conferred on me this
lay cannot respond tO more appropriately
than by reviewing the history OF Germans
in Virginia and thereby show now fully
they have complied with the advice OF the
noble Paslorius, and how great, therefore,
the obligations are which we inherit by
their example.
FIRsT cOLOSIsTs.
Lord Delaware brought to jamestown on
the lower James river In 1903. two years
after the foundation Of the settlement, the
first efficient cOlOnists, and from this early
period date the first news or the partlcipa-
ton of Germans in the colonization OF the
Stale Before 1880 the London Company
imported German and French grape grow.
ers 10 cultivate the European wines, and
about the same time Augustine Hermann
from Prar, the capital of Bohemia, extend
cd the expectation OF tObaccO-which up 10
that time was "A monopoly Of England,-to
yi0liand aud Germany. But the most prom
incnf deed was 10y Johannes Lederer, a son OF
the Alps. As he called himself. He came b.
jamestown i'm 1905, and Governor berkeley
cOmmi ssiOned him in 1863 To explore the
Alleghauics. His first trip was followed by
"A second and third, but jealousy and M
gratitude were the rewards which the bold
explorer received. lie was forced 10 fly,
and found protection in Maryland. in Gov.
ernor sir Talbert. The modest manners OF
Iad.rer pleased the English statesman.
lie examined and translated "A description
1fhis trips, which were written In Latin
md English, and had them published IN
london with map he drew, in the year
aG72 This book and this map are the old
,.si records about the lands and people OF
the Southern portions Of the Appalachian
mOn0tains. Thus Augustine Hermann ana
Johannes l.ederer are shining stars la the
history Of the first century of the colony.
NEGRO LABOR.
Bni damaging influences. especially the
in,rndlstion Of negro labor, impeded Its
deyelopment IL is not necessary 10 ex-
,,loin to YOU the evils of slavery. Most OF
vol know the negroes from actual expert
cnre hut must mention that their pubic
education was neglected from fear that,
with the growing intelligence, feelings of
iustice and humanity would he awakened.
William Berkeley said, for. instance, in "A re-
soprt TO the English Government, in l6l,
1.-THE clergymen ought to pray more and
,reach less. | thank God that we have no
islbHe schools and printing Offices, aud
hone we shall not have them within hun
dred years"
And. indeed. not until 1876 the first news
uaper sheet was published IN virginia, ana
only twenty years ago (io'o) the hrsl puolie
school was opened. Ii cannot he supposed
that the German settlers had no part in
slavery matters, but il is known that the
large majority Of them were positively 0p-
s,os.d 10 the Institution, and that for this
reason they became distrusted by the slave
owners.
The lives Of the cOlOnists were also threat
cp,I hy murderOus contests with the H.
dia,s Many German home was destroy
- In, tho red skins. The scalping knives
orI tho ion. ahawk made havoc among
th.n 10 this was added the intolerance OF
,ho r,glish High Church. which pursued
ali other creeds. and finally the land and
Siave-owners isolated themselves more and
more from the people. and formed kind OF
aristocracy, holding tbs working classes IN
such contempt that even the negroes looked
down upon them ana caiiea 'nehi ohiy "ni'e
trash. - ~ .,o.o .t,.
.cumstances was that ut the end Of the sew
.euteenth century many OF the most lndus-
trious element and among them Germans,
.emigrated again into the wilderness outside
of the control Of the colonial government.
Meanwhile Lord Baltimore and WIN. rem
had opened in Maryland and pennsylvania
places Of retreat and protection for all Eu-
ropeans pursued on account oil their re-
ligisis belief and corrupt political condi-
tions 10 Germany. induced many pious peo-
ple To come across the wide ocean. lhous-
ands soon followed the noble Pastorius and
his friends.
PEACR EMPIRE.
I'm. they did not find the haven OF rest-
,he empire of Peace-they had expected 10
ind ,,nd the unchristian discord among
the dillt rent confessions hau iouha lts way
across the ocean. and the number OF Ger
mans was Increasing more and more, and
the result Of their labor commenced TO show
and the German Quakers at Germantown,
moved Nv Impulses OF humanity. protested
an the lS:h OF April, 1858, against the insti-
fAtiOn of slavery.
suspicion aud Jealousy co-operated
ogslnst the Germans also in Maryland and
pennsylvania, their position became en-
dangered. Their desire after peace and Sc.
cwriiy awakened anew and toward the END
Of the first half OF the last century an emil
grafton began 10 lne onenanuo'h '""e'' "'
habited then only by Indians.
VIRGINIA COLONIES.
yut before this German colonies had
crown up in Virginia In III. Governor
SnotswOod built the town OF Germania q,
the upper falls Of the Rappahannock, ana