The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-13
MEMORABLE OCCASION.
GROVER CLEVELAND VISITS BUFFALO.
Fiftieth Anniversary OF the German Young
Mems Association Celebrated by Great
ThronR-Mr. Cleveland Makes
an Eloquent Address

BUFFALO, y. May Il-Iue bctiHdh
young mems association of Buffalo cele-
brated its fittieth anniversary here TO-
night in Music hall. A remarkable cir
cumstance was the presence OF q. A.
George and DR.. John Hauenstein, who
were respectively president and vice
president of the association half century
ago and hold the same offices today.
The principal event of the festival was
the presence aud speech OF ex-President
Cleveland. 1t was his first public appear
ance here in almost eight years. he re-
received an ovation when he appeared on
the platform, and the enthusiasm o. the
great audience was plainly pleasing 10 Nlr.
Cleveland. Mr.. Cleveland spoke rs fol-
lows:
Mr.. President AND LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN-l am glad to meet here tonight s. many
old friends and acquaintance, aud TO join them
In the fluctuations which have called us
gether. At this moment l recall with per- OF
vlvIdness another evening nearly eight yea RS
ago. when in a beautiful building standing on
this spot and then just completed, in, Il
rated with songs and rejoicing grand national
sangerlest. That was proud day Tor Buffalo,
and prouder one still for our German tel ow-
townsmen, who then welcomed as their guests
n
states, representing their Ds;iODa. love OF
music. and at the same time permitted to
exhibit to their visitors, as a monument OF the
enterprise snd activity of the German young
mems association, the grand and imposing
Music hall in which their festival of song was
held.
The disaster which soon after overlook the
association, invol wing the destruction OF their
splendid building brought no di>coui ayem ent
to the members OF the organization. Tonight
we meet in another aud more magnificent Mu-
sic hall, built upon the ashes OF the hrs 10 cell
citrate the close of fifty years in the life OF an
association that exhibits to every observer the
courage and de elimination which inevitably
lead to usefulness and success.
shall not assume such familiarity with the
career of the association rs would enable me to
present in detail! the results Of its past efforts.
In any event il would i'll become re to enter
upon this field, in view of the fact that the able
and honorable gentleman now at the head OF
the association also its first president, and
has for fifty years watched its progress and
been devoted to Its interests Surely there has
seldom been IN organization which numbered
among its members at the end of half century
so competent a chronicler OF Its history aud
achievements.
understand that among the prominent pur-
poses of the German young mems association
are the propagation and promotion o. q knowl-
edge of German literature and the cultivation
and encouragement OF the best elements OF Ger.
man character
So far as the first of these objects is con-
cerned, hope | may be permitted to say that
while the efforts OF the association i'm the direc-
tion mentioned are most praiseworthy and patri-
otto, such an undertaking can by no means he
monOpolized by any association. The value and
importance Of German literature is too keenly
appreciated TO be neglected IN any part OF the
world, where there are those who seek 10 know
the past triumphs of science poetry, music and
art. or where there are those who strive to keep
thcfr da aud
ress. Ii is not too mach 10 say that all
tions which make claim to high civilization en-
courage the study of German literature, and
| that the extent 10 which this study is pursued
by people furnishes q standard Of their en-
| Hghtenment
| On behalf of the American people 1 am in
olined also to claim tonight that the German
character which the association undertakes to
! cultivate Is so interviewer with all the growth
! and progress of our country that have a
! right to include il among the factors which
make up sturdy and thrifty Americanism.
/ With our early settlers came the Germans.
! They suited themselves to every condition of
/ our world. Many OF them fought for
! American independence, and many who in the
trade OF war came to hight against US afterward
settled on our soil and contributed greatly to
the hardihood and stubborn endurance which
| our young nation so much needed.
| As years added 70 the new republic, the tide
| OF German immigration increased in volume.
]
love of liberty which readily sesimilAted them
! to our institutions and their natural love of
/ order made them good citizens By their love
! of music and sec al enjoyment. they shed
/ bright light upon tie solemn and constant
\ routine of American work, while ct the same
time they abundantly proved that reasonable
recreation was entirely consistent with whole
some and conservative accumulation. They
/ were found in every part of our land. Among
! the pioneers of the far West they struggled
! against discouragements and hardships, coun-
| teractng privation by frugality, and never for
| a moment losing sight OF the better day prom
| ised by the future TO undaunted courage and
| persistent industry. In cities and towns
/ they were found in the front ranks OF success
/ full business and trade, and by the choice of
/ their fellow-ctizens they held public positions
of trust and influence. Everywhere they Illus
! trated the value and the sure reward OF econ
omy and steady work.
Thus before the American nation had lived
! 100 years our German population had grown
/ to millions, and constituted al important in
] gredient in the of American activity.
! Then there came q time when the government
| Of the country OF their adoption was assaulted
| by rebellous hands. and then our German fell
| low-citizens had presented TO them an oppor-
tunity TO prove the depth and breadth of their
attachment to the land in which they lived and
wrought, and to exhibit how completely they
| had become patriotic American citizens They
| allowed not q moment for uncertainty, but
1
| Union and bravely devoted themselves to its
| defense. In every battle the German soldiers
| fought with courage and persistence aud died
( with fortitude. This common baptism of blood
| and this partnership in peril brought closer to-
| gether every element OF our people and made
| them all-more than ever and in every sense
| Americans. This leads me to say that any op-
| posing claims to ownership in the valuable
/ traits of German character admit OF n Isir COM
| promise. No one will beerudge the satisfaction
| 20 be derived from analyzing these elements
| and establishing their German origin; and all
will concede that the more they are cultivated
| the more our country will gain. But when all
this 10 done let all these traits far
they are here exhibited American. They have
been with since beginning; they have
influenced every day of our country's life; they
are among the traits which our government was
formed to foster, and they are essential 10 our
\ country's safety and prosperity.
| / hardly think there is any city in the land
1 that should appreciate the value OF German
| population better than Buffalo On every side,
! within our limits, seen the evidences of the
thrift of your German felow-towusmen and
monuments OF their industry and enterprise.
imms nse municipal growth. and you do well TO
with the administration OF your city govern
| ment. Even now there stands at its head, per-
I forming his duties acceptably to the entire
| conn atty, one who has won his way TO the
! conf nee of his fellow-citizens, solely by the
| German American traits of honesty industry
and economy. / know that he will forgive me