Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-05-15
CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
Semi-Centennial Of the German Young
Mems Association i'll
Buffalo.
Fitting Tribute to German Lltera-
ture and an EXh0rtation to
Practical Patriotism.
Later in the Evening the EX-President
Indulges in Some Happy
"reminiscences.

| Men 8 association celebrated Its nfteenth
anniversary here tonight. The principal
event was the presence and speech of ex-
President Cleveland.
1t was his first public appearance here
in eight years. He received an ovation
when be appeared on the platform and
the enthusiasm of the great audience was
plainly pleasing to him. MIR. Cleveland
| IN mis- speech said:
al understand that among the promi-
nent purposes of the German Young Men s
association, are the propagation and pro-
motion of a knowledge of German litera-
! ture, and the cultivation and encourage
| ment of the best elements of German
| character.
| 80 far as the first of these objects is
| concerned, | hope | may be permitted to
| say. that while the efforts of the assocla-
| tiOn in the direction mentioned are most
praiseworthy and patriotic, such an under
taking can by no means be monopol1zed
| by any association. The value and I'M
portance of German literature is too keen
ly appreciated to be neglected In any part
of the world where there are those who
seek to know the past trlumphs OF
science, poetry, music and art. or where
with their present development and pro-
gress. 1t il not too much to say that all
nations which make claim to high civiliza-
tion. encourage the study of German liter
azure; and that the extent to which this
study is pursued by people, furnishes
standard to their enlightenment
"On behalf of the American people,
am inclined also to claim tonight that the
~ Il, al ioti
undertakes to cultivate, is so interviewer
with all the growth and pro
gress of our country, that We
have right to include it among
the factors which make up a sturdy and
thrifty Americanism. With our early
settlers came the Germans. They suited
themselves to every condition of our new
world Many of them fought for Amer
lean independence, and many who III the
trade of War. came to fight against US,
afterwards settled on our soil and con-
tributed greatly to the hardlh0od and
stubborn endurance which our young ma
ton SO much needed.
'As years were added to the new repub-
lie. the tide OF German immigration in
creased in volume. Those who thus came
to us brought with them a love of liberty
which readily assimilated them to our in
stiutions and their natural love of order
made them good citizens. By their love
of music and social enjOyments, they shed
a bright light upon the solemn and con-
slant routine of American work,
while at the same time they abun
dainty proved that reasonable recreation
was entirely consistent with wholesome
and conservative accumulation. They
were found in every part of our land.
Among the pioneers of he far west, they
struggled against discOuragements and
hardships ps-counteracting prlvatlon by
frugality. and never for moment losing
sight of the better day promised by the
future to undaunted courage and persistent
industry. In our cities and towns they
were found in the front ranks of success
full business and trade; and 10y the choice
of their fellow citizens they held public
positions of trust and Influence. Every,
where they illustrated the value and the
sure reward of economy and steady work.
Thus before the American nation had
lived one hundred years, our German pop
ulatiOn had grown to millions, and constl-
tuted an important ingredient in the mass
of American activity. Then there came
time when the government of the country
of their adoption was assaulted by rebel
lious hands; and then our German fellow
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
moment for uncertainty but fiocked by
thousands to the standard of the union
and bravely devoted themselves to its de
fense. In every battle the German soldiers
fought with courag" and persistence and
died with fortitude. This common bap
tism of blood and this partnership in
peril. brought closer together every ele
ment of our people and made them all
more than ever and in every sense-Amer-
leans. This leads me to say that any op-
posing claims to ownership in the valuable
traits of German character admit of fair
compromise. No one will begrudge
the satisfaction to be derived from analyz-
ing 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 is
done, let US call these traits, so far as they
are here exhibited, American. They have
been with us since our beginning; they
have influenced every day of our country
life; they are among the traits which our
government was formed to foster, and
they are essential to our country's safety
and prosperity.
Il cannot resist the temptation to intro
duce here the thought, that no such asso-
citation can exist, and escape a RESPONSE
| billy to our home and our government.
| Wherever our countrymen are gathered
| together with the professed purpose of
mutual Improvement or in furtherance of
| any useful object, they ought to do some
| thing for their country. Its welfare and
progress depend so clearly upon what the
! people are taught and what they
| think that patriotism should pervade
| their every endeavor in the
direction of mental or social i'm
provement. Our government was
made by the people; and by the people it
must be constantly watched and main
| tanned. Like every other mechanism it
requires guidance and care. Without
| this. like many another mechanism, it will
not ONLY fail to do its work. but it may in
| lure and wound those who stand idly near
We cannot afford in the needless race for
wealth, nor in the absorbing struggle for
the promotion of selfish ends, to neglect
for a day. our duty to our government.
80. as the members of the German
| Young Mems association contemplate the
| steadfast ,ove of country which belongs to
the German character. let them enforce
the lesson that this sentiment is absolutely
essential to the strength and vigor of
| American institutions. If they find that
German industry and frugality lead 10
national happiness and comfort, let them
insist that these characteristics be rooted
in our soil; and if they find
that the justice and equality which
our free institutions promise and
which the Germans love are withheld from
them and the American people, let them
dem and from the government which they
support a scrupulous redemption of its
pledges.
LAS this association crosses the thresb-
old which les midway in the first cen
tury of III existence, Its members may well
recall with pride and eongratulation what
it has thus far done for the pro-
motion of a knowledge of ter
man literature and the cultivation
of German character; and as they enter
upon the second half century of organized