Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-12
TRIBUTE TO GERMANS
BY EX-PreSident Cleveland at His
Old Home in Buffalo.
FINE RECEPTION TENDERED HIM.
The German Character a Thrifty Factor in
American Life.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT SHOULD RULE

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.l
. BUFFALO, May lex President Cleveland
attended the celebration of the semi-centen-
Aial of the German Young Mems Association
here tonight and delivered the address of
the evening. He arrived from New York
this morning, accompanied by DR.. Joseph
Senner, of the New York StddtS Zeitlnlg, who
delivered the German address.
1t was the ex-Presidents first visit TO his
old home since he came to cast his vote in
1885 while occupying the Presidential chair,
and he was enthusiastically received at the
depot on his arrival by a large assemblage of
old friends and citizens. On entering the
hall where the celebration was held, Mr.
Cleveland was heartily cheered, and an ova-
tion was also rendered him when he arose to
deliver his address. After the exercises Mr..
Cleveland was entertained at banquet by
his friends. In addition to the ex-Presi-
dents, several other addresses were made.
Mr.. Cleveland's speech was as follows:
Speech of Mr.. Cleveland.
lam glad to meet here tonight so many
old friends and acquaintances, and to join
them in the Fluctuations which have called
us together. At this moment recall with
perfect vividness another evening nearly
eight years ago, when in beautiful building
standing on this spot and then just COM
pletcu, we inaugurated with songs and re-
joicing grand national Sangerfest. That
was proud day for Buffalo, and prouder
one still for our German fellow-townsmen,
who then welcomed as their guests a large
and notable assemblage from many States
representing their national love OF music,
and at the same time were permitted to
exhibit to their visitors, as a monument of
the enterprise and activity of the German
Young Mems Association, the grand and i'm
posing Music Hall in which their festival of
song was held.
The disaster which soon after overlook the
association, involving the destruction of
their splendid building, brought no discour-
ngement to the members of the organization.
Tonight we meet in another and more mag
nificent Music Hall, built upon the ashes of
the first, to celebrate the close of so years in
the life of an association, that exhibits to
every observer the courage and determina-
tion which inevitably lead to usefulness and
success
Tribute to German Art.
1 shall not assume such familiarity with
the career of the association as would enable
me to present in detail the results of its past
efforts. In any eventit would ill become me
TO enter upon this field, in view of the fact
that the able aud honorable gentleman now
at the head of the association was also its
first President, and has for 80 years watched
its progress and been devoted to its interests.
Surely there has seldom been an organiZa-
tion which numbered among its members at
the end of half century competent a
chronicler of its history and achievements.
!
purposes of the German Young Mems Asso-
clatlon are the propagation and promotion
of a knowledge of German literature and the
cultivation and encouragement of the best
elements of German character.
So TAR as the first of these objects is con-
ceTned, hope | may be permitted to say, |
that while the efforts of the association in |
the direction mentioned are most praise |
worthy and patriotic, such an undertaking |
can by no means be monopoliZed by any as |
sociation. 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 to know the |
past triumphs of science, poetry, music and |
art or where there are those who strive to |
and progress. 1t is not too much to say that |
all nations which make claim to high civili- |
cation encourage the study of German |
literature, and that the extent to which this |
study is pursued by people furnishes a /
standard of their Embellishments.
A Thrifty American Factor.
On behalf of the American people, / am in
,lined also TO claim tonight that the Ger
man character which the association under
takes to cultivate, is so interviewer with all
the growth and progress of our country, that
we have a right to include it among the fac
tors which make up a sturdy and thrifty
With our early settlers came
the Germans. They suited themselves to /
every condition of our new world. Many of |
them fought for American independence,
and many who in the trade of war. came to
fight against us, afterward settled on our
SOIL and contributed greatly to the hardi-
hood and stubborn endurance which our
young nation so much needed.
As years were added to the new Republic, |
the tide of German immigration increased
in volume. Those who thus came to us,
brought with them love of liberty which
readily assimilated them to our institutions
and their natural love of order made them
good citizens. By their love of music and
pnlnNnlpOfS .iol |
upon the solemn and constant routine of
American work, while at the same time they
proved that reasonable recrea-
tion WAS entirely consistent with wholesome
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--
prlvation by frugality, and
never for moment losing sight of the
better day promised by the future to IN
haunted courage and persistent industry.
.he front ranks of successful business and
-rade; and by the choice of their fellow citi-
Zens they held public positions of trust and
influence; Eyerywhere they Illustrated the
steady work.
Defending the Union.
Thus before the American nation had
ived 100 years. our German population had
crown to millions, and constituted an i'm
Dortant ingredient in the mass of American
lctivity. Then there came n time when the |
government of the country of their adop-
ion was assaulted by rebellious hands; and
hen our German fellow citizens had pre-
ented to them an opportunity to prove the
epth and breadth of their attachment to
he land in which they had become patriotic |
american citizens. They allowed not a mo-
lent for uncertainty, but fOcked by thou |
ands to the standard of the Union and |
ravely devoted themselves to its defense. |
II every battle the German soldiers fought |
nth courage and persistence and died with
ortitude.
This common baptism of blood and this
in peril, brought closer together
very element of our people and made them
ll-more than ever and in every sense
americans. This leads me to say that any
pposing claims to ownership in the valuable
rats OF German character, admit of q fair
No one will begrudge the
abstraction to be derived from analyzing1
hese elements and establishing their Ger
nan origin; and all will concede that the
lore they are cultivated the more our {
ountry Will gain. But when all this is done | {
lt US call these traits, so far as they are !
ere exhibited, American. They have been
18th us since our beginning; they have in
uenced every day of our countr.y's life: |
hey are among the traits which our Govern
entail to our countIy's safety and pros
Gritty.
Eulogizing an Old Friend.
hardly think there is any city in the land
lat should appreciate the value of German
opulation better than Buffalo. On every
de, within your limits, are seen the evil
ences of the thrift of your German fellow
)wnsmen and monuments of their industry
nd enterprise. No one can dispute their
Dntribution to your immense municipal
rowth, and you do well to recognize it in
he selection of these charged with the ad-
Illustration of your city government. Even |
Ow there stands at its head, performing his
1ties acceptably to the entire community, |