Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-07
SIEGEL THE ORATOR.
The Great German-American Soldier
Talks to His Countrymen
ABOUT THE DAY THEY CELEBRATE
Their First Colony in This Country Planted
in Pennsylvania.
THE DAY OBSERVED IN WASHINGTON

FORT MADISON, IA, Oct. 6.-This city
is given over entirely to-day to the German
Americans, who have thronged here in
great numbers in spite of the threatening
rain The trains coming in this morning
were loaded down with excurslonists. The
number of people in the city is about 2,0OO
Governor Boies came in at 10 o'clock
from Keokuk, and was escorted to the hotel
by Co. F., l. n. g., of this place. The
parade formed at 1890 in the drizzling rain,
and consisted of carriages containing local
committees, General Seigel, Governor
Boies, visiting delegates with bands, floats
of business houses here and members of
various German secret orders. The pro-
cession, about one mile long, proceeded to
Central Park, where an elaborate pro-
gramme had been arranged
Rain was falling rapidly at this point,
but it was determined to proceed.
GENERAL sIEGEL's SPEECH.
The keys of the city were delivered to
President Stempel by Mayor Hamilton in a
neat speech. Governor Horace Boies was
then introduced, but he made no speech,
simply telling the people that he was here
to-day as one among thousand to pay a
tribute to the great German-American hero
Then General Franz Siegel made a speech of
an hours length. He said in substance:
German Day is one dear to our hearts, for
on this day, the first Germans landed on our
coast and founded colony At this time
the Turks were knocking at the doors of
from her borders. Thirty thousand went to
Holland and then to England, and about
half of this number came to America. Ger
mantown was their first settlement, where
they were made welcome by William Penn.
Germans proved good colonists. They
assisted in building mp the country and dis
played solid achievements as the result of
their presence.
After the Revolution of ls4s, emigrants
from Germany came to this country in a
reritable torrent. Their presence in Ameri-
ca, since that date has been fixed and cer-
tain. They will not disappear in America.
They will retain their characteristics as Ger
mans, while gaining an answering loyalty
to their country, America.
In the late war they were found wholly
identified with the Union cause, and fought
as true soldiers. Especially in the West
was the German influence beginning to be
felt the strongest, and the West is the future
great section of America.
A CELEBRATION IN THE RAIN.
A few songs and short addresses followed
and the great audience, covered with UNI
OrelIaS, went TO dinner. In the afternoon
the rain ceased falling and concert was
given in the park bv the various German
singing clubs. This evening General Siegel
is holding public reception at the hotel.
Fireworks are being displayed on the Mis-
sissippi river, and dancing is the order of
the evening in many halls.
A dispatch from Washington saws: Ger
man day was celebrated with great enthus-
iasm by the citizens of this city of German
birth and descent The principal feature of
the celebration was an industrial parade.
The procession was the largest and best
seen in Washington for a long time. A
contingent of the National Guard of Dis
trict of Columbia, several benevolent asso-
Citations and pleasure clubs, and the Veteran
Volunteer Fireman's Association partici-
pated.
The parade also passed through the
White House grounds, where it was re-
viewed by the President and Secretaries
Proctor and Rusk
A CELEBRATION IN THE SNOW,
A dispatch from Omaha says: Six thou
sand people marched in the German parade
this afternoon in spite of the fast-falling
snow. The storm, however, soon ceased,
and the rest of the day proved pleasant.
All the German societies of the city and
surrounding towns were out with banners
and floats, and the procession was an i'm
posing one. The days festivities closed
with monster meeting at Germania Hall,
at which an extensive musical programme
was rendered, and addresses were delivered
by Udo Brachyorel and f. Rosewater.