Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-12

Fifth Auditor Habercom Tells . Star Re-
porter All About It

On October l. 1858. the first organized coli
ony of Germans that ever landed on American
soil entered the port of Philadelphia and pro-
ceeded to make for themselves homes They
constructed the foundation upon which Ger
man day rests. That will be news to some Of
the people who have been asking what this
German day celebration means"
Great things have sprung from that first
colony" said Fifth Auditor Haborccm to q
STAB reporter The leader Of the immigrants
was Franz Daniel Pastorius, a highly educated
and progressive man. Under his care the set
Element Of Germantown fourished from the
beginning and within a short time was famous
throughout the colonies. Pastorius and
his people cultivated the necessary mate
rial and made Germantown the center
Of the weaving industry. The colonists
were not too busy to be interested in govern
mental and moral affairs. for the first formal
protest against slavery was made by the people
of Germantown. These men and women were
the advance guard Of immigration which
increased rapidly and which gave the colony OF
Pennsy lvania 30 much Of a German character
that at one time it was feared without cause)
that the Germans might combine and make
German the official language of the colony.
The alarm was unnecessary; they had not come
for any such purpose.
German day. continued DIR. Habercom,
sis to us what Forefathers' day is to New Eng
land and we take a great deal Of Just pride IN
our celebration. We are properly pleased at
the progress the nation hss made and congratu-
late ourselves on what We have done to aid that
progress. DO YOU know that one-ffth of the
country's POI ulation is German-a larger pro-
portion than that presented by any other ma
tionglityg We take pride in calling attention
20 the further fact that In the peaceful pursuits
of commerce, the industries and agriculture
German-Americans have taken leading and
prominent parts; have done at least their full
| share OF the toll necessary to the development
OF the vast resources of our great countrv.
I'm our politica. matters, while not SO active
as our fellow cit zens of British birth or origin
they have always been steadiastly devoted to
the principles and practices Of true republi-
canism and they have always borne their
| full share of the hardships and dangers
sometimes attendant upon faithful citizenship,
as, for instance, in the war Of the revolution
and the late civil war. So you see that by
celebrating this Gay we only emphasize our
| loyalty to the republic and our determination
to continue in the patriotic path we have al
| ways travelled on.
..Some antagonisms have unfortunately
/ arisen between the German-Americans and
| other citizens of this country because people
| OF German birth and descent very naturally
adhere to the customs and habits of the
country of their origin. Habit will not change
| in day nor can one mans code
of morals be applied unfortunately. Our
customs do not iniure the country.
! good name nor does our conduct bring about
violation Of our obligations good cItissns.
The German temperament is not variable. Our
people are steady and phlegmatic and il is well
they are. This same phlegmatic temperament
| ID the balance in national wheel. 1t tones
| down the oyer-enthusiasm of the Celtic contrt-
button to our sixty-five millions Of population
| German day Was first celebrated eight years
ago. Locally the occasion was then made much
of, the rejoicing being on q most extensive
scale. Since that time the day has been OBJ
served, but quietly until this year. when il wa
thought best TO have public jubilee. Active
committees are busily engaged in preparing fos
| the historic anniversary.