St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-12
At HIS EARLY HOME.
Mr. Cleveland Visits Buffalo
After an Absence of
Eight Years.
A Sound and Able Speech at
the German Young Mems
Banquet.
Complimentary Dinner Ten
dered the ex-PreSident
by Friends.
In a Reminiscent Vein He Re-
calls the Time Of His
Boyhood Trials.

fury ago and hold the same offices to-
day. The principal of the festival
was the presence and speech of ex-
President Cleveland. 1t was his first
public appearance here in almost eight
years. He received an ovation when he
appeared on the platform, and the en-
thusiasm of the great audience was
plainly pleasing TO Mr.. Cleveland. He
spoke in part as follows:
Mr.. President and Ladies and Gentlemen:
! am glad TO meet here tonight so many old
friends and aequaintances, and to join them
in the fluctuations which have called us to-
gether. AT this moment | recall with perfect
vividness another evening nearly eight years
ago. when, in a beautiful building standing
on this spot and then just completed, we in
inauguraled with songs and rejoicing a
grand national saengerfest That was a
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, repre-
senting their national love for music, and at
the same time were permitted to exhibit to
their visitors, as monument OF the enter
prise and activity of the German Young
Mems association. the grand and imposing
music hall i'll which their festival OF song
was held. The disaster which soon after over
took the association, involving the destruc-
ton of their splendid building, brought no
encouragement to the members of the or
ganiZatlOn. Tonight we meet i'll another and
more magnificent music hall,
Built Upon the Ashes
of the first, to celebrate the close of fifty
years in the life of an association, that ex-
hibits 10 every observer the courage and de-
termination which inevitably lead TO useful
ness and success. | shall not assume such a
familiarity with the career of the association
as would enable me to present in detail the
results OF its past efforts. In any event 1t
would III become me TO enter upon this held
in view of the fact that the able and
honorable gentleman now at the head
of the association was also its first
president. and has for fifty years watched
its progress and been devoted to its interests.
surely there has seldom been an organiza-
ton. which numbered among its members
at the end of half century, so competent
a chronicler of its history and achievements
L understand that among the prominent
purposes of the German Young Mems asso-
citation. are the propagation and promotion
of knowledge of German literature, and
the cultivation and encouragement OF the
best elements of German character. SO far
as the first of these objects is concerned,
hope | may be permitted to say. that while
the efforts of the association in the direction
mentioned are most praseworthy and
patriotic such an undertaking can by
no means be monopoliZed by any as
ISOLATION The value ana Importance of
German literature is too keenly appreciated
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
keep pace with their present development
and progress. 1t is not too much TO say that
all nations which make claim TO high civil
zation encourage the study of German
literature: and that the extent to which this
study is pursued by people furnishes a
standard of their enlightenment.
On behalf of the American people, am In
clined also to claim tonight that the German
character which the association under
takes to cultivate, is so inter,
woven with all the growth and
progress of our country. that we have right
to include it 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
new world. Many of them fought for Amer
lean independence, ana many who i'll the
trade of war came to fight against us, after
wards settled on our soil and contributed
greatly to the hardihood and stubborn en-
durance which our young nation so much
needed. AS years were added to the new
republic the
Tide of German lnlni grafton
increased in volume. Those who thus came
to US brought with them a love of liberty
which readily asSimlated them to our insti-
tutions, 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 constant routine
of American work, while at the same time
they abundantly proved that reasonable rec
reaton was entirely consistent with whole
some and conservative accumulation. They
were found in every part of our land
Everywhere they illustrated the value and
the sure reward OF economy and steady
work Thus before the American nation bad
lived a hundred years our German pOpula-
ton had grown to millions and constituted
an important ingredient in the mass of Amer
lean activity. Then there came time when
the government of the country of their adop-
ton was assaulted by rebellious hands. and
then our German fellow citizens had pre-
scented 20 them an opportunity 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 aud
bravely devoted themselves to its defence
In every battle the German soldiers fought
with courage and persistence and died with
fortitude. This common baptism of blood
and this partnership in peril. brought closer
together every element OF our people, and
made them all-more than ever and in every
sense-Americans. ! hardly think there is
any city in the land that should appreciate
the value of German population better than
Buffalo. On every side within your limits
are seen the evidences Of the thrift of your
German fellow townsmen, and monuments
of their industry and enterprise. No one
can dispute their contribution to your i'm
mense municipal growth, and you do
well 10 recognize it in the selection of
these charged with the administration of
your city government. Even now there
stands az its head, performing his duties ae-
ceptably 90 the entire community, one who
has won his way TO the confidence of his fell
low citizens, solely by the German American
traits of honesty industry and economy
know that he viii forgive me for saying that
when | knew him first not many years ago,
he was occupying an honorable but very
humble position, and gave no symptom of
his present prominence. will not dispute
but claim the satisfaction of calling this old
friend of mine also
First-Rate American.
In the light of the suggestions 1 have
mede. il is pleasant thing to learn the sig
nificant fact, that the membership of the
German Young Mems association is quite
largely made up of those who have no title
TO German parentage or origin.
| cannot resist the temptation to introduce
here the thought that no such association
can exist. and escape responsibility to our
people 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 something FOR their country, Its
welfare and progress depend so clear
ly upon what people are
taught and what they think that
patriotism should pervade their every
endeayOr IN the direction OF mental or social
impToyement We cannot afford in the heed
less race for wealth, nor in the absorbing
struggle for the promotion of selfish ends, to
neglect for a day our duty TO our govern
ment. So as the members of the German
Young Mems association contemplate the
steadfast love of country which belongs to
the German character. let them enforce the
lesson that this sentiment is absolutely es
sential to the strength and vigor of Ameri-
can institutions. If they find that German
industry and frugaiity lead to national hap
piness and comfort let them insist that
these characteristics be rooted in our soil;
and if they find that the justice and equal
ity which our free institutions promise and
which the Germans love, are withheld from
them and the American people, let them de-
maEd from the government which they sup
port, a scrupulous redemption of its pledges.
As this association crosses the threshold
which lies midway in the first century of its
existence, its members may well recall with
pride and congratulation what it has thus