Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-27
OUR ADOPTED SONS.
RICHMOND GERMANS HOLD A voLk-
FEST AT 6LANpoN PARK.
The Celebration a Pleasant Anair-Pstri-
otto speech by President Rosenezk-
Dancing ana Other Amusements.

The third annual celebration of German
Day occurred yesterday at Blandon fark
under the auspices of the German-Ameri-
can Association, and hundreds of our Teu-
tonic citizens participated IN the festiyi-
ties Of the occasion. The day was perfect
an autumnal idyl in fect-and those who
visited ths pIeasure-grounds thoroughly
enjoyed themselves. as only true Germans
can.
Men, women, children, and babies
thronged the park and partook Of the rev,
elries Of the occasion. All drank beer, all
rodeon the switchback. and all ate the not
sausages served on the tables beneath the
shady trees and in tho pleasant pavilion
But little English was spoken among
| the frolickers, for nearly all the guests
were either native Germans or descend
ants OF Germans, and therefore tneir
mother tongue was more euphomous 10
their ears than the language of their adopt
ed land.
THE YOUNG FOLKS DANCED.
No fixed programme was arranged for
| the early portion of the day, but there
were ample amusements for all. The young
people, of course. had a thousand methods
| Of recreation. In the first place, dancing
occupied their attention for hours. There
were scores Of pretty, rosy-cheeked maids,
who delighted the hearts OF the young
men and occupied their attention Tor
hours. Then there were the shooting-Ral-
\ lery and the swings, and. best OF all, the
switchback. which bore an animated cargo
of human freight back and forth along IT'S
tracks throughout the live-long day. The
| children enjoyed IL immensely, and SO ala
the old folks, for that matter.
After o'clock the crowd in attendance
greatly increased, and the park was
crowded with visitors, among whom were
some of Rlchmond's most prominent Ger:
man citizens. The utmost cordiality and
sociabiiity prevailed. and many glass OF
beer was quaffed by the happy Teutons.
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
After 5 o'clock in tho afternoon the
pic-nickers were called together in the pa
vllion, and after song by the Gesangyereln
Society Mr.. a. Won Rosenegk, the presl-
dent of the German-American Assocla-
ton, was introduced and delivered an e1-
cellent speech, which frequently met with
applause. He said
Ladies and Gentlemen We are again
assembled 20 celebrate with song and mer-
riment the day upon which, 200 years ago.
the first Germans landed in this country to
establish a home. As president OF che
German-American Association 1t gives me
pleasure to thank the ladies and gentle
men of the committees and the Gesang
verein Virginia for their kind efforts to-
wards the success of the celebration.
"Why Is this day, which is the anniver-
sary of the arrival of the German pio-
neers in TINS country. so important TO us
What does its celebration signify We
know what drove our foretathers from
their homes to the New World. They
we're determined to escape the persecu-
tlons which were at that time enacted
against them during the war upon reli-
Pion. Hundreds of thousands of the later
arrivals left TO escape the political tyranny
of their country and to live in peace and
happiness under the Stars and Stripes.
THEIR PURPOSE IN COMING.
Those pioneers determined to foster
those principles of religion here which
were being destroyed by fanatics through
out Europe. They hoisted the banner at
Germantown-a true band of fighters for
the principles of humanity of the noble
William Penn and his friends. and which
they adopted. He induced them to come.
as he had during his stay in Germany
studied the pure character of the Ger
mans. He knew and honored the coura-
geous upholding of principles and the free
thought of the German people. But he
came too early in conflict with the Puritan
fanaticism of the New England settlers,
Free thought and free religion and resist
ance against all laws which would curtail
or destroy these is the heirloom that our
forefathers left TO this country and to all
their German descendants.
ALWAYS RESIST PERSECUTION.
" We should arise as one man whenever
the demon of fanatic persecution appears
against our immigrants, and even against
our beautiful language, which has been
attacked by both the schools and secret
organizations. Andt celebration Of this
day signifies that we should always and
all together as true Germans arise in one
solid column against these enemies of our
republic.
mo true nation can flourish where
lying, backsliding, and corruption have
sway. Political scheming and stealing,
corruption, ard destruction of the ballot
box follow closely the footsteps of these
demons. even to the heart of the republic.
AS there is nobody in this land who
loves and who is prouder of the Stars and
Stripes than the German-American clti-
zens. let Us all stand together and fight
for victory against these unclean, fanactl-
cal phantoms who wish TO convert this
great American republic into despotic
government, in which every one must only
believe and act as the tyrannical rulers
wish.
Therefore. my friends. let us give
laundering hurrah for the free and inde-
pendent republic Of America"
CHEERS FOR OUR FLAG.
The response to this request was vigor-
Gus and enthusiastic, and plainly showed
the patriotic sentiments OF those who
revere the German trI-color, but love the
Stars and Stripes.
When the hurrahs had subsidized the
Gesangverein Society, under the direction
of Professor LOUIS Ide, rendered The
Watch on the Rhine" after which several
other songs followed.
President Rosenegk then called upon
Hon. William Lovenstein, who was III the
audience, for an address, and the latter re-
sponded III o brief speech. He said he
knew the people were not in humor for
listening to an address, and therefore he
would say nothing except to wish them
much happiness in their celebration anu
III all those which are to come in after
years.
THE EFFICIENT COMMITTEES.
The members of the Young Mems Ger
man-American ASSOCIATION had charge OF
the grounds, and under their careful SUI
peryision the entertainments and games
passed of without a hitch. and the cele-
bration was as enjoyable as possible. The
following are the committees. to whom the
success of the fest is largely due:
Executive Committee: Messrs. John
Krausse (chairman), A. Volkmann, Peter
Stumpf. 10. Wallenstein. q. Germalmann,
j. G.. Seibert, and William Holzapfel.
Amusement Committee: Messrs. Henry
Metzger. Henry Grimmell, Fred. Kohler
chairman. Peter Klein. John Schmlnke,
Ed Bernstein, William Loeffier, 7. Heiss,
William Keller, Frank Bliley. A. L. Hlrsh-
berg NJ F. Lindnar, X. Nolte, and w. K.