The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-02
An Anniversary of the Franco
Prussian War Is Com
memorated.
THE SOCIALISTS OPPOSE IT.
Speeches and Music by the German
American Colony at Eintracht
Hall.


battle of Sedan was celebrated yesterday
by the German-American colony with
literary exercises at Eintracht Hall during
the afternoon, followed by concert in the
evening, which concluded with historical
tableaux and grand ball.
Although given under the auspices of
the San Francisco Krieger Verein, partici-
patton was not confined to one society,
nearly every German-American organiza-
ton in the City being represented on the
programme, which was varied one and
of high order of excellence both from a
literary and musical standpoint.
Under the direction of Messrs. Hoffman
and Seeman, Eintracht Hall had been
appropriately decorated with evergreen
wreaths, palms, ferns, German and Ameri-
can flags, bunting and military emblems
in common oration of Sedan.
Music for the occasion was rendered by
an orchestra of twenty-five pieces, under
the direction of M. Probansky.
The entertainment opened with jubilee
overture, which was followed by an adj
dress of welcome by r. Wineke, president
of the day. Mr.. Wineke referred briefly to
the patriotic duty of all Germans in OBJ
serving the anniversary of the battle of
Sedan and the results of the victory to
Germany and the world.
After addresses by E. Brugge, president
of the Krieger Verein, and j. Hoffman,
president of the Veterans of the German
Army, two singing sections, one from the
Hermannssohne and the other from the
Kreger Verein, rendered 1.-THE Dead
Soldier"
Vice Consul 0. Lohan delivered a brief
address, and after the orchestra had given
the "Warrior's Dream Charles Bundschu
delivered the grafton.
Mr.. Bundschu spoke as follows:
In the animated and patriotic condition OF
mind in which we are to-day carried back to
past times, to the days of that gigantic strug-
gle which five and twenty years ago invol we'd
the political life and physical anatomy of two
great eighboring nations, we may well ask by
what right does it become the privilege of Ger
man-Americans to take part in foreign coun-
try In an enthusiastic commemoration which
permeates and pervades our native land. We
have not assembled to-day to recall with
demonstrative arrogance the fearful scenes of
sacrifices which that bloody war exacted from
the German people and their adversary We
do not seek toindulge in the disdainful enjoy-
ment of the disastrous defeat of nation which
for time destroyed the peace of Europe. We
only wish, as descendants of the German EN-
plre, to commemorate the unification of the
scattered members of It's divided States united
from the Moselle to the Vistula, from the Alps
to the Belt. which twenty-five years ago as
and Justifable pride. This quarter of a GEN.
tury has been nobly devoted to progress, Gull
ture and internal development and abundant
equality in the worlds competition, as was
fully demonstrated in splendid and wonder
ful manner at our Columbian Exposition in
Chicago.
The united heart and spirit of the German
people demolished the unbounded disdain of
their enemies and compelled a peace of uni
versal blessing. Who then shall dare after
lapse OF twenty-five years to say that it is a
nrf rr1n nJy1cf IN nixrS1f
commemorate with becoming enthusiasm an
event which redeemed and eternally unified
the German nation?
We are none the less patriotic American
suits. We are perfectly aware of the duties
and allegiance we owe this great country and
we rejoice that it is not surrounded by hatred
and jealousy and that the immediate security
of this great commonwealth does not rest upon
its military organization, but we denounce as
false and vicious that spirit which character
ICES the struggle OF the great Germanic nation
for unity and independence as murder of
the Masses
May the blessing of the fair minded of this
country be with you in distant Germany on
this day of commemoration of native enamel
patton and may your continued progress lead
you safely to the highest pinnacle of liberty
and happiness ever reached by the human
race.
The entertainment concluded with
poem by Miss A. Schnabel, and a declama-
ton by Robert Scheel, entitled der
Trompeter Won Mars la Tour" interspersed
with orchestra selections.
In the evening concert was given, con-
Guiding with tableaux and ball. The
tableaux represented 1.-THE Warriors
Farewell" 1.-THE Warriors Camp" and
"The Warriors Return" respectively, the
prologues being spoken by Miss Meta
Muller.
Many German socialists opposed the
celebration, holding that the commemora-
ton of victories won on battlefields at the
cost Of human life belonged to the cate
CORY of ceremonies which civilization, ad-
vancing along the lines of altruism, ought
to Danish as savoring of dark and bar
barous past. In accordance with these
views meeting was held last evening at
the Turk-street temple.
M. Seller presided, and in introducing
the first speaker he tersely outlined the
object OF the gathering. He said that the
meeting had been called to protest against
the Qualification of lot of men vino had
borne arms in q dynastic struggle in
which the common people had no interest,
and from which they had received no
benefits. WARS" continued the speaker,
.'are waged to subserve the interests of
rulers in the lust of dominion. This does
not apply to all wars. There are wars for
principle. These are just
fThe Socialist Labor party is party of
peace, bent upon educating the masses in
their rights. We recognize but two
classes-wealth-p and parasites"
Mr.. Seller then introduced Emil Liess,
editor of the San Francisco Tageblatt, who
condemned in strong terms the Krieger
Verein celebration as un-American and
uncivilized. He did not approve of bring
ing the European International feuds of
twenty-five years standing to the free soil
of America for exploitation.
Austin Lewis was the next speaker.
He said in part:
We protest strenuously against such celebra-
tons as have been held to-day by some of the
German societies. What is Sedan to us? Why
are we asked to keep alive the memory of
cruel and unjust war, fought to crafty
the inherited feuds of Napoleon the
Third and the Emperor of Germany
French and German workingmen alike
protested against this unnecessary slaugh-
ter-a slaughter for the sole purpose of
gratifying the lust of semi-barbarous rulers,
intoxicated with power and determined to de-
stroy one another at any cost of blood or
treasure. Who bore the blunt of this conflict?
Who paid the taxes and carried the muskets?
These rulnrS are all very much alike nv xvha +