Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-07

what a powerful influence enigra lion has
had upon the destinfes of the United States
Men and women of all nationalities and
creeds have come here 10 :in.l not opJy
refuge. but to build homes in Which they
could sit under their own vine and Jig tree
unmoiested. free anl happy, and among
them there have been none who nave con
tr1buted more to the development Of this
great nation than the German.
From the very first day of this country's
history, up to the present perioI, there has
been steady stream of healthy vigorous
Intelligent, moral and social man,loo! and
Momanhood pouring from the banks of the
Rhlne into the currents of our national
life, and it is not in a spirit of vainglory or
Doastins that We assert that without it the
United States today would nos lave the
eminent position 1t has attained.
Principles of Liberty.
Thus the little band of pioneers who
came with their household gods and their
Ideals OF grander humanity and who
settled near Wissihickon's stream in quaint
Old Germantown, laid broad and deep the
principles OF liberty and self-government
winch. since that time, have broadered and
enlarged our American institutions.
IheSe pioneers who wove their linen and
Ieit no shame, who prayed to their God
and felt no fear who communed with ma
ture and rejoiced at it's glories and its op-
to assert and proclaim that grand and glo-
r1ous spirit of liberty which subsequently
found Its living Interpretation in the State
daii OF Philadelphia, and the Independence
DELL, which rang SO merrily the proclanla-
ton of liberty to all men, was but The faint
echo of that which had already been pro-
claimed and announced by the band Of
German pioneers who had struck off by
cnurch resolution the shackles from the
slave and who asserted in their quaint
Latin and good German that man all the
world over should be free and unrestricted:
that God made all men, whether white or
he In yn1,1I he F,.,n
not enslave a feIlow-man-glorous words
that have sounded throughout all the ages
as proclamations Of free thought: that have
softened the gloom of many a prisoner who
had gone to his doom, and that have for
ever stamped the members of Pastorius
and his noble band of German pioneers
with halo of heroism and craftsmanship
surpassed by none and equaled by few
Treasured as HefrIoomx.
And what this little band of patriots was
in the early days of American history their
followers and brethren ever since have
maintained with steadfastness, devotion
and loyalty. In every crisis of our coun-
trys history-north and south, east ard
west, on the shores of the golden Pacific
as we'll in foreign lands where they
have represented American Institutions
they have vindicated by their conduct, by
their sobriety, by their intelligence, by
their manlinesS and Self-respect, those glo-
riouS traits they inherited from their
fathers and which are heirooms the world
treasures.
In this hour of shortsghtedness on the
part of Americans, 'would-be statesmen"
and some of the executive officers Of gov
eminent, in regard to the spirit that ami
mates them as to the construction and IN
depreciation of the laws governing emf
grafton, it is not out of place to recall to
these narrow, Shallow-pated. wouldbe pa
triots what emigration has done for the
country which they disgrace and what
important factor it has been and how much
it has contributed to the development,
growth, grandeur, strength and perpetuity
CT our institutions; that we German-Ameri-
cans, in common with all other true and
good citizens, do not ask OF seek that the
physically disabled, mentally blind or the:
immoral bandits of Europe should be per-
mitted to land on our shores.
Asks for Wise Discrimination.
AS true aid good American citizens. we
do not ask that land should be flooded
with the refuse Of other lands. but we do
claim that the same wise discrimina ton and
just observa tons of common sense that
made it possible for us to be citizens of
the United States should be extended to
others. There are millions upon millions
of idle acres of land still vacant in all
parts Of the United States that can be titled
gorged with oilers. When new cities and
towns spring up in the great uninhabited
west, the eorged avenues of the east will
be relieved, new life, industry and COM
merce will be developed to the discom-
future of ravens who croak their nativistic
'nevermores' from every perch, as if their
Leorore" was to be the swan song Of
Americas greatness
We are at the turning point of our ma
tons career. Greater and greater oppor-
tunitfes are widening the vista of our pos
si5iiities. We are no longer children strug-
Cling for existence but healthy, robust
reaching for a hot
seems inseparable to this country and in
this direction we need the united support
or all citizens. so as to represent in
loftier sense the elements of our civiliza-
ton. ard to bring home to the oppressed of
every land the opportunities which we
here enjoy and which are so essential
to the happiness of mankind
German day should DC sacred to all citi-
zens of the United States, and while it is
pleasing memory to those born in father
land, there is no desire to be arrogant or
pages of history this glowing picture,
which, originating in the land of Luther.
found its closing apex in the land of Penn.
Music Was Good.
Splendid music was furnished by the
Ideal Mandolin and Guitar Quartet, com
posed of Charles NJ. Hassebach, c. c. Con-
stantine, E. f. Hoicer and Il. f. Reich
mann. The young men were forced to
respond to repeated encores
The program was concluded with flag
drill by the juveniles of the Columbia Turn
Feren, under Mr.. WINNER The senior
class Of the verein also executed a difficult
wand drill under Mr.. Winners leadership
Songs by the Germania Maennerchor,
Prof. Emil Christiani, director; and the
Arion Singing Society, Prof. Emil Holer,
director. were greatly enjoyed. Songs of
the fatherland and of America were sung
Before the close Of the exercises the entire
audience joined in singing MY Country.
IT'S of Thee"
A bountiful supper was served at the
close OF the program, and then dancing
followed, continuing until a late hour
The program was interspersed with music
by Weber's orchestra.
The Committees.
The committees in charge were as fol-
lows:
Arrangements-Messr W. L. Elter:ch,
NJ. Glaeser; B. F. Schubert, Gustav Bender
DR.. S. A. Cara. John Knabe, W. Ruck-
daeschel. Henry Leimbach, J. A. Schuerzer
J. A. Aschenbach, Jacob Blatzheim, Emit
Wagner, Werner Koch, Ferdinand Mueller