Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-07
Elaborate Program Provided for the
Anniversary Celebration.
UNDER AUSPICES OF CENTRAL VEREIN
Patriotic Addresses, Good Music,
Banquet and Ball.
AN ALLEGORICAL TABLEAU


States, was commemorated by the German
Americans of the District of Columbia at
the National Rifles Armory last night with
appropriate and patriotic exercises. wit
messed by hundreds of delighted Teutons
and their friends. The exercises were held
under the auspices of the German Central
Verein.
The day marks the anniversary of the
landing of the first German colony III the
new world, and the history their descend
ants and the race in general has made in
this country. The first Germans were land
ed at Germantown, Fa.
The committees in charge of the prepara-
lions had done their work well, and every
thing ran smoothly and satisfactorily. The
nall was beautifully decorated with German
ana american flags, and the stage was
adorned with pot plants and garlands.
o.. large number Of the survivors of the
Sth Battalion, D. c. ", We're present and
excited the admiration of the young Ger
man-Americans. The flags Of the Sth Bat
tahon We're swung in the hall and the vet
Grams mad seats of honor.
President Saur's Speech.
PRESIDENT Saur of the German Central
|erein, in brief speech spoke of the sig
nif1cance of the occasion, and extended a
hearty welcome.
An categorical tableau was next in or
der, Charles w. Doell representing Franz
Daniel Pastorius. leader of the first Ger
man band; Miss Clara Worch represent
irg Germania," Miss Sophia Escher Co
lnmbia. and Miss Sophia Fritch Liberty.
ne tabeau was attractive, and the work
OF those taking part was heartily ap-
piauced. The participants were becomingIy
attired.
The Opening Grafton.
William l.. Elterich, vice president of
the Central Verein, delivered the opening
Grafton. speaking in German. His clear
enunciation and pleasant delivery are all
way attractive, and his speech was re-
ceived with demonstrations of pleasure.
In his remarks he said:
Since the first commemorative celebra-
ton, on the 9th day of October, 1883, this
DAY mas been festively observed annually
in German American circles in order to
honcr the memory of the founding of the
hrst German colony on American soil at
Germantown, under Franz Daniel Pas
torlus, In the year 1853. Thus it is one of
the fundamental principles of the German
Central Ferein of Washington to annually
festively celebrate the 9th day of October
as German day, and 1 judge from the large
number of Americans descended from other
European stock than the German here as
sembled that they also honor the day when
Germans first landed from the Concord
and thus show their appreciation of Ger
Opposition to Slavery.
1t is hardly necessary to go into the de-
tails of this notable historical event. Every
pupil within the scope of our glorious sys-
TEN of free public schools is or ought to
be familiar with them. But one point in
the history of Pastorius' early pioneers l
must call to the memory of all those pres
ent. Coming from land of despotism
ia al 1y,1
slant dangers they entered already in 16SS
a solemn protest against the inhuman
nature of slavery. now SO happily forever
and ever abolished. And from that time OH
coin issued the proclamation of emancipa-
ton Germans have been in the front ranks
of those who fought this obnoxious in
stitution, and would do so again If ever
called upon; now happily an impossibility.
A century after the first landing we find
Germans in the ranks, well as in the
military council, of the pater patriae the
glorious George Washington. Need 1 re-
mind my hearers OF Muehlenberg, of Steu-
ben. of DeKalb. Herkhimer and of the
thousands of unknown heroes whose bodies
enrich the battlefields of the revolution?
Look another century further, when civil
war devastated this magnificent republic
rapidly gaining the front rank among the
nations of the world. Among these flags
grouped there together by artistic hand
you will see one borne by the gallant Ger
H'tH utHeTS oi tHiS CITY, VINO were among
the very first to protect the capital against
the rebel hands, and you will see another
flag. carried with honor by the gallant Sth
Battalion, whose few survivors are tonight
with us.
German SOIdiery.
Communications entered the Union
ranks by thousands and thousands; Ger
man-American generals led victorious
Union hosts; Sigel, Heckon, Schurz Oster-
haus. Val elisa, Steinweher, Weitzel,
Blenken, Schimmelpfennig and many others
are names that will shine forever in the
annals of American valor. Historical re-
search has established the fact that in the
heat of battle the German-American SOL
der was equal to any, inferior to none, and
did not hesitate to die for his adopted
country
My time is too short to enter upon all the
benefits which America has already re-
ceived from German immigration. But let
me point with pride to the words spoken
by Mr.. Andrew d. White, the present
American ambassador to Germany, when
he some years ago occupied the same ex-
allied post and point of observation. He
said:
1T is claimed that in the near future the
United States will have population of one
hundred millions. The national character
istics of these will be German solidity con-
sistency and faithfulness; Anglo-Saxon en-
ergy and safety; Celtic Imagination Is it
nothing that a German element enters such
a combination? We in America have been
accustomed to speak of England as the
mother country, but in the future Germany
will be the mother country probably for the
greater part of our population
Descendant of Pastorius.
When Mr.. Elterich had concluded his re-
marks he introduced Mrs. Mary A. Wallace
of this city, iineal descendant of Franz
Daniel Pastorius. the original German i'm
migrant. Pastorius was jurst and land
ed. with his colony. on the 9th of October,
1853. Mrs. Wallace made a few remarks,
congratulatory of the great work done in
this country by German-Amertcans.
The next speaker was Mr.. Simon Wolf
He spoke in English. His eloluence
aroused the big audience, which frequent
ly and heartily applauded him.
Mr.. VOLTS Address.
The address was as follows:
His social life wore no ascetic form,
He loved all beauty. without fear Of harm,
And in his veins his Teuton blood ran
warm.
Strict to himself. of other men no spy,
He made his own no circuit Judge to try,
The freer conscience OF his neighbors by"