Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-04
A GERMAN ON GERMAN AMERICANS
Racial Solidarity Not the Way to In
nuence Public Opinion Here.

Racial Solidarity Not the WAY to In
nuence Public Opinion Here.
NJ Won Brandt. in the Deutsche Review
A peculiar phenomenon resulting from
the Improvement in the relations between
Germany and the United States is the
movement observable among the citizens
OF German descent in the latter country
against the formation of an Anglo-Saxon
aiilance, directed against Germany, and
the 1mper1alistic tendencies realized and
dreaded as its fruit. The phenomenon is
the more remarkable because hitherto the
COMMUNICATIONS have never ATTEMPTED
as such, to gain any political influence
ana where, in several cities, their numbers
appeared to ensure them a decisive in
huence in municipal affairs they have
USED II, at the utmost, only to secure the
consideration of moderate demands in
school and similar questions. So it can
cause no surprise that people in the United
states nave forgotten to regard their votes
where Germans have made themselves
prominent as speakers on political subjects
they nave appeared as representatives of
Ideal conceptions and views which deceived
themselves and others about the real sig
nlf1cance of the questions under discussion
we need only think of the part PLAYED
by Carl Schurz. the most influential repre-
sentative of this ideal standpoint at the
commencement of the Spanish American
complications, to understand how little
value the American politicians set upon the
German vote. The number of German
Americans, in comparison to the Anglo
Americans has considerably diminished
tsince the civil war; and the socialist ten
denotes of the German laboring population
in the United States have alienated svm-
pathy and awakened much suspicion and
dissatisfaction.
These are conditions with which the Ger
mar-Amercans will have to deal but above
all things, if they desire to attain any
lasting success, they must clearly under
stand that not only do they require very
close and firm organization, and play in
future that part in the decisions of Ameri-
can policy. in internal as well as foreign
affairs, to which they are entitled by their
numbers. industry and intelligence but
they must also avoid everything that could
awaken in the great mass of the popula-
ton the belief that this organization was
intended for the establishment or main
tenance of a special community in the
state. an imperium in imperio. Within the
last few decades the people of the United
States have become very sensitive on this
point and with reason. Though there can
be no question In the United States of
territorial possession of races ignorant of
the necessities of government which do
not blend with and become subordinate to
the population, yet the spectacle which Eu-
rope presents, and still more the expert
enceS gained by the emancipation of the
negro, have strengthened the feeling that
North America must belong solely to the
Americans; that is. to the mixed race pro-
duced by the immigrants from all the
various nations. which has already as
sumed its fixed chronological characteristics
and signs. and that all centrifugal move
mentS and demands must be condemned
and opposed as hostile and harmful TO
the government.
The Americans of German descent will
do wisely if. in their organization and eff
forts, they do not lose sight of this strong
and thoroughly juStifiable desire for the
unity of the government. and speak and
act only as Americans. Their success will
be no less sure in consequence; for it is
precisely citizens of the United States
that they have the right to point out the
services which Germany, on more than one
occasion, has rendered to the land of their
adoption in every direction, and at times
when the English brothers who now press
forward were open enemies, or very doubt
full friends.