The Irish standard., 1899-04-15

we do not want to be Disseminated
against. The citizens of German birth
or descent are no Pariahs in this coun-
try. The United States is indebted to
the German emigrants. There is no bat
| tlefeld in this country that has not been
baptized with German blood, German
literature, German music, German in
dustry and German agriculture has
made this country habitable."
Rev. A. Thiele presided. In the course
OF an able address he said:
81 am extremely gratifed that our
call to the German-Americans OF Min
neapolis has gone to the heart, and that
the flower and elite of the German
Americans Of the city are gathered here.
The object of this meeting is known to
you through circular: To unite all
German Americans in opposition to the
poisonous shafts of the know-nothing
press. We wish nothing but to preserve
our rights and all our rights, and we
demand this, not as aliens, but as citi-
zens. Show us single page i'll the
history of this country, or single word
on any page, when we have demon
strated ourselves as anything else but
orderly and law-abiding citizens His
tory shows emphaticaly that the con-
trary is true. The know-nothing has to
stop up his ears with cotton when he
hears that German-Americans were in
the most dangerous crisis in this coun-
try; that the Germans stood true and
were pioneers and outposts in the dan
gerous places. and were willing TO sac
rifce blood and wealth for this country
In the last century, during the war OF
the revolution and during the rebellion,
as we'll as in 1899, in Cuba. Porto Rico,
and in the Philippines, the Germans
were always at the places OF danger.
Read the list of dead and wounded, and
it will prove empllatically that the Ger
mans made at least their share OF sacri-
fees. Therefore we are no aliens. For
centuries we have been here. The his
tory OF the culture OF this country proves
this.
st was the German element. not the
Anglo-Saxon Ga word with which to
play hide-and- which made this
country what it is today. Who iostercd
law and justice? Which nationality
shows the smallest percentage in the
prisons: which the largest in the
schools? Who titled the soil and made
it fruitful? Who erected gigantic monu-
mental works in the way OF churches?
Who bridged the dizzy heights of the
foaming Niagara. and the large Hudson
river? Who gave the country heroes in
times Of war and peace, genial states
men without fault, genial generals with
out fear? Who brought song and music
to this country? Who fostered science
and the fine arts? Who brought the
Christmas tree. that green tree of joy?
Who proposed high ideals in this dry
nativistic life? Who fostered the true
spirit OF true golden liberty? Yes, we
/
made this country true, noble and strong,
and we are part of this country today.
Therefore we are no savages, no aliens,
but we are part and parcel Of the whole
nation. We demand nothing but
right OF home, and nothing but what is
just and right
The meeting was attended by 500 Ger
Americans. 1t was called at the in
stance of the organizers OF the St. Paul
Bund, the intention being to branch out
and take the entire state into the fold.
In the near future similar meeting
will be held in ST. Paul under the aus
pices OF the German Bund.