Evening star., 1900-10-16
THE GERMAN S'DAY
Anniversary Of the Landing Of Pio-
neers 2l7 Years Ago.
CELEBRAFEDBY THE CENTRAL VEREIN
Addresses by Commissioners Mac
farland, Simon Wolf and Others.
[R. ELTERICH PRESIDES

M s.. ELL Eh1SI1 RI4SlbLO
The two hundred and seventeenth ami
versary of the arrival in this country OF
Franz Daniel Pastorius and the party of
Germans who accompanied him was cele-
brated last evening In a becoming manner
by the German Central Verein, which gath
cred in large numbers at National Rifles
Hall. Mr.. william L. Elterich presided
and made an address Of welcome.
Mr. H. B. F. Macfarland, president Of the
board of District Commissioners. who was
present by special invitation OF the COM
mittee OF arrangements, made some re-
marks. as follows:
1t is two hundred and seventeen years
this month since Pastorius came from
Frankfort-on- the-Main to investigate the
opportunities for German colonists in Penn
sylvania, in response to the invitation which
William Penn gave as he travelled through
Germany in 1853. Pastorius made favor
able report, and the same year brought
over thirteen families that founded Ger
mantown on q, 600 acres Of land, which
they bought near Philadelphia This is the
interesting and important event which we
celebrate tonight 1t was the beginning OF
that great movement from Germany to the
United States which has enriched this
country without impoverishing the father
land
While the first colonists came for indus
trial reasons primarily. raising grapes and
fax and ma king wine and cloth and paper,
1t was the religious and political freedom OF
the new country which proved more at
tractive than the opportunities to make
money to most of those who followed.
Many hundred Baptsts came to the new
colony In 1890 from the intolerance shown
them in Germany, and their example was
followed by thousands Of others.
The German nature-so strong, so sensible
and yet so full of sentiment, and especially
of the love of hberty-saw a natural home
in 1.-The republic of freedom The Germans
who have come to this country in these two
centuries have felt more at home here
than almost any other immigrants. No
others have become better Americans. Yet
they have brought more of their old home
over here than almost any others. They
have been comparatively slow to give up
the German language, the German Gus
toms. the German ideas. 1t was German
America with what they thought the best
of both countries that many of them, espe-
ciaiiy at the first, desired to see. But GER
tainly, from the time the Germantown col
onistS fought under Baron Won Arendt with
Washington at Trenton, Germantown and
Brandywine. where Gen. Muhlenberg dis
tinguished himself the wise men and wo-
men from Germany have taught by pre-
cept and example that all must be Ameri-
cans first and follow the American flag.
ready to die if need be for what it repre-
sents.
Not only in the revolution, but in every
war since, and in time of peace as well,
these teachings have borne fruit in the civic
and national patriotism of the great body
of Germans and their descendants in this
country. They have formed a most sub
stantial element In our national greatness.
In times of agitation and perplexity, poltt-
icai and otherwise, they have sobered and
steadied the more excitable and less sensi-
BILE elements. They have shown all the
of cit ha nj
lowed with clear and steady eye the ideals
of the republic. and have defended with
sturdy and skillful arm its best traditions
and purposes. 1t Is a great pleasure to
meet with you tonight in celebration of the
achievements of such Americans.
Baron sternberg's Message.
The chair read letter from Baron Speck
Won Sternberg, former counselor of the
German legation. and first secretary of the
embassy, who had accepted an invitation to
make an address on the occasion. but hav-
ing been transferred from Washington to
diplomatic duty in another country was
unable to be present.
The letter was in German, and translated
was, In part as follows;
Since l was last in your midst, on an
occasion Of this character, great events
have occurred. 1 can still vividly see the
figures of Schey Steuben and other Amer
lean heroes, in whose veins German blood
flows. and whose strong arms destroyed the
enemy of their country. The Spanish war
made the United States one Of the mightiest
world powers, but 1t also chained 1t with
new ties to Germany in far-off regions.
President Mckinley declared himself salts
fled. and as a sign Of friendship for and
should take possession Of the rich Caroline
Island group; and the German and Ameri-
can flags fly side by side in the Pacific
ocean. In the following year a war almost
nations to the edge of disruption. Desp,ca-
BILE lies and culminations were circulated
systematically. and everything was ready
for bloody harvest; but the sense of
examine into the condition Of the unfor-
tunate islands. quickly saw the true causes
Of the trouble, and he and soon succeeded
in lifting the veil which had been woven
by hypocrisy. spite and jealousy.
Instead of bringing war between Ger
many and the United States. Samoa has
secured the ties of friendship between these
two nations. The United States and Ger
head of the civilized nations. not with sword
in hand. but with the olive branch of peace.
The Paris exposition has given sufficient
evidence of this fact.
But, also, the dark influences which,
through lies and calumniations, endeavored
to stop the progress OF both countries, are
foiled in their designs. A German and
American cable connects both lands and a
few months ago the first message of con-
graduation passed between President Nc
Kinley and Kaiser Wilhelm, carrying words
of sincere friendship.
Again we are facing an event which
shakes the earth to it's foundations, and
upon the bloodstained fields of China the
powers are fighting side by side 1t was
the clear foresight Of Mr.. Hay and Count
Won Buelow which resulted in the words
announcing to the world the course to be
pursued. If we compare their words we
find they are almost Identical, and every
suspicion Of self-gain is dispersed at first
sight. Does not this going hand-in-hand of
these two powers in China give the great
est guarantee that the peace of the world
will be retained and that commerce and
peace will soon be established In ChnaP'
Mr.. Simon Wolf made an address, after
which letters of regret at inability to at
tend were read from August Peterson. con-
sui for Norway and Sweden. and Otto Sah-
Ii, counsellor Of the Swiss legation Music
was rendered by chorus from the Ger
mania Maennerchor. under the direction of
Prof. Emil Christiani and accompanied by
Naecker's Orchestra. The singing of the
Star Spangled Banner was participated in
by the entire audience, at the close of
which banquet was given. and this in
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