The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-05-22
German Culture in the United States.

ship transplanted TO American soll' 0o-
tribntes a most interesting discussion on
the Germans in this country to the
De,dscte RundSchdu for April, anent
the munificent gift Of the Emperor OF
Germany to Harvard University a
collection Of casts, being the milestones
of German sculpture from the bronze
doors of Hildesheim to Schadows FRED
rio the Great 1t is not too much 10
saw, therefore that the German Emperor
will become the founder of an American
university institute which is eminehtly
fitted to fuse German and American
culture, and thus contribute to the re-
alization of the great pan'German'c al
lance on which the Teutonic race must
lean in the struggle for the world-su'
premacy." There is first brief survey
of the feeble beginning Of the German
influence in the country in the seven
teenth and eighteenth centuries, and the
indirect influence in the classical period
in the first decades Of the nineteenth
when American students, going abroad,
became the Intermediates.
THE IMMIGRATION or lS46
can the influences Of German culture
in America cannot be compared in ex.
tent or quality with the traces which
the so-called forty Fighters, i. e., the
bands of political refugees of ls4S,-left
on the American character Hitherto
the immigrants had comprised people
from the lower classes, farmers and ar
tisans, with sprinkling Of more note
worthy individuals. Now numbers of
men came that were among the most
educated of the nation, - physicians
LAWYERS, ministers, editors scholars;
picked representatives, Of German ideal
ism. apostles Of Schiller's and Goethe's
free humanity, that had been tried in
the struggle for the hottest possessions
If humanity the majority being young
men, determined to devote their whole
strength TO the upbuilding Of the young
republic. II il freely recognized by
Americans that these men exerted a
lasting influence on American politics,
and largely contributed TO the better
ment Of public affairs, TO the spreading
of scientific and artistic ideals, to the
refining Of social life and TO the uplifting
Of public morality. Eminent represent
tatves Of American life like Eongfcl
low, Bayard Taylor, and the present
Ambassador 10 Germany, Andrew ID.
White, have now and again publicly
drawn attention 30 the adva ntages that
America has derived from this influx Of
the truly liberal elements Of the move
ment Of 1913.
Although the immigrants that fol
lowed since she fifth and sixth decades
of the century were not on such Il high
level intellectually. yet they have done
their full share in upbuilding the agri-
culture, commerce, and industry Of this
country. They were among the best
EDIhl'lH III tiIf NiNll w W
THE SOCIAL SIDE or THE GERMANS.
"On the social side the Germans have
rendered service 10 American life, the
Importance of which must not be mis-,
priced although ii does not always find
due recognition. Curious IA II may
sound the Germans have dem0craticized
the American social life The average
American Of English descent, though he
may be firmly convinced that democratic
institutions are the only salvation Of "A
state, vet -; heart believes in social ex-
clusiveness Theoretically he il defen-
der Of the rights of man; in reality he
prefers TO hold people off at arm length
&C.. the German. Americans have pre-
served the German tendency toward
democratic sociability they have taken
with them into their new home the more
unrestrained, cordial and approach
able ways Of German life; and by their
turner societies, their singing societies,
their pleasant Sundays and their
other simple innocent pleasures and
festivities, they have made propaganda
even ia American circles for a more
Joyous and artistic view of life. and
have contributed 10 breaking the bar.
riers Of conyen'ionality This Of course
is most noticeable in the West. where
the German influence il the strongest
lin Wisconsin for example, thrce-quar
tiers Of the population Of the State con.
sists Of German immigrants and their
descendants
THE GERMANS WILL BECOME BrrrrR
AMERICANS.
Professor Francke believes in German
AnericanisIn that the Germans will
preserve their individuality while con.
tributing 10 the development Of Ameri.
can life They must become better
Americans by cultiyating closer &C.
quaintance with American ways and
ideals instead Of keeping clannishly
among themselves and nursing foolish