The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-29

In our are now
bart of the very bone and sinew OF
HE republic, so that it is no easy ia 81
10 speak of them as a distinct ele.
Anent in American life. Nor should
Hhey be considered as a distinct ele.
knent except as this form of expres.
sion may be convenient to desienate
the source from which this sturdy
branch of American citizenship ema-
mates. I am not one of those who be.
lHeves in APPROXIMATION. Politically
Ispeaking, there is no such thing as a
decentralization, for once the Faith
Ierland is left behind, and the bless
Iings of Columbia are accepted. the
lformer German subject becomes an
IAmerican citizen in the fullest sense of
1.-THE term. And yet there can be no
doubt that those born in Germany and
lnaturalized in the United States are.
Iethnologically speaking, German-Amer-
leans. So that in reality all the agi-
tation over "hyphenated Americans" is
much ado about nothing; an issue over
a mere form of speech, which may be
correct or incorrect according to its
use.
aside from all bubbles of form, there
can be no doubt that the Germans of
this country are loyal Americans. who
lhave thoroughly identified themselves
with American institutions and affairs.
If the Stars and Stripes is not their
flag, then they have no flag. We all
have the same common interests.
Whatever benefits our country benefits
Iall, and whatever Injuries it INJURIES all
Icitizens, no matter where their cradle
has stood. Parties divide on the cues
Ition as to what is beneficial and what
Injurious, but no division should be all
flowed to take place on account of diff
ference of birth or nationality.
1t is true that German-Americans ir-
Irrespective or party and religion, have
common and very definite views on
IQuite a number of public questions, but
Itheir attitude is not dictated by any
foreign instincts or by special inter
tests of a racial nature, but solely by
Their interests as American citizens
IThey advocate personal liberty, for in
lstance, not because they are of Ger
man birth or origin, but because they
inalienable part of our American instf-
tutions, and of their rights as citizens
of the republic. To understand all
means to forgive all, and as soon as
our Anglo-American friends have once
satified themselves that the German
Americans do not even dream of or
ganizing q party of their own, or of
lprejudicing the language of the land
or of-what a folly!-establishing
new Teutonie empire on American soil,
they will soon concede them the right
to cherish their mother tongue and
their old national traits and customs.
The United States will neither become
IGeIsnanized nor Puritanized, and the
Isooner both elements reconcile their
sentiments with this unalterable fact
tthe better it will be for them and their
common country.
| In every field of useful endeavor the
IGermans of the United States have
Ibeen conspicuous ever since their his
Itory began on American soil In
peace no less than in war German
names are on the rolls of honor and
Iamong the captains of industry. They
Ibravely fought in three wars-the
Revolutionary War, the great civil
conflict, and the Spanish-American
war. At the time of the Revolution
airy war the German population was
only one-twelfth of the entire popula-
ltion but the Germans furnished one
Eighth of the American army, showing
that they constituted relatively a
larger quota than the English-speak-
ling population. Steuben, De Kalb,
IHerkimer and Muhlenburg are but a
few of the German heroes Of that
struggle for American liberty. Again,
I'm he CixyfI he Of
ISchurz, Osterhaus, WilHgh, and scores
of others stand out prominently.
Turner regiments were among the first
Ito the front, and Roehr of Brooklyn
Twas among those to lead the fighting
Turner's into service. In the war with
Spain and in the Chinese struggle
German men and officers did their full
Share, and no better instance of in
Itelligent care for American interests
has occurred in recent international
affairs than that given by Admiral
.Kempff on the bombardment of the
ITaku forts.
So it has been in peace; German
names are everywhere prominent.
They have furnished their quota Of
|millionaires, of generals, of politicians;
I'VE find them in all conceivable social
stations, but their home is in the field
|of labor. While they have partici-
Ipated in public life and have loyalty
fought for their adopted country, yet
their greatest achievements have been
Wrought with the pillow, the chisel the
hammer, the AK, the saw and the COM
|pass, In American literature, in the
|arts, sciences and in music. German
names stand forth-Dr. Emil Pretori-
|ous, the Nestor of the German press
in this country; Carl Schurz, notable
both in peace and war; FREDERICK
|Hecker, Ferdinand Muench, author OF
Far West, who founded the German
|coolnies on the Missouri river; Henry
Willard, Oswald Ottendorfer, Judge
|Stallo, the American minister TO
Rome; C. c. Coleman, the pioneer
Journalist of the Northwest. and Carl
Daenzer. who occupied a similar posi-
|tion in the Southwest Frederick
kapp, the "citizen of two worlds:
Charles Roebling, who built the
Brooklyn bridge. Indeed, the list Is
far too great to present more than It's
bare outlines.
The intrinsic merits OF German
Character and thought, If judged from
the standpoint Of liberty and hunan-
|ity, and not that of monarchial preJu-
dice, have found their real and great
est development on American SOIL.
And this is true of Immigrants OF al
nations. Whereas in Europe the most
ambitious is handicapped by preJu-
dices of birth and hindered by the
insurmountable barriers of class anu
caste which confine him to the mar
row sphere of his like, our people
generously offer and hold for him the
ladder of social prominence, which,
by leaps and bounds, he can climb TO
That nralted tatlnn to which his tac-