The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-22
THE GERMAN PEOPLE IN AMERICA

One of the most grotesque blunders con-
corning the United States is the habitual use
by certain people in Europe OF the word
anglo Saxon" to designate Americans.
There are millions of people in England wha
always speak of Americans as members of
"the Anglo-Saxon race" and believe them to
be such. And curious feature of present
day civilization in the southern states which
| never fails to attract the attention Of Wis
itor from the north Is the occasional use Of
this misleading term.
Immigration statistics from the time of the
early settlement of this country up to date
show that compared viii other nationalities
the English blood in this country at the pres
ent time is only a small percentage of the
whole. It Is generally believed, and the Of
fetal figures seem to bear out the assumption,
that there is more German blood in the United
States than there is blood Of any other race.
Even some of the best-informed Amer-
cans are surprised when they look over the
figures and realize the vast proportions OF
the immigration which has been coming to
this country from Germany, especially during
the last half century. One characteristic of
the German race in America, which is III
marked contrast with other races in the same
| respect is the comparative silence with
which it settles down and in the course OF
time becomes absorbed in the American
population.
Many people may be surprised to learn
that in New York City alone there are now
about 100000 Germans The visitor to the
west is impressed with the great number of
people of German blood living there. In GER
tain sections of the west German is not only
the popular but almost the official language.
These are manly states of comparatively re-
cent settlement A large number of the
second generation Of Germans In this country
do not speak the German language, and very
few Of the third generation know it except
as an accomplishment.
Observers studying the complex. civiliza-
ton of the United States and learning Of
the vast German population that has poured
in here during the last fifty years have fire.
>quently stated that the German element in
this country has never received the political
consideration to which it was entitled by
reason Of its numerical strength. While
there may be some grounds for this asser-
ton, 1t is nevertheless true that the student
of American history encounters a vast num-
Der of German names which Ef1gure in the
stirring events that have taken place here
even before the Revolutionary war. English
observers, coming to America, have noted
with surprise the prevalence In every day
life of German names borne by typical
Americans, such as Schey, Rosecrans,
Schwab, 1selin, Astor, and many others gen
orally regarded in this country as American
names"
In History.
In all departments Of American history
German names are to be encountered. This
fact was strikingly shown no later than
Wednesday OF last week, when the president
of the United States issued order givins
names Of batteries OF coast artillery In honor
of certain distinguished officers Of the army.
Among these one seacoast fertilization Was
named Battery Stricken, in honor of Brig
adler General John Stricken, who commanded
the Third brigade Of the Maryland militia
in the defense OF Baltimore on Sept. 10 and
Il, 1914 In the same order q battery has
been named by the president in honor OF DR..
Jesse W. Lazear OF Baltimore, late Acting
assistant surgeon In the United States army.
who sacrificed his life In his professional
duties and died In Havana.
Battery Slemmer has Just been named IN
honor Of Lieutenant Colonel Adam j. slem-
mer, Fourth United States infantry, who was
in command of Fort McRee. Fla. in 1851
! Fort Flagler, Washington, bears German
name, and one Of its batteries has just been
named in honor OF Captain William II. VIII
helm, Twenty-hrst United States infantry,
who died June II, 1901, from wounds received
in action in the Philippine islands. On the
Fort Rosecrans (Cal.) military reservation q
battery has been named for Second Lieuten-
ant George Fetterman. Third United States
artillery, who died on June u. 1874.
A battery was named last week In honor
ASAAAoAAe
United States infantry, who was killed in ac-
ton in the Philippines on Oct. 8. 1899. An
other of the batteries which received their
official design atoms last week was named in
honor of Captain Iean M. Stotsenburg, Sixth
QRited qStAt@- r~~--sry, who was killed while
fighting for mis- country in the Philippines
on April %, 1899.
These are simply few names of German
origin picked at random from an official order
Of the government. published one day last
week and covering heroic services by officers
of the United States army. They show the
leading part men Of more or less remote Ger
man ancestry have taken in the affairs of this
country from almost the time Of its first set
tlenent.
The recordssof the war department contain
thousands OF German names. borne by men
who achieved distinction in all the wars of
the United States. The same is true in a
lesser degree OF the navy department. The
student Of the political history OF the United
States encounters German names at almost