The National tribune., 1906-08-16
GERMANS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Conn, Aug. I. which deserved far more
notice than it received. 1t was cele-
bration of the 223d anniversary of the
landing of the Germans at German
town. Pa. 1t seems that these celebra-
tions have been going on for 23 years.
being first instituted at Baltimore and
celebrated each year at some place in
which the Germans are in considerable
numbers. At New Britain there was a
big parade. which was reviewed by Gov.
Roberts, and there were other appro-
pirate exercises.
We hear very much and read very
much Of the great influence that differ
ent races have had upon the develop
ment of this country. with but COM
paratively little said about one race
which has had an influence for good
equal to that of any of the others. I'm
doubtedly the original English immi-
grafton was composed of mel. of the
highest character. who were true State
builders The Scotch and Scotch-Irsh
immigrants in the early history OF the
country We're also of the highest char
acter. and probably their descendants
are the dominant element in the cOun-
try to-day The more southern Irish
came later and have been most i'm
portant factor, but none of them has
done more to make this country what
it Is than the German element. The
English immigrants brought 20 this
country strong-hearted. honest. relig-
ious men and women who had, in addi-
ton to their religious principles and
integrity Of character, an inherent love
for liberty and an invaluable training in
self-government. This was priceless in
its influence upon the development of
our republican institutions. The first
Engiishmen who came here were
strongly reinforced in their attachment
for self-government by the sturdy
Scotch and Scotch-Irish. who were at
heart intensely democratic and had
been trained up to self-government by
their Presbyterian and Congregational
Churches. The English Baptists We're
also strenuous believers in self-govern-
| ment, and every Baptist church was a
home-rule organization of the most COM
plete type. To the people of those
churches therefore we owe most of our
determined attachment to popular Gov
! ernment and home rule To the Scotch,
Scotch Irish and Irish we owe the
greater part Of our alertness. aggres-
siveness. quickness of thought and ac-
ton and National adaptability. To the
English and Germans we owe much OF
our soldity of character, our tenacity
of purpose and our steady progress in
any given direction.
Religious troubles sent most of the
earlier German Immigrants to this
country. In the 17th and 18th CEN
turtles the religious wars were distract
ing and desolating Germany, and where
the Austrian, Spanish and French in
fiuences gained the upper hand the
Protestants found It was better to seek
a home beyond their reach. This was
particularly true of the inhabitants of
the rich and prosperous Palatinate, the
industrious and thrifty farmers and
mechanics Of which were n bulwark of
Professionalism. One of the most odious
chapters in the life of Louis XIV. was
his cruel desolation of this fair and
out with fire and sword, but from the
measureless loss to Germany the United
States gained immeasurably. The Eng
lish were at that time the leaders of the
Protestants, and they offered the "per-
secuted Protestants of the continent" d
home in America. There had been con-
siderable numbers of Germans in the
country in its earlier years, but the first
great immigration was in 1880. when
shiploads from the Palatinate arrived
at Philadelphia. They brought with
| them traits, qualities and knowledge In
valuable to new country. They were
all thrifty, Industrious farmers or skill
ful mechanics, and they not only plant
ed the seeds Of the highest grade of
agriculture, but they introduced a host
Of useful trades which have formed the
cornerstone Of our great manufacturing
| business. These immigrants found a
| delightful climate, rich lands and ev-
| erything ready for their brave hearts
| and deft hands to convert into a smii-
| ing country. Their communities al
once became noted for morality, reli-
gion. good order and prosperity. Other
| Germans seeking refuge from the
storms of persecution at home followed
and in the course of years German com.
munities, with their well-tilled farms
and busy workshops, were found all
through the 13 Colonies from the Mo-
| hawk Valley to the Savannah River In
Georgia. The newcomers were mainly
| Of the social and intellectual status OF
| the Puritans in New England. They
| brought with them printing presses and
a high grade of culture for that day
| They were not, however, given to as
much self-advertisement as the New
England Puritans, and consequently we
hear but little of them. Yet any stu
dent of the development of our country
cannot help attributing to the German
immigration quite as potent benefits tC
the country as resulted from that tc
New England.
The whole Of the earlier German i'm
migration to this country cannot be laid
at the door of the Roman Catholic per-
secution of the Protestants. Still later
cam me- imnnipra tion dua tn the relipiOus