Evening journal., 1907-09-09

position. August 1, 1907. c. J. Hexamer.
PHI d. L. l.. d., President Of the Ma
tional German American Alliance; paid
an eloquent tribute to the early Ger
man settlers and citizens, OF whom he
said:
while Puritan New Englanders mall
treated unfortunate Quakers who fell
into their hands. and burned witches"
mem bers Of the first successful German
colony at Germantown. Pa, true to
their Unborn feelings for the rights Of
men, in 1858 drew up a remonstrance
against slavery; the first of all such
protests.
"Those burgers from the Rhine, bet
ter far than the pilgrims who landed
lat Plymouth, better even than the
Quakers who established city Of
brotherly love, stood for that spirit Of
universal liberation which found no
abiding place save in America.
"Their feet were planted directly
upon that path which leads from the
darkness Of the middle ages to the
light of the Nineteenth Century"
Speaking of German American 10y
atty he declares: "As a defender of
the soil. the German has always been
strong; and when in 1856 the colonies
were harassed by Indians the Royal
American Regiment was raised BY
order Of Parliament. 1t consisted large
~ of Germans including the officers:
and a German Colonel Weiser acted
as interpreter at the council with the
Indians at Easton. Again when the
valley OF the Mohawk was overrun BY
Indians threatening New York, the
German. Nicolaus Herchheimer and his
brave German followers led in the
defence" OF the civil war he SAYS:
1T is well known that the Germans
saved Missouri for the Union. Few,
however, realize with what enthusiasm
they came to our National defence in
those years Of mortal strife among
brothers from 1861 to 1865, when some
100000 of them served in the armies
Of the North.
THE first defenders that rallied
around the flag when Sumter fell, and
brave men stood apart; the first volun-
teers who entered the city of Wash
ington TO defend Old Glory, were $50
men from the German regions Of Penn
sylvania.
1T is, however, in peaceful pursuits
that German settlers have sought their
greatest triumphs. When they took up
arms it was from necessity OF defense
only, not from love of Straightforward
so their fields blossomed as the rose,
and their farms became garden spots
in the land.
In every department OF human in
dustry the results Of their knowledge
and of their patient and assiduous toll
are apparent.
THE first premium for excellency in
printing was adjudged by the Pennsyl-
vania Manufacturers Society to the
publishers OF a book in the German
language in the inland town Of Lam
caster.
'The first genealogical work in Amer
lea was done among the Moravians.
The first Pennsylvania history Of
the RevolutiGn was written by Colonel
Bernard Hubley and published in
Northumberland in 1906
In 1914 the Bible was first published
west of the Alleghenies by Frederick
Goeb. in German.
In our educational system, the Ger
man influence has been paramount
from the kindergarten to the univer-
sity.
John Peter Mueller a Pennsylvania
German translated the Declaration OF
Independence into seven languages for
the Continental Congress. He was be-
llieved to be the only American then
living that could do this"
But why enlarge upon our marvellous
history?
Who but a fanatic advocate Of an
imbecile propaganda would rail at the
German American Alliance, represent
ing all that is best in the past, sound
in the present and hopeful for the
future?
We do not present these copious ex-
tracts merely as a reply to so indiffer-
ent an antagonist as the Delaware
Call" for why loose the ocean to over
whelm the tea-cup? But rather to
extend the influence of the German
character and history.
IL we believed that the general in
telligence of our fellow citizens was
on par with some local educators,
we would scarcely be justified in burn
ing our candle with the vatuous hope
Of enlightening them; but we believe
that intelligence and sound morality
are in the ascendancy and will prevail
against ignorance, esotism, hypocrisy
and deceit. posing in the garb of virtue
to mislead the public. So we write
not in the name or for the defense OF
any special class, but in the name
Of the million and a half mem bers OF
the Alliance. and for the defence of
those PRINCIPLES Of liberty with which
the German name is ever associated.
Yours.
Otto GOepel.
Secretary OF German American ALI
ance.