Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-07
COUNT BERNS1ORFF
NUT|L[S ]. 5.
GERMAN AMBASSADOR CON-
PAREs AMERICAN AND GER.
MAN CULTURE.
TELLS GERMANS THEY
HAVE NOBLE MISSION
Ambassador Delivers Address in Ger
man Before Milwaukee Club Of Ger
man Americans-Both countrie.
Benefited, He Says, by Settlers
From kaiserland.

Milwaukee, May 7.-Count Won Bern
stroff, German ambassador, was the
guest of honor at luncheon given to-
day by the Deutscher Club this morn
ing. He spoke in German, as fol-
lows:
u have never before been over here,
but have been in Milwaukee, Now,
am also able to say that 1 have been
in Milwaukee and have met here many
descendants of the German stock who
still are attached by bonds of love to
their old fatherland, even tho they
have found new home here and now
belong to. a new political commonwealth.
Six months ago on my way to the
United States met several gentlemen
from Milwaukee on the steamer. We
discussed the status of the Germans as
part Of the American people, or rath-
er I permitted myself to be informed
on the subject, because never render
a judgement on any question before I
can study it myself. A few days later
l read an article of greeting in q Mil
Waukee paper which, altho exceedingly
friendly in tone. stated that had crit
icised the Germans in America and
had said would try to remedy existing
evils. Now it often occurs that one
person utters criticism and if the
person listening does not contradict the
speaker assumes he has agreed with
what he said This may have been
the case regarding my conversation
with those gentlemen. Since then 1
have repeatedly had occasion to public
ly address Germans in America and
there can be no longer any doubt as
to my attitude in this matter We all
know that there are no better class Of
American citizens than those of Ger
man descent. This fact has been pub
licly recognized by the farmer and the
present president of the United States.
These high authorities however have
always added that love to the old
fatherland is we'll compatible with good
and loyal American citizenship. This
is exactly the point of view assumed
by the Germans in the fatherland. we
believe that the unique position of the
Americans Of German descent benefits
both countries by making their rela-
tions more intimate. AS to all other
hopes of our regarding the Germans in
America, we hope for the fulfllment
of purely cultural mission. This
could not be fulfilled if the Germans
in any way should isolate themselves
from their fellow citizens. We hope
that you VIII uphold the wonderful old
German culture to help make it per-
meate American life like the leaven in
the measures Of meal, in the parable.
Let me call your attention to the scene
in Faust in which the marriage Of
Faust to Helena syE1bolizes the fusion
of the Greek and the German spirits.
Greek culture is in fact so merged with
German culture that both today are ia
separable. A mission similar to that
performed by the Greek culture among
us in Germany lies before the German
element in America. The German
spirit may become strong factor in
the resulting American culture. That
is most important task which is
worth the sweat of the noble, and in
the performance of which you above all
are appointed.