TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-12-12

lea gathered here and sang ths songs 81
the Fathefland, bear witness 20 the iibe.
that mot a single volunteer responded
10 the call Of his country" Two young
german-A Americans, IL Bruno Hollenl
der and Louis Weber, won the Iror
Cross by their daring. Time and time
again We heard Of the suicide Of young
Germans who preferred death 10 mac.
ton, forced upon them by the bIockad,
Of New York harbor BY English war,
ships. To what extent the German.
American element has been aroused d
enthusiasm for the cause OF the Father.
land may DO judged by the enormous
sums contributed BY them 10 the various
relief funds, and even better BY the re.
bukc to the administration in the No.
vembcr election, as shown IN districts
largely peopled by thcms because Of the
unwarranted censorship OF the German
wireless stations and diplomatic dis.
elimination against German interests In
favor Of the Allies.
Every German-American feels that be
has a right, because Of the influence ex-
ercised by his forbears on the Develop
mcnt and history Of the United States,
to protest against the attempt to ignore
him in defining the policy Of the gov.
eminent on issues involving not only the
fate Of his race, but that Of the whole
civilization. And, surely, he has some
claim to a voice in this country.
To say that the Germans have exer-
cised a cultural mission here might be
only a phrase il it were not susceptible
Of proof. What, then. has the German
element done for the United States7 II
has been conspicuous in every direction
in which our development has tended
since 1888, since the establishment Of the
first per mill on the American con-
tinent, at Germantown, in 1000, by Will
helm Ri~ttinghuysen since n. A. Muhl-
enberg took his seat as the first Speaker
Of the House Of Representatives In the
American Congress since his brother
dropped his stole in the pulpit and won
fame as one Of Washington's generals :
since the days Of the great Indian fight
ers of the pfe-Revolutionary period,
where we meet the name Of Lew Wet
eel, one OF the most famous; since Bar
on Won Steuben became the drillmaster
OF Washington's army; since DeKalb
met a heto's death In the cause Of Amer
lean independence; since Herkimer and
his Mohawk Valley Germans won the
fateful battle of Oriskany; since David
Ziegler, the first mayor Of Cincinnati,
and for six weeks the commander-in-
chief Of the American army, saved St.
Glars routed forces from annihilation
in the autumn Of 1871 in command of
the American rear guard; since Jacob
Leisler as yi~ee-governor of the province
of New York paid the penalty of the
first American rebel against England
since the first Of Pennsylvania line OF
German American governors; since
Martin Baum founded Port Laurence in
1917, now known as Toledo, Ohio.
To these men Of action may be added
the famous fighters of a later genera
ton Generals Custer, Rosecratlz, Sigel,
Schurz, Osterhaus, Admiral Sehley and
Col. Which, the Pennsylvania and New
York German troops in the Revolution,
and the 189,99o German volunteers in
the Union army
Many Germans also served on the
Southern side in the Civil War, notably
Col Heros Won Boreke, a Prussian cav
airy officer, and Gen. ]. Z. B. Stuart's
chief Of staff, who was shot through the
right lung. In May, 1889, at Charleston,
5. c, a monument was erected to the
German soldiers who fell in the Confed-
crate service, with this inscription: