Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-11
GERMAN DAY.
WHAT 1T is AND WHY 1T is cELE
DRAFTED.
Bigger Than Ever This Year-EVans
Ville's Annual Event.

What is German Day and why is IT
celebrated? Thus are thousands OF
German citizens of this vicinity inter.
rogated each succeeding year anent
this festival occasion. In order that
the thousands who make inquiry
yearly as to the significance of Ger.
man Day may know its true meaning
the following history of it in tabloid
form has been prepared.
Francis Daniel Pastorius emigrated
to America with a German colony of
Pietists, or Quakers, on the goth of
June, 1888. and commenced the build.
ing of Germantown. Pa, now part Of
Philadelphia, on the Gath Of October,
following.
On this nucleus, founded by Pas
torius and 33 Germans who came with
him, the German immigration to this
country commenced. The tide soon
set strongly in, and it was not long
until the population of Pennsylvania
numbered its thousands of Germans.
Pastorius was an author, man Of
considerable ability and was APP
pointed a magistrate by Penn, who
was his devoted friend. In 1858 he
was one of the signers OF a protest
against buying, holding or selling
slaves, which was declared to be IAN
act irreconcilable with the precepts OF
the Christian religion" He died at
Germantown, Penn, Sept. 81, 1719.
The immigrants who followed Pas.
torius came from almost every condi.
the merchant, trader. lawyers, doctors
and educators poured into the colony
and were to be found on farms and
in every town and hamlet Industri'
Gus, economical and thrifty they soon
passed from comparative poverty to
wealth and stand today as the second
star in the grand galaxy Of states.
The cause which led to the great
emigration from Germany can be
traced to several sources. Pastorius,
with his followers, fed to the new
world on account of religious persecu.
tons. Holding to the cardinal doc,
trine of the Quakers they were non
cOmbatants and opposed to all mill.
tary service, and nOn-cOnformists with
the existing church authorities in the
homes of their nativity.
Since the landing of Pastorius 23l
years ago, on June goth, the emisra-
Ton from Germany to America has
been so steady that today German
blood and personality form a very
part Of the warp and wool Of our
national character. No component
part Of the mass of humanity that
goes to make up the total ingredients
Of the renewed "melting-pot of Ameri
ca" has done more than the German
10 produce strong men and good ciu
zens-liberty loving and law abiding
Wherever the German emigrant Of
his descendants have settled the com
munity has invariably proven th'
| beneficiary. He is by nature con
structive--never destructive;he builds
Up rather than tears down. On TN
field Of battle in defense of his adopte'
country he gained immortal fame 70
his valOr as Witnessed by the glor
Jus records OF Generals Schurz, Sige
Osterhaus, Asboth and Which. Mer
.orious achievement has marked thei
.fforts along commercial and indus
rial lines, while in every branch c
science and literature they hay
aimed high honors and distinction.
The German loves his adOpte
,ountry-not that he loves the Fathe
and less, but America more. Bein
iemonstratiye by nature his annu'
German Day celebration is but an &
preston Of the pride he feels and III
love he holds for his very own CON
try and that OF his children-Americ
The fact makes aim happy and B