Washington Journal., 1916-10-06
233 Years of German
Achievements in America

The following address e held by
Hon. Simon Wolf at the Annual Ger
mar Day Celebration:
We are assembled today to comment
crate what is called German Dayp-not
to glorify the Fatherland, or to condemn
the land of Our birth or adoption-we
are here assembled as American citizens.
proud of the opportunity that this coun-
try has afforded us, grateful that we
have been permitted TO contribute our
share towards the growth, development
prosperity and influence Of this great
Republic, and therefore in celebrating
the day that commentaries the landing
Of German pioneers on the soil of Penn
sylvania under the leadership of the i'm.
mortal Pastorius, we are evidencing in
an historical and loyal American sense.
our debt Of gratitude, and educating the
present generation to a realization Of
those glorious teachings, enunciated BY
those German pioneers on and in behalf
of human liberty and denunciation Of
human slavery. That spirit of man
hood, sobriety and self-government has
spread from that isolated spot in Penn
sylvania to every portion Of the United
States, Strengthening the ties of kinship
elevating the standard of ideals, and
preaching, not the gospel of hate, Of
caste, or of creed, but that of humanity
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood
of man. In every nook and corner Of
this great Republic you will find these
men of German birth who have contrib
uted by their Drawn and brain to the
upbuilding of the nation, who have
never swerved from their duty as citi-
zens, either in peace or in war; who
have not been corralled by any political
faction to its aggrandizement, but who
are independent in spirit and in action.
looking only to the best interests Of the
country under which they have beer
thrice happy.
We are well aware that this is not a
German Colony. That it is no Longer
English Coloney was distinctly proven
by the war of the Revolution, fought By
Washington and his compeers, aided BY
that great German drill master, Baron
Won Steuben. We are willing to concedc
the fact, indeed are proud of it, that the
condition of the German immigrant ha
been i'll every way improved and bet
tered by the institutions of this greai
Republic. We know that we W nc
allegiance to the land across the sea, but
what we do ask as American citizens
and shall ever ask, is that whatever j
done in this country shall be done in q
broad, liberal American spirit; that the
neutrality made use of in text books and
by scheming politicians shall be rigid1y
accepted, not to the detriment of one and
to the favor Of the other. We ask this
not because we are of German stock, bu(
we ask it because we are Americans
whose highest ambition it is to see III
country's hands united and free to ex-
ercise that high function of concord anc
and good will which are insep-
arabic with good government.
1t is a thrice-told tale to declare that
the twenty millions of foreign stock who
have made the vast plains of the West
and the Savannahs of the South bloom
in perpetual spring to reproduce tina.
which they have contributed to the glory
and greatness of the nation. They have
never swerved. Office has not seduced
them, promises have not charmed them
there IS only II rock-ribbed line Of
action for them, and that is, to do their
duty fearlessly and zea1ously as citizens
OF our common country.
We have no apologies to offer and
stand firm on II rights, secured to us
by the Constitution Of the Republic, out
lined under the matchless Declaration of
independence, and are ready today, as
we shall be in the future, to exemplify
by Il conduct, the same spirit of pa
triotic fervor that has characterized our
history in our past. We are not fighting
shadows, we deal with facts, and if ever
the time should come, ever if against
the land of our forefathers, we will be
found in the ranks, ready to shed every
drop of II life's blood to uphold the
flag, and with our dying breath
exclaim Long live the Republic