The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1917-09-08
THE GERMAN REFUGEES
OF 1848 REVOLUTION

When the Revolution Of 1S4s In Ger
many had proved abortive, and IL had
| become plain to the constitutionalists
that no genuine reform would be pro-
| NOTED, or even tolerated, by Frederick
| William Nv OF Prussia, a great exodus
| of leaders of liberal opinion, In that
and in other of the North German
Kingdoms and principalities, set in, the
great body Of the young people finding
their way to the United States. These
were the pioneers of movement
which embraced, not only students OF
the leading universities, but represen-
tatives of the middle and peasant
classes. and, for more than a score of
years. German immigration flowed
In tremendous volume and in a steady
stream into the Middle West Great
things had been expected by the lib
erals, of Frederick william. in advance
of his ascension of the throne, but he
proved entirely false to his early pro-
mise. The liberals placed little con-
fidence in his brother and successor,
William 1, grandfather OF the present
emperor, who was regarded as an alb
solutist. and was very unpopular. his
leaning being strongly toward militar-
ism On the outbreak of the Revolu-
ton OF '4S he was compelled to leave
the country, and sought safety in Eng
land. On his return in the same year,
however. he entered the national as
sembly as member for wirsitz, and de-
liyered a speech in which he declared
himself in favor of a constitutional
government. In this he proved to be
insincere, and, seeing whereunto the
country would be led under his reign,
many thousands of Germans, to escape
military service. followed their COM
patriots, who had fled from tyranny.
to the United States. These immi-
grants mada no siope Of lnuo n y
to the Hohenzollern regime, or to the
Hohenzollern- n-Bismahckian military
system, but threw Off their allegiance
to Prussia and to the other German
states, as. quickly as possible, and be-
came American citizens. With the out
break of the Civil war. multitudes Of
them enlisted In the Northern army
with the purpose. openly confessed. of
preserving American democracy from
division and ruin. Not until the vic
tory over Austria, in 1865, and over
France. in 1870, threw a glamour upon
the militaristic system, and made inn
perialism In it's outward aspect, at
tractive, did these German refugees
pretend to have. or make an effort to
display, more than a passing interest
in the affairs of the fatherland. They
had. to all intents and purposes, be-
come Americans with a new and un-
divided national interest and aspira-
ton. Even then, only a few of those
who had sought and found refuge
from Hohenzollern domination in the
late '46s and early SOS, expressed any
interest in the German military caste.
Rather did they loath 1t, and IL has
been a source of constant wonder for
the last years among those who
knew the original immigrants. that
their descendants should have hesitat-
ed to take the course, which their for
bears undoubtedly would have taken
in the present war. But at last. the
long expected bids fair to come to
pass. In Chicago, where descendants
of German immigrants OF the revolu-
tionary period constitute a large and
influential portion of the inhabitants,
an organization, among these residents.
in opposition to Prussian autocracy,
has been effected. The movement
has, IL is reported, spread to ST. Louis,
and is certain to be extended to other
of the Middle Western cities, where
descendants of the refugees of AS con-
stitute an important section of the
population. Speaking OF these people,
an intelligent observer of the trend of
things. says: They abhor the policy
of frightfulness which finds expression
In Zeppelin and U-boat warfare; they
view with regret and horror the out
RACES. visited upon Belgium and Ser
bia in the name OF military necessity,
and they hope to make the Germans
of the Old World understand why
Proud of their German descent, of
Germany's recognized contributions to
the advancement of humanity. they
would have the land of their fathers
set itself right with the world. They
would teach German Americans the
wisdom of loyalty to their chosen land.
They hope to teach the German peo-
pie what America is and what the re-
public stands for" Nor is this sentf-
ment confined to the Middle West. or
to descendants OF German immigrants.
Silenced, from the beginning of the
war, by the operation and intimida-
tion OF the Prussian spy system in the
United States. many native Germans
In the latter country are, at length,
giving voice to their real feelings. OF
these, Otto H. Kahn, OF New York.
may be taken as fair representative.
Said he, recently. In an address before
the Merchants association OF his city:
Speaking as one born of German par
ents. i do not hesitate to state il as
my deep conviction, that the greatest
service which men of German birth or
antecedents can render to the country
OF their origin is to proclaim and to
stand up for those great and fine ideals
and national qualities and traditions
which they inherited from their ances-
tors. and to set their faces like flint
against the monstroUs doctrines and
acts of rulership which has robbed
them of the Germany which they low
ed and in which they took just pride,
the Germany which had the good will
respect, and admiration of the entire
world" 1t would be impossible to
measure. or to exaggerate, the import
ance and value of the movement
among Germans and their descendants
in the United States. that is beginning
to manifest itself in the manner and
in the tone referred to here. It's In
fluence Is certain to be felt in the fa-
therland, and 1t is not too much to ex-
pect that it will prove TO be a factor in
determining, at an early day. the