Year: 1869

pie, thus In botn ways contributing their share 10
national wealth nnds its exponent In dollars and
centq by which IL u measured, and as the financial
national wealth and also resting on is healthfulness
and security, and as these are best shown by con.
stant regular legitimate expansion Of fcommerce and
manufactures II follows that the German immigration
had no mean share along with that from Ireland and
other countries and with the Americans proper, In
perity of the country, 30 much the wonder OF the
age.


there Is no branch OF commerce or manufacture In
the United States. excepting perhaps some portions
OF New England, in which the Germans do not share
City in the country they form large and respected
integral part of the mercantile and manufacturing
community. A lately published list Of the internal
revenue assessors for the district OF St. Louis shows
that or the whole money value OF sales made In that
city during the month OF January last about onethird
waS Dy 1r by nayng ons
returns OF own city and vicinity, II carefully ex
amined, would certainly show, not only that very
large portion OF our trade passes through German
hands, but also that they take up considerable part
OF the list OF manufacturers while some branches or
manufacture, az clothing, lor instance are, to Ga
find them also heavily represented in the banking
and insurance business all over the land, contrbn-
the ways OF modern society, to the general welfare


And IN social life their interest Is not less felt. The
ancient vgor and abstemiousness OF the Puritan and
Roundhead are lo0sening their hold, and the genial
and eXhiarating amuseInents and diversions OF Ger
many, the social habits ant customs OF the father
land their Jovial and merry feasts and festive gath
erin2s in summer and winter, modified somewhat
and adapted to suit the different circumstances and
conditions OF this country, are gradually taking root,
and PROMISE IN time TO come to grow from exotic,
as they have been to be not only domciled but in
digenous to the country not only tolerated. as they
people. 1t Is not necessary to partlcularize. The
meaning OF what Is said here VIII be fully under


In the politics OF the country the German citizens
have already acquired great indirect influence With
our democratic form Of government, where the sue.
cided by numerical preponderance at the polls this
could not be otherwise. Parties must be alert TO
ascertain the views Of the people, and they must
accommodate themselves to them II they wish to get
the votes OF the people. Hence even the temporary
success Of Know -Nothingism was only possible so
not yet have vos The revival Of that @ agitation IS
now utterly out OF the question. The ercest Know
Nothing OF 1858 has since then recanted and now
pledges fealy to q liberal recognition OF the
rights Of naturalized citizens hereafter But
all this has hitherto been only negative
influence, produced by the mere weight OF their
xens from other countries. 1t was in rare instances
few and far between. that they had any direct part
Speaker OF the Assembly and several members OF
that body. Illinois had German Lieutenant
states in the west had several minor State and
county officers and seats IN the Legislatures filed
by Germans; but all this, IN comparison with their
The drawback they suffered under was the language
and the inability OF most OF their eminent men to
huns @ ahd 70 make tne


Now this Is changed. In many cities OF the Union
we find Germans. members OF the bar, as conversant
anywhere the best Of their professional breth-
rem. Others in other learned professions, some IN
the ease Of privacy and ENJOYING the sweets Of wealth.
have acquired the same facility In speech and pen
alike in English as in German. Hence we Will see a
German from Missouri one OF the immigrants OF the
later PERIOD entering the Senate OF the United States
the elected representative from his State the peer
among the peers in the theoretically highest de-
Lucrative assembly IN the world Twenty years ago
Illinois sent an Irfshman, James Shields, and Lou
isana Frenchman, Pierre Soul6, to the same body,
and the frat afterwards represented Minnesota aud
French and the Irish were twenty years in advance
1t bears not much against the Germans. that with all
the dfcultes to contend against, they have profted
by the delay and have come up at last, and while
properly preserving their own have acquired our
language TO perfection.


III. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO PRODUCE coNGRurrY


OF SENTIMENT AMONG ALL PORTIONS OF THE PEo-


This awakening of the German element to direct
In the higher sphere OF politics. the
for the country, will and can have but
one result, ana that bcnencent one. 1t will
strongly tend TO break down the barriers that have
Americans, Irish, Germans, French and other ma
The ability to participate even in the
highest duties Of American citizen, those OF ma
tional legislator, on footing OF perfect equal
ity with all, creates that respect which citizen
ship alone did not command, and which the differ.





better appreciation Of the imp0rtanG services
dered the country BY the German element and
hence Will ultimately now that unity OF patriotic
feeling ana congruity OF sentiment without which
we are great and powerful community OF different
nationalites, commanding respect for our strength
but not a homogeneous nation.


1t should, therefore, be borne in mind that absten-
ton from all invidious distinction from all odlous
or class legislation, from all interference with the
Innocent habits and customs OF one nationality by
another, from all laws which seek to enforce the
peculiar views upon this or that subject OF one part
Of community uDOQ the other of the
drst public means to reach the desired end,
~ by 1t many OF the principal causes which
now excite animosity and bitterness between
he several nationalities would be removed.
And then let the Germans themselves be studous OF
he wants and needs, In q political aspect, OF the
whole country, run not after false gods, rush not
leadlong into extremes and obstinate persistence,
show spirit or compromise and accommodation to
general feelings put forward their first and ablest
men, capable OF coping with the ablest, and they
san thus contribute to merge all the people OF the
and into one compact, coherent American national
ty. possessing multitude OF customs and speaking
plurality OF languages with the English the best
adapted and only national tongue.