Year: 1869

BALTIMORE, July 14.-This morning the sing
ers to the S@ngerfest were treated to grand
picnic at Schuetzen Park delightful and ro-
mantle spot on the Belair road, and every way
attractive and handsome. The procession
moved from headquarters at 8 o'clock, and pro-
ceeded through Eutaw, Lexington, Charles,
Baltimore, and Gay streets to the ground where
seven bands of music were present. and much
enjoyment INDUCED in until 10 o'clock, when
orations were delivered as follows. The first
oration, by Mr.. William Rapp, was in German:--


Grafton of william Rupp.


Only with hesitancy do undertake to address you
for feel that my capacities are beneath the de-
mands OF the occasion; Receive my words with IN
cause an abler man whom our Baltimoreans had
originally chosen for their speaker for this great fes
tival held in honor OF German art and the German
name, found himself not in the condition to address
you here in German.


Some courage take from the thought that this
fourteenth day Of July is day OF history which may
inspire and elevate to ofter ideas even mind that
merely feels, but understands not, the world-sub-
DUNG power of song. This day eighty years ago
that great fortress OF despotsm that gloomy prison
OF human liberty, the Paris Baste, sank into frag-
meats and dust before the holy wrath of the awakng
spirit of the time; and the dull groan of the tum-
bling stone that had formerly been struck only by
the moaning sobs and sghs of the victims OF despot
ism--t arose upon the pnions OF poesy to change
immortal song, ''The Marsellaise," the hymn Of
liberty, whose mighty chords are now echoed in the
hearts OF freemen-a proud testimony for the ever
lasting power of the genuine song OF the people and
of liberty OUTLYING even the most stubborny resist
ing pressure Of despotism.


But why draw upon the Romantic world at the oc-
casion Of great and splendid Germanc and Ameri-
can at the occasion OF genuine German singing
the French an echo Of the German chords of national
and freedom hymns, like the fall of the Baste
is only a response TO the crushing blow which the
German spirit of a Luther had dealt to the spiritual
despotism of the medieval times; which the Ger
manic spirit OF Hampden, Cromwell, and Milton
had dealt to the absolute royalism of England;
which the GeTmanlc clearness OF mlud public VIZ
tue, wisdom, and vaor OF a Washington, Franklin,
Jefferson and Hamilton had dealt to political servl
tude in America and in the whole world?


The German song especiallyIlt mas ever oeen @ @ tne
faithful companion, the familiar spirit Gf the Ger
man nation IN her onward strife OF civilization in
her proud greatness, in her blood struggle, in her
lamentable fall and In her recent resurrection.


Even that great cvilizer OF Germany and France,
Charlemagne, recognized the civlizng power OF the
cheerily rang then the notes of the 'Minnesong"
through the medieval gloom Of proud Germany!
tragic summit of House Hohenstaufen! But While
the national pride of the German dwells upon the
memories OF the time of feudalism, chivalry and
imperial spcndor so lovely coored by poesy and song
with sympathetic feeling, the Germans love OF free
dom dwells with so much more pride upon the
memories OF the master-sngers and their melodies
which, though perchance less poetic, were for all
that the more solid and sound, as they emanated
preservers of German citizens rights and indepen-
dence in midst of the crumblng and falling OF the
ancient greatness Of German nationality.


But where is the German heart-no matter to what
religious creed it may adhere-that is not even at





"a castle firm is our God!"


this lark's warble at the dawning morn of the new
era? For Germany, 1t is true, 1t became doleful
note Of woe full Of blood and tears but even during
the terrors Of thirtyyears war the German Gospel
hymn unto the sore hearts OF the German nation
healing balm; and louder and prouder rang again
the German air, when under Prince Eugene it struck
terror into the Turkish ranks. still further ma
tional chime it became when the great Frederick
with his hero grenaders drove both the bloody Slave
and the adventurous Frenchman from Germany
sWurdn
man song, when the whole nation arose against the
Corsican tyrant No pressure, no vile espionage
press the German song. Nay, only with moreIpride
with higher power, will it resound near and far
and everywhere, since great German State and a
great German statesman have undertaken to solve
at last that sore question which the German song in


"where is the Germans FatherlandY"


mentioned Luther's German hymn. He sang
from his very heart in proud notes. This hymn
found its twanging echo in the hymns Of the Puri
tans; but this twanging echo-it was swelled into
laundering chords OF freedom and national liberia
ton; for the German Reformation embodied Ia this
classic eTman hymn-it was the soul and the
mother of the American Revolution and Independ-
ence. 1t is not the least of the many merits OF
American liberty, inviting all civilized peoples to an
equal participation that II created IN this new and
action for the German air. Like the Hellenic colo
mist, who took along with him his own household
gods into the colony so takes the German with him
his folks song, his art-w0ven anthem from his be-
loved home TO his new hearth in America and from





East back into the virgnary forests the prares and
mines OF the farthest West, resounds the German
song.


No less does its noble course of victory pass into
the Anglo American heart. Every prejudice of
birth, OF political or religious credit recedes here
before the magic power of German harmony.
Amidst the thunder OF cannon and the heavy groans
OF anvi,s Boston rendered homage to German music
few days ago Due regard to this homage; yet
lovelier and more elevating was the homage rem
dered to German music on last Sunday by our Balti-
more when the sweet meodious voices of the fair
and noble American ladies and the mertorous Anne
rican gentlemen mixed freely with those OF equally
worthy German ladies and gentlemen in one rolling
sea of harmOnies and reproduced grand German
composition not with pomp and noise, but with the
simplicity which alone is the proper ornament Of
J such work.


( This harmonious union OF equal forces of the two
branches OF the great Germanic sten-may 1t be a
propitlous sign for our common new home. May
the Anglo-Amercan and the German-Amercan
supply each other with their respective good quail
ties upon the basis of equal rights like the notes
from American and German lips commingle into one
grand, full harmony. May the North and the South
OF our beloved American home forget at9ast the
ended feud where both fought with equal valor and
unite with love and equal rights, are here united
in brotherly love the German singers of North and
South. And may the friendly union between Ame-
rica and Germany induced by the German immigra-
ton ana the related genius OF both nations and
established by an enlightened statesmanship be as
immortal as the German song in whose name you are
mere assembled.


Grafton by II. G. Barry, ESQ.


stand to-day In the presence OF representatives OF
most II not ALL the nationalities of the earth-the
German element however, largely predominant
and as an American, justly proud Of my country,
hesitate not to proclaim that the people of no other
nationality have done more, by fair dealing and
I9Sny manly selt-rellance by honest industry and wise
purpose, by wisdom in council, by the power and
logic OF the press by fervor in the pulpit by elo
skill in navigation, by the cultivation OF all the
domestic virtues by courteous bearing and refine,
ment I'D social enJOyments by marked ability and
faithfulness in all positions OF public trust and CONT
dence ia All branches OF mercantile and mechanical