"deutscher Tag."

Tuesday was Germán day. Thousands of patriotic citizens gathered in Ann Arbor to celébrate, for the first time in this county, the landing of the flrgt Germán immigrants on the coast of the United Statea. Frederick Pastorius was the leader of a little band of pioneers, who in 1683 established a settlement of Germans at Germantown, Pa. He and two other members of the villago council are said to have been thé fi-st Americans formally to peütion for the emancipation of the slaves. Hundreds of thousands of Lis countrymen have followed, so that to-day the Germán element in this country is large enough to wield a great influence. Washtenaw county alone has 9,000 people of Teutonic extraction, who it is safe to say, are among our very best citizens. Probably a majority of the Germans of this county were in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. Never before did the western Atnens present so gay an appearance. Scarcely a business place in town was without patriotic crecorations. The court house was alive with flags and streamers, and the city hall was gaily festooned with evergreens. Across Liberty-st, between Main and Second-sts, was suspended a banner bearing the magie word " welcome." Even dwelling houses were adorned with the national colors. Here and there a Germán flagcould be espied, but the stars and stripes predominated, thus testifying to the love which Germans entertain for theiradopted land. By ten o'clock the streets were alive with people of all nationalities. The grand procession was ready to start by a quarter of eleven, with the Germania Cycle club in the van. AnnJArbor's crack üre department tock the second positiou. Then followed the Chelsea band and the arbeiter verein of that village. Sdo carne next, preceded by a wagon load of pretty girls. Mounted citizens brought up the rear. Then carne several wagons illustrating the primitive metbods of agriculture. Flails and ancier.t machiaes of every kind were in full operation. The Manchester band followed, accompanying the arbeiter verein and marching citizens. The latter carried several banners one of which bore the significant words, "Treu zu America, stolz auf Deutschland." The Ypsilantians, preceded by a brass band, - formed the next section of the procession. They were followed by the Pittsfield men, who displayed wagons typical of the agricultural industry. Mounted citizens of that town followed. Then came Saline and Northfield. The Detroit commandery band preceded the speakers of the day, who rode in an open hack. The Ann Arbor Germans followed, together with the various local societies. A float, typical of the ïnechanical pursuits of the people and bearing "Columbia" seated on a throne, was escorted by companv A. The Germán school children of the city formed the next part of the procession. They were preceded by a Danner expressing the sentiment that "on the public schools depends the safety of the nation." Then carne a flat carrying a miniature log house, into the chimney of which Santa Claus was about to descend. The rear of the procession was brought up by the exhibits of several of Ann Arbor's most enterprising merchante and manufacturera. The fair association was well advertised by a covered omnibus, on the top of which was a cage cont lining two animáis of local celebrity. One of the contractors displayed a house in procesa of erection, while another . kspt his workmen busy laying a founda' non and plastering a wall. The whole exhibit was hearuly enjoyed by the spectators. The number taking part could not have been much less tkun 3,000. It tock a half-hour for the procession to pass a gi ven point. The line of march, as mentioned last week, was as follows ; Main, Liberty, State, Huron, Fourth-ave, and Main-st to the park. Hundreds of people followed the marching men to their destination. Relief Park never presented a gayer appearance. A number of stands furnished all kinds of healthful drinks, and the bowling alley and lunch counters attracted scores of pleasure-seekers, The various bands discoursed patriotic strains of music, while now and then impromptu songs were sung. At half past two the exercises of the day commenced. Mayor Manly spoke a few fitting words of welcome. He said that e had once left home and faced the cannon's mouth fighting for the union - ' but such sacritice was no greater than that made by the Germans who lelt their beloved fatherland in order to make new homes in this country. He also spoke at some length of Germán achievements on the field of battle. When he had finished his address, P. G. Sukey, ofjthe Hausfreunct,'ielivered a long speech in the Germán language. He said that the celebration of the day was not intended to créate any ill-feeling toward the English-Americans. He asserted that the German-Americans had done a great deal more for this country than was generally thought. History provas that the Germans rallied to ttie support of this nation when it was in peril. Over 180,000 Germans had fought in the war of the rebellion, nineteen of whom occupied high commands. Not only was that true, but, as the best American writers admitted, the Germans, by their perseverance and industry had accomplished more, in a material way, than any other l'oreign element. Hildreth's history of the United States mentions but two eminent German-Americans. A more unpiejudiced writer bas collected biographies of 148 Germans,who,from 1626 to 1888,have done distinguished service in their adopted country. The chief object of the celebration, said the speaker, is to so enlighten the minds of the people that they will take more interest in the deeds of the Germán Americana. Mr. SuKey hoped that the expression "damned dutchman" would no longer be used by the "Yankees." He then quoted statistics bearing on the growth and importance of the Germán population. In 1870 there were in this country 4,500,000 people of Germán descenf. From 1821 to 1882, 1,600,000 immigrants crossed the seas. Now the Germán population is estimated at 7,000,000. The Germans are proud of their descent and proud of the achievements of their forefathers on the field of battle and in the realm of literature, art and science. They do not wish to abandon their beautiful language. They claim a right to edúcate their children in the mother-tongue, but, of course, they do wish to force the use of Germán in the public affairs and in the walks of business. The carrying of the Germán Üag in the procession, said Mr. Sukey, in conclusión, is not to be construed as a token of servility to kings or emperors. It is simply a sign of the love which G?rmars entertain for the fatherland. Louis J. Liesemer, pu jlisher of the Washtenaw Post, was the next speaker. He said that the Germán -Americans in the United States numbered 7,000,000 souls and that they, more than any other foreign element, had helped to make the American republic the best and freest government in the known world. They had taken an active part in every branch of industry, and had helped to promote the great business and financial prosperity of the nation. They had taken an active and heroic part in every engagement of blood and carnage on the land and sea, for the establishment of the union and the prenervation of the same. He maintained that if it had not been for the heroic part that the Germans of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia took in the war of the revolution, the American colonies, like the provinces of Ontario, might still be possessions of England. He contended that Rev. August Muehlenburg, the first epeaker of the house of representatives, was thegreatest of all Germin Americans. He was the Patrick Henry among the Germans at the outbreak of the war, as he left his pulpit and in earnest and powerful speeches appealed to the Germans to form regiments and fight and die, if necessary, for the liberation of the colonies from the thralldom of England. The German-Americans, the speaker continued, always celébrate the fourth of July, and they would continue to celébrate our great anniversary festival as true Americans. The speaker was adverse to the classification andsingling out of foreign elements in the political affairs of the nation. We should all be Americans and all work unitedly for the progresa and onward march of the American republic, the grandest government under the canopy of Heaven. He said that every German-American might honor the Germán flag of the country of their fathers, but that they all should honor, respect and love the stars and stripes, the grand ensign of our country. The speaker contended that it was to the best interest of the American and German nations that they should continue to cultívate friendly relations with each other The German flag on the seas should salute the American flag with: " Long live the Union ! " The American flag should salute the German flag with : " All hail, Germania. " Mr, Liesemer said that German day had no political significance whatever, but that it was merely a day to celébrate the landing of the first German settlers on our shojes in 1683. He then proceeded to pay a tribute to the deceased Rev. Fred Schmid, the most prominent German-American in Michigan, as the twen ty-five German churches in Washtenaw county were largely the result of his labora. At this point the speakers' stand, which was crowded with people, suddenly collapsed and the speaking was discontinued. The remainder of the afterron wa spent in a quiet way. The festiviues o.' the day cano to an end with the dance niiich took place in the rink from eight o'clock till one. Over 225 tickets were sold, which indicated that at least 500 people took part. The w hole celebration passed off without a hiten, and it is safe to say that not only the Germans but many hundred citizens of other nationalities will long remember the 23rd of September, 1890.