German Achievements in America

232 Pages·1916·11.948 MB·English

by  Rudolf Cronau

GERMAN PIONEERS.
GROUP OF THE MONUMENT, ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL GERMAN AMERICAN
ALLIANCETO THE MEMORY OFTHE SETTLERS OF GERMANTOWN, PA,
MODELLED BY ALBERT JAEGERS.
German Achievements
AMERICA
IN ^
A Tribute to the memory of the men and women,
who worked, fought and died for the welfare of
this country; and a recognition of the Hving who
with equal enterprise, genius and patriotism helped
in the making of our
UNITED STATES
By RUDOLF CRONAU
PUBLISHED BY
RUDOLF CRONAU 340 EAST 198th ST., NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT RUDOLF CRONAU
191 S by
WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Geschichte der Solinger Klingenindustrie (Stuttgart, 1885).
Von Wunderland zu Wunderland. Landschafts- und Lebens-
bilder aus den Staaten und Territorien der Union (2 Vol.,
Leipzig, 1886).
Fahrten im Lande der Sioux Indianer (Leipzig, 1886).
Geschichte, Wesen und Praxis der Reklame (Ulm, 1887).
Im wilden Westen. Eine Kiinstlerfahrt durch die Prairien
und Felsengebirge der Union (Braunschweig, 1890).
Amerika, die Geschichte seiner Entdeckung von ider altesten
bis auf die neueste Zeit (2 Vol., Leipzig, 1890-92).
America, historia de su descubrimiento desde los tiempos
primitivos hasta los mas modernos (3 Vol. Barcelona,
1892).
Illustrative Cloud Forms for the Guidance of Observers in
the Classification of Clouds (U. S. Publication No. I 12.
Washington, D. C, 1897).
Our Wasteful Nation. The Story of American Prodigality
and the Abuse of Our National Resources (New York,
1908).
Drei Jahrhunderte deutschen Lebens in Amerika (Berlin,
1909).
Do We Need a Third War for Independence? (New York,
1914).
The British Black Book (New York, 1915).
England a Destroyer of Nations (New York, 1915).
Our Hyphenated Citizens. Are They Right or Wrong? (New
York, 1916).
O
AUG -4 1916 ©aA4;!3950 ^
To the millions of children, born by German
parents and raised inGerman American homes,
the Hope and Future of our United States, this
book is dedicated by
THE AUTHOR.

INTRODUCTION.
HE great world war which has plunged the
European nations into endless misery, suffering '
and death, has brought great embarrassment also
to all American citizens of German descent.
No protection w^as needed heretofore by them
against misrepresentation or attacks upon their good name.
Now, however, the great European Conflict, sowing in unpre-
cedented manner the seed of discord, unloosening envy,
calumny and prejudice, compells them constantly to parry
most unwarranted insinuations launched by men who ought
to know better, yet apparently find delight in questioning the
loyalty of the German Americans toward the land of their
adoption.
If there be any one inclined to lend an ear to these most
despicable and baseless insinuations, let him inform himself
through these pages of the glorious past of the German
Element in America, of its well-nigh endless record of achieve-
ments and sacrifices on behalf of the nation, of its enduring
patriotism, when others failed of their duty or knew not where
to turn.
ihe descendants of Germans in this country may justly be
proud of the fact that their ancestors were among the first
Americanpioneers; thattheywere the makers of true American
homes, and that they participated in laying the foundations
upon w^hich the entire present-day structure of our United
States has been reared.
That the reverent love which the Germans bear the land
of their birth in no way tends to diminish the loyalty which
they owe to the country of their adoption, is a fact which no
fair-minded man requires to be proven, but of which this
record bears ample w^itness. In defense of the Constitution,
for the preservation of liberty and the rights of man they will
stand firm and unafraid as of yore.
May this book help to set aright the opinion of our Amer-
ican people with regard to their German fellow^-citizens, and
may it inspire our young generation to emulate the industry,
enterprise and patriotism which distinguished the men and
women of whom it tells. .
Mediaeval Germany and the Causes of
German Emigration.
Far beyond the Atlantic, occupying the greater part of
central Europe, lies a country dear to all Americans of
German descent. It is known as a land of romantic scenery,
where the most beautiful of rivers, the Rhine, sweeps through
vineclad mountains; where gray old churches and majestic
cathedrals point heavenward w^here in crumbling castles,
;
sombre forests and silent valleys cling thousands of legends
and fairy tales. It is praised as the home of science; as the
birthplace of eminent philosophers and poets, w^hose names
are known throughout the world. It is hailed as the land
of great artists, sculptors and composers; as the cradle of
most important inventions, that gave new^ impulse to mankind.
Americans of German origin cherish it as the land of their
ancestors, as the "Old Fatherland," and when speaking of
it, they feel longing tugging at their heartstrings.
Reminiscences of the past are then revived. Noble heroes,
none greater known to history, arise before their minds:
Hermann the Cheruskan, the Emperors Karl and Otto the
Great, Frederick Barbarossa, Rudolf and Maximilian, who,
during the middle ages, made Germany the most prosperous
and powerful empire in Europe.
Under the sceptre of such brilliant rulers beautiful castles
and palaces, imposing churches and cathedrals arose every-
where. Villages and cities sprang into existence and became
the homes of able craftsmen, who united into powerful guilds.
Enterprising merchants opened commerce w^ith all countries
of Europe and the Orient. Many of these merchant-princes
became famous for their wealth. As for instance the Fuggers
of Augsburg, w^ho amassed a fortune amounting to more than
60 Million Gulden; then the Welsers, w^ho were able to
advance to Emperor Charles V. a loan of twelve tons of gold.
These merchants, however, were not lost in selfishness.
Proud of their native cities, they contributed freely to their
beauty and importance. And so the German cities of the
Middle Ages gained steadily in splendor and influence. To
further their interests, many of these cities combined to form
powerful federations. The cities of Southern Germany for
instance founded the "Schwaebische Staedtebund;'* the cities
of Northern Germany the "Hansa, " which, embracing 85
cities, became the most famous of all.
Emperors, princes and magistrates vied with one another
in beautifying their cities. To impress foreigners with the
cities' importance and wealth, the entrance gates as well as
the town halls, proud symbols of self-government, were
adorned w^ith magnificent portals, colonades and sculpture
work. The great show pieces of these buildings were, how-
ever, the state or banquet halls, on w^hich often enormous
sums were lavished. Here w^ere to be found exquisite carvings
in w^ood, costly tapestries and paintings. From the ceilings
hung elaborate chandeliers and models of merchant vessels
or men-of-war. The ornaments of the fire places bore the
coat of arms of the city or of such families, which had played
in the history of the community im.portant roles. Richly
carved closets and chests contained the treasures of the city:
beautiful dishes, bowls and cups of ebony, ivory, crystal,
silver and gold. And over all this splendor rays of sunshine,
breaking through beautiful windows of stained glass, cast a
bewitching light.
In the public squares, fronting these city halls, arose mag-
nificent fountains, topped with the figures of the city patrons
or famous knights or kings.
While thus the rulers and magistrates beautified all public
buildings and squares, the burghers did their best to complete
the picture. The innate sense for art accomplished wonders
in many cities of Germany. Loving their homes, the citizens
adorned the front of their houses w^ith carvings and allegorical
paintings. Even such inconspicuous objects as weather-vanes
and door-knockers became in the hands of skilled craftsmen
specimens of genuine art. However, these efforts to beautify
the exterior of the houses, w^ere not accomplished to the
neglect of the interior. Wealthy families took pride in artistic
furniture, beautiful carpets, precious objects of crystal and
silver, and in paintings and etchings of famous masters.
This period of prosperity and culture was also a time of
great ecclesiastic architecture. Especially the architects of
the 1 1th, 12th and 1 3th centuries created cathedrals, which in
bold construction and sublime beauty surpass everything
hitherto and since accomplished. The cathedrals of Worms,
Speyer, Mayence, Frankfort on the Main, Ulm, Strassburg,
Cologne and other cities rank among the greatest master-
pieces of Romanic and Gothic art.
The Middle Ages w^ere also a period in which great German
poets, artists, inventors and reformers flourished. Then it
was, that one of the masterpieces of the vi'^orld's literature,
the "Nibelungenlied," was written. Then it was, that Walter
von der Vogelweide, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Heinrich von
10
Offterdingen, Frauenlob and many others wrote the most
inspiring poems in praise of womanhood. It was also the
time of Albrecht Duerer, Hans Holbein, Lucas Cranach,
Stephan Lochner, Peter Vischer and other artists, who belong
to the greatest of the great. Berthold Schwarz invented gun-
powder, causing thereby a thorough revolution in warfare.
Johannes Gutenberg, by inventing movable type, made the
art of printing the most effective means for distributing
knowledge and enlightenment throughout the world. The
astronomers Kopernikus and Kepler opened new vistas by
establishing the fact, contrary to the teachings of the Bible,
thai the sun does not move around the earth, but is a center,
around which the earth and many other planets revolve.
Another imposing figure of these great times was Martin
Luther, who gave to his people not only the German Bible,
but with it, a literary language. Whereas, up to his time, every
German writer had written in the dialect with which he was
familiar, the language used by Luther in his translation of the
Bible became the common one in all Germany, proving the
most powerful factor toward forming national unity and in
establishing a national literature.
In view of all these facts we may well ask, why people
abandoned such a glorious land and emigrated to far distant
countries of which they knew nothing and where their future
w^as uncertain?
In history we find the answer.
Thereformation, initiatedby Luther, resulted,unfortunately,
in conflictamongreligious creedsand was followed by themost
overwhelming calamity that ever befell any country. Begin-
ning in 1618 and lasting till 1648, the so-called Thirty Years*
War swept over Germany like a hurricane, ruining it beyond
recognition. Hundreds of cities and villages were burned by
Spanish, Italian, Hungarian, Dutch and Swedish soldiers, who
made Germany their battleground. Of the 1 7 million inhabi-
tants of Germany 3 millions were killed or swept away
I
through starvation and the pest. In Bohemia the population
was diminished from 3,000,000 to 780,000. In Saxony,
during the two years 1631 and 1632, 943,000 persons were
slaughtered or died through sickness and want. In Wiirtem-
berg over 500,000 lost their lives. The Palatinate, having
had a population of 500,000, suffered a loss of 457,000.
In some parts of Thuringia ninety per cent, of all the people
perished. Agriculture, commerce, industries and the arts
were annihilated. Of many villages nothing remained but
their names. According to the chronicles of these times, one
could wander for many miles without seeing a living creature
except wolves and ravens. It was during those dreadful years
that Alsace and Lorraine, two of the richest countries of
Germany, were stolen by France.
n