Speech #650294110

Upon the 25th day of February. 1907. the Congress of the United States passed in act entitled "An act to incorporate the National GermanAmnerican Alliance." Sections 2 and 3 of that act providedThat this corporation Bhall be perpetual and have all the privileges accordld by existing laws or that may hereafter be enacted by the Congress of the United States. SEC. 3. That this corporation. composed of the individuals aforesaid and their associates. under the name and style aforesaid. is formed for the purposes as follows: The conservation of the principlea of representative government and the k)rotection and maintenance of all civil and political rights. the protecton of German imnmigrants against imposition cnd deception and to assist in their naturalization. the study of American institutions and the publication of American history. the cultivation of the German language. literature. and drama. and the perpetuation of the memory and deeds of those early German pioneers whose influence has been of incalculable benefit to the intellectual and economic development of this country and whose loyalty in times of stress and strife is a matter of history. It will be observed that the object and purposes as set forth in this charter were most commendiable. and had its purposes been ca.rried out. those operating under the charter would have been entitled to the comlmendation of the American people. Suflice it to say that almost everything that it was agreed should be (lone under the charter were the things they did not do. and the reverse was what they undertook to do.