“I tell you, when I see how German-American parents neglect to teach their children their native language, and how this invaluable treasure is often carelessly discarded, it embitters my German heart and infuriates my American conscience.”
This speech, originally in the German language, was given in New
York City on January 9th 1897 by the notable German-American Carl
Schurz on the occasion of the 50thAnniversary of the “Liederkranz”,
a German singing society. Schurz, a liberal democrat took part in
the 1848 Revolution in Germany and had to flee his native land in
1852. In America he became Secretary of the Interior under President
Hayes, Ambassador to Spain under President Lincoln, Major-General of
the Union Army during the civil war, editor of the New York Evening
Post from 1881-84, and Republican Senator from Missouri in his later
years.
Translated from German and edited by Frank Schmidt.
The German Language brought forth German songs
The response
to the toast given by a member of the Liederkranz should actually have been sung, as the Liederkranz has done so often
– and so movingly. Therefore, it would perhaps be more appropriate
if the Liederkranz stood in my place right now.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the versatility of our
German mother tongue, as it is manifested in our songs. I know very
well that there are other languages, which through their
full-sounding vowels and soft consonants seem better adapted to
singing than German.
However, no other language has such a rich store of songs of
intimate beauty and spiritual power as those that have sprung from
the hearts of
the German people. They have made their way around the world, and
though
there may be some opposition to the German spirit and enterprise,
nothing stands in the way of German music and song.
German-American parents commit a sin when they fail to teach their
children their heritage language.
These irresponsible parents have robbed their children of one of the
great cultural treasures they could have bestowed on them. That is
why I honor every German-American society in which our mother tongue
is spoken and fostered. These organizations have done for future
generations and the world community a great service. As in the past
half century, which now lies behind us, I hope that the Liederkranz
will remain unwavering in its dedication to the German language and
its rich store of songs.
The fidelity of the German Language
When we speak our German mother tongue we should not become overly
sentimental. This is not a sign of weakness, for one should remember
Heinrich Heine’s verse about the ‘sentimental oak’. Every thinking
person that masters the German language will concede, it is a great
treasure, whose value goes far beyond mere sentiment.
We Germans like to hear that honesty is regarded as one of our
salient national traits. I, for my part, like to hear that the
better part of the American public always counts on German-Americans
when such things as honest government and honest money are
considered. Please excuse me when I refer to such things. I have
done so only because I wish to emphasize that honesty is also
characteristic of our German mother tongue.
The expressive power of the German Language
Other forms of speech, especially the Romance languages, are noted
for their pliable elegance and melodious idioms. With those
languages it is easy to say something that sounds beautiful, but is
actually nothing.
In German that’s hardly possible. I don’t mean to say that I find it
admirable that when one says “German spoken here”, that this alludes
to coarseness of speech. What I do mean is that when one says
something stupid in German, it sounds utterly stupid.
On the other hand when something intelligent or elegant is said in
German, it can not be said more intelligently or elegantly in any
other language. In other words, German is not the language of
ethereal daintiness. Instead, it possesses all the more every organ
register of the power, the majesty, spirited verve, and
open-heartedness of emotion.
In its expressionism German surpasses the literature of other
cultures as manifested in the German translation of the Bible, the
exalted sublimity of a Schiller drama, or the bewitching word music
of the poems of Heine.
The entire literature of the world in the German Language
It would be superfluous to speak here of the all-embracing
literature that originated in the German language, and whose
towering greatness civilized humanity has recognized. But it is not
only German literature which our mother tongue offers us; it is the
literature of the entire world.
There is no other language in the world whose unique forms of
expression are harder to translate into other languages than German.
And, on the other hand, there is no other language in the world into
which foreign forms of speech can be translated into with such
fidelity as the German language.
Take for instance the works of Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Aristotle,
Bacon, Macauley, Victor Hugo, Walter Scott, Tolstoy – poetry,
philosophy, science, history and novels. (It is said that to fully
appreciate the works of Shakespeare, one must read them in the
German translation. Transl. note)
All these, from all times, from many countries, found a fitting
haven in the German language. These translations are worthy of the
original in their fidelity, power and beauty. The German language
offers, like no other, the entire treasury of the world’s
literature.
Americanization certainly but no de-Germanization
We possess, in fact a treasure we can not value high enough. That
applies especially to those who have found a new home in America, a
country where a language other than their mother tongue is spoken.
Our compatriots in America have been urged not only to learn
English, but also to cease using their mother tongue. I do not agree
with the judgment of those who urge us to do that.
No one will deny the fact that German-Americans should learn
English. They owe that to their new homeland, and they owe that to
themselves. But for German-Americans to reject their heritage
language is utter foolishness.
As American citizens we should Americanize ourselves. Certainly we
want that. I have always supported reasonable Americanization. But
that has never meant total de-Germanization.
It means that we adopt the best characteristics of America and blend
them with the best of Germany. By adopting the English language
without loosing our own, we will make an important contribution to
the national character of America and American civilization.
The advantage of speaking two languages
The idea that keeping the German language would hinder our
integration into American society and make us less patriotic, is as
simple minded as saying we may be less patriotic because we can sing
“Hail Columbia” in two languages.
There are thousands of native Americans who are learning German.
That does not make them less patriotic – but it proves that they are
better educated and smarter. They are learning German because they
are convinced of its value.
And, they learn German with great difficulty, because German is a
difficult language. We German-Americans do not need to learn German
– we only need not forget it. Our children have a language for
nothing, which others are trying so hard to learn, if only we would
make the commitment to teach and use it in the family.
It may not be sufficient to instill as comprehensive knowledge of
our language in our children as we would wish, but it will ease
their education considerably.
My German heart and my American conscience are indignant
I am not preaching here as someone who says “Heed my words and not
my deeds”. I am convinced that I am as loyal an American as anyone.
I, as well as my children, have had to learn English. But in my
family circle only German is spoken – and read. We correspond only
in German. I may therefore express myself strongly on this point.
And, I tell you when I see how German-American parents neglect to
teach their native language, and how this invaluable treasure is
carelessly discarded, it embitters my German heart and infuriates my
American conscience.
Translated
by Frank Schmidt
Reprinted with permission of the author