New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung, May 20, 1892, p. 1

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The German Press in America. – National Association Convention. – The President's Report. – Beginnings of the Widow and Orphans Fund. – The grand banquet at the Liederkranz Hall. – New York's best citizens honor the Journalists. –

The 'Owl' – symbol of all heroes of the feather everywhere – occupied the throne last night in the Liederkranz festival hall. This owl looked down with shiny eyes on all the splendor – it seems it's crown actually rose proudly. The German Liederkranz Hall was the occasion of a gala banquet for the 5th Annual convention of the 'National Association of German-American Journalists and Writers'. Those present were excellent representatives of the political, industrial, journalistic and social circles. The artistic framework of beautiful groups of palm trees, an excellent menu and speakers was accompanied by pleasant Tafelmusik.

The vestibule and stairway had been transformed into a winter garden with high rising palm trees, blooming flowers of all types. The owl peeled from a green forest into the richly lit Hall its walls decorated with a near perfect imitation of the printing press.

The menu had the character of a newspaper devoted to food:
7th year. New York, May 19, 1892. 5th volume
Maritimes - Small clams - Haut Sauternes;
From Long Island - Soup of fowl - Amontillado;
Mixed (News) - Radishes - olives
Bits of thought – Journalistic pastry
European - Rhine salmon with ocean juice
1884 Forster Traminer, Emperor's Wine
Cable News – (Sour?) – Cucumber- Salt potatoes
From the West – Peppered roast beef
Domestic News – Filled tomatoes – fried potatoes –
1874 Pontet Canet
Sliced Cold cuts – Browned veal sweetbreads with asparagus heads
In Short – Sorbet with fire works – Papiros
Leading Story - English snipes decorated with foreign feathers
Mumm & Co., Extra Dry
From Far and Near – Current salads – canned fruit
Club News - Liederkranz flour soup
Reporter Items – (im-)possible in (un-)believable formats
Theater – Small tastes
Music – Coffee, aged cognac, cigars - Good Night!

The Association President, Dr. Joseph H. Senner rose to greet the guests: "We had sent an invitation to the excellent representatives of the political world i.e. the mayors of New York and Brooklyn, and since neither accepted our invitation they should know that if they think they can exist without the German press then they are in the same situation. We extend our greetings to the number of Anglo-American journalists among us, the German officials of the city and all representatives of German citizenry and clubs." He then introduced Mr. William Steinway as 'the most famous representative of the ambition which results in a close connection between the German press and the whole Germanism [Deutschtum].' After stating his desire for the continuation of the Association and continued existence of warm relationships between the German citizenry and the German press, Mr. Steinway made the first toast:

'Gentlemen, I do not have to introduce to you the man, who through his actions and tireless work helped achieve the current position of respect the German-American press enjoys, the creator of German journalistic, Mr. Oswald Ottendorfer.' [Loud applause.]

Mr. Ottendorfer then said, he doesn't see the work of the German press just in the duty to inform a large portion of German-American citizens about this country's institutions, but to also instill in them interest and enthusiasm for the North American Union and to also urge them to become patriotic citizens that follow their duties. This duty would become superfluous once German-American citizens learned enough English to obtain mentioned impressions and influences from English [language] sources, which would make the German-American press temporary; but there are characteristic peculiarities in the German being and soul which have to be retained permanently and should become part of the education of the American national character as much and as widely as possible. This is above all visible in the German mind trying to determine the cause of certain measures and their far reaching consequences, as opposed to the American citizens considering the impact of certain measures on the public and their expected immediate benefits.
"When you consider the enormous accomplishments of a nation in less than a hundred years, having opened and civilized the North American continent, giving millions of people profitable employment, having built more than a hundred thousand miles of rail roads and other navigable ways where human endeavor can promote the products of its activities, surmounting difficulties, previously seen as insurmountable – it is understandable that the entire mental activity of our nation has been concentrated on finding ways and means in which the greatest success could be achieved in the shortest period of time.
The press is nothing else but the organ to express the prevailing current of the nation. That is why the American press represents this 'Go-ahead' impulse and at the same time uses its influence to promote and expand it. If the collective American soul had not taken this direction we would not have what we now call American pride. But one cannot ignore that any dangers arising from this could have damaging consequences for the permanent well being of our collective existence. And the American press should try to warn the public about irresponsible forward urges and drives [Sturm and Drang] and not to risk everything for success and to consider if it isn't sometimes wiser to forgo brilliant results to avoid imminent or future danger.
There are merits higher than power and wealth, which give value and meaning to life. The ideals of life often mocked and derided these days, form the higher road of human existence nonetheless. To be at their service is the mission of the German elements in the USA and as one of its organs the job of the German-American press. This is the basis of its right to exist and through it the possibility to make a permanent and not a temporary contribution to the basic happiness and well being of the citizens of this country.
To solve this obligation in a meaningful way is an honorable goal for the members of the German-American press. To achieve it, lasting and sacrificing efforts are necessary. Never trade the truth for a joke. And never forget you are a priest in the temple of humanitarianism and that it is your duty to preserve the flame for everything good, beautiful, honorable and true. You will expand great effort and receive little recognition but you will have made an important contribution to the elevation of happiness and lasting welfare of the citizens."

The Liederkranz-Quartet then sang 'The abiding German heart' [Das treue deutsche Herz] by Otto. Mr. Steinway then introduced Ex-Secretary Carl Schurz with a toast stating no other person can speak on the cultural obligation of the German elements in this country, its credits and faults.
In closing Mr. Schurz said: "Together let us preserve, continue and develop all that was good and carried here from the old fatherland, to honor and exalt the former and to serve the new."

[hhv]