The Germans of Pennsylvania, long a neutral colony on account of its
large English population, obtained the right of suffrage in May, 1776,
and turned the scale in favor of liberty. Through their vote
Pennsylvania was brought by a narrow margin into line with Virginia and
Massachusetts which would otherwise have remained separated and unable
to make effective resistance against the armies of King George.

The Germans of Virginia followed their Lutheran pastor, Peter
Muehlenberg, and made memorable the loyalty of American Lutherans.
Steuben, the drillmaster of the Revolution, transformed the untrained
and helpless troops of Washington into an effective force capable of
meeting the seasoned soldiers of Cornwallis and Burgoyne.

Our German ancestors were peasants, unable to write history, but they
helped to make history. Without their timely aid there would not have
been a United States of America. Their children do not need to be
"Americanized." Nor have later immigrants from Germany and Scandinavia,
at any period of our history, shown less loyalty to American ideals.

We may concede the hegemony of English in the political and intellectual
life of America, but in a great country like America there is room for
others also. It is a narrow view of our civilization to make "American"
synonymous with English. America is not the dumping ground of the
nations. It is a land where the best ideals of all nations may be
reproduced and find room for expansion and growth.

The German and Scandinavian churches of New York are not ignorant of the
importance of the English language in the maintenance of their church
work. (See table of Churches in the Appendix.) With scarcely an
exception they make all possible use of English in their services. This