Berlin Workingmen’s Club

[Translation.]

Address to the American people by the Berlin Working-men’s Club.

Mr. Minister: With liveliest interest we have watched the giant struggle for the rights of free labor which the United States of America have* entered upon, and have so nobly maintained during four years. With great joy we ‘beheld the star-spangled banner issuing triumphantly from this battle for freedom and civilization, for we fully understood the vast import and bearing of the results thereby achieved.

In the midst of the rejoicings over these victories, we are filled with horror at the tidings of the cowardly assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Struck down by a murderous hand in the very fulfilment of his historical mission, and when jubilant voices announced the triumph of freedom, it was mot vouchsafed him to enjoy the fruits of the victories which his kind and noble heart prompted him, in the most conciliatory spirit, to employ only for the final fading of the long war, and the restoration of a speedy peace.

Abraham Lincoln has finished his course and accomplished his work. He has reached the highest step of the virtue of a citizen. The son of a laboring man, and himself a laborer, he took up the fight for the rights of free labor and carried it to a triumphant termination.

As a wise legislator, an energetic statesman, a loyal citizen, and a good man, being a shining example for present generations and posterity, his memory will be held sacred, not only by his fellow-citizens, but by all mankind, and the greater the horror with which the intelligence of his murder is received, the more brilliantly in immortal splendor will it cause the name and memory of Abraham Lincoln to shine.

We fully share the sincere grief and deep abhorrence which this odious crime against the President of the United States of America has inspired in the minds of all right-thinking men. But in giving expression of our deep sympathy in the death of Abraham Lincoln, we feel compelled at the same time to give utterance of our hopes and wishes to the effect that the freedom which has thus been sealed with the blood of one of the noblest men will only the more fully prevail, and that the star-spangled banner may wave in triumph wherever it is unfurled, in battling for the cause of freedom and civilization.

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We ask you, sir, to be pleased to bring this expression of our sympathies to the knowledge of the government of the United States

“The Berlin Working-men’s Club,”

  • A. HORIG,
  • L. HOFF,
  • R. KREBS,
  • ROBT. NOUVEL,
  • E. LEHMANN,
  • J. MULLER,
    And ten others.