"As early as the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin railed against allowing Germans into the country, calling them ignorant, lazy, and a danger to the Anglo way of being."
The author gives no source for this other than referring to a public radio piece that also gives no references.
Here is an actual quote:
"I say I am not against the Admission of Germans in general, for they have their Virtues, their industry and frugality is exemplary; They are excellent husbandmen and contribute greatly to the improvement of a Country.(0)"
(0) "Letter to Peter Collinson", Benjamin Franklin, 5/9/1753
> Those [Germans] who come hither are generally of the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own Nation, and as Ignorance is often attended with Credulity when Knavery would mislead it, and with Suspicion when Honesty would set it right; and as few of the English understand the German Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit, ’tis almost impossible to remove any prejudices they once entertain.
"danger to the Anglo way of being"
> In short unless the stream of [German] importation could be turned from this to other Colonies, as you very judiciously propose, they will soon so out number us, that all the advantages we have will not [in My Opinion] be able to preserve our language, and even our Government will become precarious.
I don't see "lazy."
The line before what you quote gives a mechanism by which to allow Germans into the US - forced assimilation into the English culture:
> Yet I am not for refusing entirely to admit them into our Colonies: all that seems to be necessary is, to distribute them more equally, mix them with the English, establish English Schools where they are now too thick settled, and take some care to prevent the practice lately fallen into by some of the Ship Owners, of sweeping the German Goals to make up the number of their Passengers.
2 comments
[ 1.8 ms ] story [ 12.2 ms ] threadThe author gives no source for this other than referring to a public radio piece that also gives no references.
Here is an actual quote:
"I say I am not against the Admission of Germans in general, for they have their Virtues, their industry and frugality is exemplary; They are excellent husbandmen and contribute greatly to the improvement of a Country.(0)"
(0) "Letter to Peter Collinson", Benjamin Franklin, 5/9/1753
> Those [Germans] who come hither are generally of the most ignorant Stupid Sort of their own Nation, and as Ignorance is often attended with Credulity when Knavery would mislead it, and with Suspicion when Honesty would set it right; and as few of the English understand the German Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit, ’tis almost impossible to remove any prejudices they once entertain.
"danger to the Anglo way of being"
> In short unless the stream of [German] importation could be turned from this to other Colonies, as you very judiciously propose, they will soon so out number us, that all the advantages we have will not [in My Opinion] be able to preserve our language, and even our Government will become precarious.
I don't see "lazy."
The line before what you quote gives a mechanism by which to allow Germans into the US - forced assimilation into the English culture:
> Yet I am not for refusing entirely to admit them into our Colonies: all that seems to be necessary is, to distribute them more equally, mix them with the English, establish English Schools where they are now too thick settled, and take some care to prevent the practice lately fallen into by some of the Ship Owners, of sweeping the German Goals to make up the number of their Passengers.