Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 1988 The St. Josephs-Blatt, 1896-1919 Steven Wayne Harmon Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the German Language and Literature Commons, and the Journalism Studies Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Harmon, Steven Wayne, "The St. Josephs-Blatt, 1896-1919" (1988). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 3820. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.5704 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Steven Wayne Harmon for the Master of Arts in German presented May 24, 1988. Title: The St. Josephs-Blatt: 1896 - 1919. APPROVED BY MEMBERS OF THE THESIS COMMITTEE: Linda Parshall William Fischer - Franklin West The St. Josephs-Blatt was a German-language newspaper published by the Benedictine monks of Mt. Angel Abbey from 1896 through 1952. The only fully extant collection of the St. Josephs-Blatt resides in the archives of Mt. Angel Abbey. The current archivist and Mt. Angel historian is Fr. Martin Pollard, who graciously allowed me to examine original copies of the newspaper and gave me the benefit of his personal historical expertise about both the paper and Br. Colestin. For my research on the newspaper I did not use the original bound copies of the Blatt, which were too sensitive and brittle to handle safely, but a microfilm copy of the St. Josephs-Blatt, made by the University of Oregon Library in 1965. 2 The aim of this thesis is to chronicle how the St. Josephs-Blatt dealt with the overriding issues facing German-American Catholics, namely, xenophobia, anti-Catholicism, and anti-Germanism particularly between the years 1896 and 1919. The articles, editorials, and special features published in the St. Josephs-Blatt are quoted and analyzed, both separately and in conjunction with secondary readings on the issues. I endeavor to analyze what was printed, why, and how the opinions of Br. Colestin, editor of the St. Josephs-Blatt from 1896 to 1929, coincided with or differed from those of the prevailing American opinion and how those similarities or differences affected Br. Colestin and his readers. The thesis is divided into six chapters including introduction and conclusions. In the introduction the origins of the St. Josephs-Blatt are examined. I then review, in chapter two, the political and religious issues that the German-American Catholic faced prior to World War I. The following three chapters are divided by years: 1896-1914, the years prior to the outbreak of World War I; 1914-1917, the war years prior to the entry of the United States into the war; 1917-1919, the years between America's entry into the war and the suppression of the St. Josephs-Blatt. Having access to the St. Josephs-Blatt allowed me to experience 33 years of history through the writings of one man, Br. Colestin. The thesis, then, is not only a chronicle of a newspaper, but an analysis of one man's ideas on religion, politics, war, language, and society. In the final analysis I have concluded that Br. Colestin was a barometer of the feelings, ideals, fears and joys of the Northwest's German-American population. Despite his belief in his own ability to be impartial in his writings on Deutschtum in America and on the war, he could not separate himself from the personal viewpoint of his own origins. He was not an impartial observer, but a co-combatant in an ongoing battle, whose objectives were to keep Deutschtum alive in America, and during the war years, to make sure that the German side of the story was told. He 3 considered his opinions to be objective and, for him, these goals were crucial, necessitated by a pro-British American English-language press and a predominant British heritage firmly imbedded in the American psyche. His opinions were important in keeping the German-American viewpoint vital, but it is impossible to say whether German-American editors like Br. Colestin actually influenced America's neutrality policies and eventually war policies. As a voting block, German-Americans proved to be an effective force with which politicians had to deal. In the end their endeavors failed. Why, must be the subject of another thesis. The ST. JOSEPHS-BLATT: 1896 - 1919 by STEVEN WAYNE HARMON A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in GERMAN Portland State University 1988 TO THE OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES: The members of the Committee approve the thesis of Steven Wayne Harmon presented May 24, 1988. Linda Parshall William Fischer l'fahklin West APPROVED: Linda Parshall, Chair, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Bernard Ross, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Seldom has a graduate student been so indebted to so many for so much. I want to acknowledge the many people who have generously given me their support: Dr. Louis J. Elteto, my Magistervater, for his encouragement, and guidance; my committee members, Dr. Linda Parshall, Dr. William Fischer, and Dr. Frank West for their years of encouragement, enlightenment, and prodding; Dr. Patricia Wetzel, for her personal, and professional concern; Elizabeth Hengeveld, M.A., and Mari Noda, M.A., for their questions, suggestions, and for listening; Dr. Peter Parshall, for his interest and curiosity; Daphne M. Couch, M.A., for her constant belief, encouragement, and amazing erudition; Karin Herrmann, M.A., Tieneke Bierma, M.A., and Inger Olsen, M.A., for providing me with positive role models; Dr. Charles M. White, Dawn White, Anne Bender, Margaret Herrington, Nancy Goldman, Miles Turner, Jane Quigley, and Shirley Kremer for their personal and professional assistance, patience, and caring. I thank you all. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ill CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION • II THE ORIGINS OF THE ST. JOSEPHS-BLATT • • • • • • • 3 III THE POLITICAL ISSUES FACING THE ST. JOSEPHS-BLATT BEFORE WORLD WAR I • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 IV THE YEARS: 1896-1914 • • • • • • • • • • • • • 17 V THE WAR YEARS: 1914-1917 • • • • • • • • • • • 48 VI THE FINAL YEARS: 1917-1919 • • • • • • • • • • • 114 VII CONCLUSIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 135 BIBLIOGRAPHY 137 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The intent of this thesis was to examine the St. Josephs-Blatt from January 1896 through September 1919 and record any articles, editorials, headlines, special features, or advertisements that referred to 1) Germany, or German culture, customs, or language, either positively or negatively; 2) England, or English culture and heritage, either positively or negatively; and 3) the sentiments of others against Catholicism, Germany (including Austria-Hungary), or immigration. I analyzed these articles for purpose, mood, attitude, and viewpoint. I was looking for the newspaper's views on the Germanic heritage it shared with most of its subscribers; its views on the English heritage that it did not share with the majority of Americans; and its views on those agitating against "Deutschtum" in the United States. My intention was to determine what these views were, how and why they were formed, and how they affected the newspaper and its readers. As to the sociological, religious, and political issues germane between 1896 and 1919, I used the secondary literature listed in the bibliography as my source of information. I specifically investigated xenophobia in the United States (Know­ Nothingism, anti-Catholicism), ethnic newspapers, and Catholicism in the Northwest. I contrasted what I learned about these subjects with what appeared in the St. Josephs­ Blatt. What I found was a German-American Catholic newspaper, edited by a German-speaking Swiss monk, who as a staunch, unswerving supporter of 2 "Deutsch tum," and a vigilant protector of Catholic faith did not hesitate to openly, and at times defiantly, defend his heritage, language, and faith against any detractors. The only fully extant collection of the St. Josephs-Blatt resides in the archives of Mt. Angel Abbey, in Mt. Angel, Oregon. Because the original newspapers are extremely sensitive and brittle, as well as so far from Portland, all research was done with the use of microfilmed copies of the newspaper, which had been made by the University of Oregon in 1965. A few of the films were of poor quality, at times completely illegible. This meant that a number of editions of the paper were not examined. I do not believe, however, that this problem adversely affected the research. CHAPTER II THE ORIGINS OF THE ST. JOSEPHS-BLATT. The St. Josephs-Blatt was founded in 1887 by Fr. Alois Sommer, the German- American pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in southeast Portland, Oregon. His parish was a German speaking congregation, with the inherent German customs and traditions. Little is known about Fr. Sommer except that as a pastor of an ethnic parish, he wanted to do more than just preach to his parishioners on Sundays, baptize their children and teach an occasional catechism course. He wanted to contribute to their day-to-day lives.1 To that end Fr. Sommer decided in 1887 to publish a monthly newspaper, written in German and dedicated to news that would interest his congregation. Accordingly, the St. Josephs-Bliittchen was born.2 In its first year of publication Fr. Sommer was the sole editor, typesetter, proofreader, and printer of the Bliittchen. His nephew and a member of the parish, Ernst Sommer, later worked as his aide and assistant. Sister Dominika, a Benedictine nun from St. Joseph's Grade School in Portland replaced Ernst after he left to begin his university studies. The Bliittchen began as a simple monthly publication, but as this small, part-time project grew in popularity and correspondingly in circulation, the paper's publishing schedule was increased to semimonthly.