We have received the following letter together with the appended appeal. We are 
publishing the communication in accordance with its authors’ wishes. 


For the California Staats-Zeitung 
Washington, January 14, 1853 


TO THE GERMAN-AMERICAN PUBLICH 


With the monster trial in Cologne, the workers’ movement in 
Germany has entered a new phase. It has cast off the fetters which 
the small compass of a fanatical sectarian movement imposed upon it 
and has stepped out openly into the political arena. Statesmen of the 
proletariat confronted the public prosecutors of the bureaucratic 
police state; the aristocrats and members of the bourgeoisie from the 
Rhineland who formed the jury set themselves up as a court martial 
and pronounced their verdict “guilty” on labour’s opposition to their 
privileges. This being the situation, it is an agreeable duty for us to 
publicise the appended appeal, which members of our association 
have received from the signatories for distribution in the United 
States, and at the same time we offer our services to transmit to 
London any small sums remitted, against statement of account. 

Whatever title your organisations bear, in these times when your 
members are enjoying many a frolicsome evening of conviviality, 
give heart to our active friends back home by stretching out a helping 
hand to those struck down in the struggle by donating the money 
raised at such gatherings. Contributions should be sent to the 
following address: Relief Fund, care of Adolf Cluss, Adams 
Express, Iron Building, Washington D.C. 


Washington, January 10, 1853 
J. Gerhardt, President 


Ad. Cluss, Secretary 


622 Appendices