New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-18

We believe that majority Of our fellow-citizens
of that class which, before its expatriatiOn at home
and naturalization here, was German are at heart
honest, peaceable and well-meaniDg. We believe,
too, that they are exceedingly impressble, aud
easily drawn into Incorporate display by designing
persons whenever old sympathies and home recOl-
lectioDs are excited. We believe, moreover, that
in political matters from influences which the more
intelligent among them will admit, they are more
apt to feel than to reason. With the narrow aud
bigOted Dark LanterDism which would exclude
them from the polls we have not mOrsel of sym.
pathy We have not seen fit, at this comparatively
early hour to quarrel with the great American idea
or TO abandon the great American experiment; and
it will require than the deplorable expe-
riences of the last month to shake the faith which
we have professed, and by the light of which it
has been our wont to act and to write. But
surely those who have, at all times and under
every kind of encouragement, sustained the rights
of foregn-born citizens in subsection to that
great idea of human freedom, which includes men
of every creed, color and country, have right
to ask for the cooperation of those whom they have
defended. Above ALL it is neither manly nor gem
erou. nor Christian, for those who have been with
good heart if not with a strong and victorious
hand, thus defended, to heap, by their own mis-
conduct, dlaicultes in the way of their own pro-
gress Still less is it the part Of ordinary prudence
to put weapons into the hands of the enemy. At
this crisis, it is the duty of every honest German
to think aud TO ask if street fights, and the ndul-
gence in nationality prOfessedIy abandoned, may
not rekipde those fires of intolerance which not
long ago blazed so lurdly, and which all good men
have been happy to consider almost extioguishedl
This is indeed duty which concerns us all, and in
the performance of which both those who were
born upon the soil ard those who have sought it as
a sanctuary from oppression are alike interested,
since the hopes, necessities, dangers and happiness
Of either class are the same.
There must be many honest men in the Seven.
teenth Ward of this city who would be very angry
were the name of I" Americans" denied to them,
and who still persist, in spite of the palpabe
anomaly in calling themselves "Germans." They
insist upon being Germans in their habits, manners,
customs and language, and olannish in their social
arrangements Webnow how hard it is at once to
shake off all the associations, memories and attach
ments of birthplace and no one could be more toll
Grant than we are of an innocent indulgence in
such feelings. But the merest tyro must under
stand the wide difference between political duties
and social pleasures. When Germans seek New
York. when they become by virtue of solemn obi
cations American citizens they have no right to con-
slider Themselves as anything but Americans.
How are our institutions to exist for
a single year if We are to have petty
and exclusive nationslties established and
maintained, and especially, if we are to have them
thus constituted, defyng the legal authorities
And vet look at all the dsgracefnl troubles which
we have had in the Seventeenth Ward These
riots are all reported in the newspapers, and spoken
of in the streets and in the public meetings as Ger
man riots. How discreditsbe is that to the Ger
man name how deep stain does it cast upon men
of noble origin 1t is true that John Miller, the
man who was unfortunately shot, was by birth
q German. But he was, nevertheless, by choice
and adoption an American. He was no more
wroDged than any American would have been who
had been killed in a similar way. And yet, mark
the whole style of the subsequent proceedings His
neighbors insist upon aveDgiDg him, not as an Amer
lean but as German martyr. AT once German
nobs are organized to destroy those who are
falsely supposed to be the murderers of Muller
1t is insisted upon that the Coroner, who is to in
vestieate the death, shall appoint majority of
Germans upon hi. Jury. At his funeral, the same
nationality is kept up. One reporter, not our own,
says:
O'Clock the hearse arrived and tire crowd
vicinity q the house At thi. junctIre elderly
out the doorstep aud commenced address in
Gem nch our reporter unable 10 understand but it,
effect upon the audience was alarming"
Over the corpse was carried white flag in
scribed in German, "VICTIM OF THE METROPO
PoIITAS Police" As the procession moved the
language of Germany filed the air. Then we have
the following call issued
All the German citizens OF the Seventeenth Ward
hereby requested 10 stterd general meeting 20 take ps
Tue'dsy the 10th nst at Eusaehs Garden No. 55 Fourth
street reai Avenue The purpose Of said meeting 20 de
bbernte tsi meens and given o US to est further
muTdeTous attacks Of the Metropolitan Police and to bring the
murderes b punishment. Signed:
John Scbsppert J. A. Pafam. s. Eu,tachi Joseph Koch
Henry Ruhl, william Groen 1T Frsns Ruhel FTaaz BeIk.