The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-05-01
The Printing Of Our Laws In German.
The calm assurance Of the following

Il no Cdlll 0oSui dilCC VI tbo
editorial from the Volksbote is amusing,
if not alarming. The proprietor Of that
paper is a standing candidate for Office
both by Executive appointment and elec-
ton by the people. In it our native
language is ridiculed, and We are told,
that as the Germans are the majority,
we must learn Dutch TO geta knowledge
sof our own laws. We know that no re-
spectacle number of Germans respond to
such sentiments or countenance such as
SYMPTOMS. They are all anxious to be
come Americans in mind, feeling, Ian
guage and habit, and in this community
their desire to assimulate, was manifested
in their hearty co operation with native
citizens in the maintainance Of our
schools,-.he nurseries of American feel
ing and education,-where the children Of
all classes and nationalities are amalga-
mated;
The following was in the issue Of the
volksbots of April 24th:
The question whether our City Charter
and ordinances shall be printed in English
only, or whether they shall also be printed
in the German language, should be looked al
from more than one side. We are not ut all
inclined, in common with the anthor of yes
terday's communication, to dispute with the
opponents of Mentzer's Resolution upon the
ground, only, that lack of knowledge Of
the English language would disable the Ter
man population to fully comply with, and
live up to the law. IL is true, we cannot de-
ny that there are Germans among us whc
are not in possession of the English language
but they ara only small minority. and ever
those would, after the publication of the or
dinances, at least comply with them AS close
ly as they do to-day. ~.
Nevertheless, it is, and remains truth
tina; every law, in all cases, should be so print
cd as to be understood by everybody and the!
should be very wcighty reasons, which woul'
induce tre Council to communicate the cit,
ordinances only in that language which TIN
smallest number of citizens call their own
But what have the friends OF such measur
srgucdl The preservation Of the purity o
the English language. That deserves mp
probationl A pity, only, that every on
knows that the monster, called the Englisl
language, neither in consequences Of its con
struction, nor in consequence Of its etymol
ogy, nor for any other quality it possesses
can DO justified in demands, which, withou
bad consequences, cannot be granted.
The question of expenses has also been dis
cussed, but We, for ourselves, can't see hov
that should have a decisive bearing upor
the matter.
1.-THE publication in both Languages comes
too high, very well, than give the German TN
preference, because a majority Of the inhabi
tants are Germans. Should that not be done
why then surely there can be means anC
ways found, by which those speaking boil
German and English can be satisfied withou
bringing about the bankruptcy of the city
But say others, if thu printing in German i
ordered, You would, in the end, also have Il
furnish French, Spanish and Italian transls
tons. When Evansville shall have from Z,
600 to s 900 French inhabitants then the,
will have as much right as the German
have to-day and there should be no obstruc
tons offered to grant them what is thei
due.