The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-26
JUDGE DOUGLAS AND THE GERMANS

Judge Douglas was waited upon recently, in
Chicago, by large deputation of the Germans
OF that city, and in response to the address of
their spokesman, he made the following among
other remarks:
II am obliged to you for your kind allusion
to my efforts to strike down that proscriptive
policy which attempted, few years ago, to in
wade the social. civil, and religious freedom of
this country. Inadde the first speech erer pro.
nounced on the american Continent against
that proscriptiUe system uhich proposed TO strike
men doom on account of their birthplace or
the'r religion. Immense enthusiasm Of all
tne acts OF injustice ever attempted to be per-
petrated, the greatest was to make the birth
place or the religious creed political test in
the exercise of the elective franchise [Cbeers
l hold that this Government was estshl;ab.
ed by the white men of the continent-men of
European birth or European descent, then on
the continent. 1t was established for the bene
tit OF white men, to be administered by white
men, on the white basis. Spain and France
Ia their colonies on the American continent,
admitted the negro and Indian to citizenship
with the white man, on an equality. In the
colonies from which this nation sprung, the no.
litical rights we're confined to the white men
not merely to Englishmen, or Germans. ;sr
Swedes, or Swiss, but to all white men, all mn
of European birth and posterity. Say wba
you please, the experience of the world proves
that there is such thing as superior and n.
ferior races. The experience of the world in
ell ages proves that the negro is incapable Of
selfgovernment in all clines. Cheers For
this reason, our fathers, in making our instr d.
tons, confaed the governing power to tte
white race, excluding no white man, but q.
king no mixed basis, either with the Indians or
negroes. Look at the difference between the
Spanish American colonies and the Fren- b.
American colonies, and the colonies of whyeh
this country was originally composed. ThSir
political smalgamation has produced domestic
amalgamstion and Decentralization; and deg A.
dstion below the point of capacity for self g ~.
eminent has been the result in every instar se.
Here the white basis has been preserved, nd
we find the highest meatsl, physical, moal,
and social development that the world has ever
witnessed. Bravo and cheers
Gentlemen, our duty is, by stern and i'm.
flexible adherence to this grest principle of
selfgovernment, by elevating our race and IRE.
serving the pure principles of Government upon
which all our institutions rest, to 20 forward in
the mission which the Almighty has confiaed
to us, We are engaged in fierce political
contest in this State a conflict involving great
political principles at which have Just glanced.
but which it will be my purpose in every part
OF. the State, during the ensuing summer, to
discuss freely before the people, in a candid and
| frank manner, in order to take their verdict
upon my acts as their representative in, ths
! Senate of the United States. 1t will be my
pleasure, and / trust it will be yours, to sleet
you and all our German fallow-citizens, and
discuss these questions and such others as may