Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-23
WHAT THE GERMANS SAY.

We have already referred to the protests
from German Republicans. In Boston, where
they number several hundreds, they forwarded
remonstrance to the legislature, earnestly
protesting against the proposed amendment,
declaring that the German emigrants now ar
irving in the country are to man Republican,
that through their votes and the absence from
the polls of many Irish voters, who were
ashamed to vote for slavery, the Republicans
were enabled to carry the two Boston Dis
tricts and they further denounce the amend
ment as in violation of the Philadelphia plat
form, and declare that its passage will drive
the voters of foreign birth from the Republi-
can party throughout the country.
The German Republicans of Newark, N j.,
have issued protest against the amendment
in which they declare that the passage will
foreshadow the victory of the Pro-Slavery
Party in 1S60-and they further say
We denounce this measure as anti-Republi
can in principle, as in flat contradiction with
the Philadelphia platform of 1856, upon which
we fought and will fight again; we denounce
it as unjust and impolitic, because it divides
citizens of the same Commonwealth into two
classes, the one with, the other without the
elective franchise, thus creating the worst of
all possible evils in Republican State-a SUI
perior and inferior class we denounce it be-
cause it proscribes a portion of our people,
whose efforts will yet succeed to make Missou-
ri a free State we denounce this bill as tes-
monium paupertatis, certified to by the
Representatives of Massachusetts to their own
State, heretofore justly celebrated, as the ban
of on5r
dom we denounce it as crime committed
against human progress; but still more than
this, as folly, which of no practical benefit to
Massachusetts itself, embarrasses in the most
frivolous manner the Opposition as a national
party and endangers its success and victory,
by forcing mighty arms into the hands of the
PrO-Slavery Party, when that party is enabled
to inscribe championship of adopted citizens"
on their banner, in the next Presidential cam
paign; but last of all, we denounce it as di-
rect violation of the spirit of the Constitution
of the United States, which means not only
that a foreigner shall be citizen in five years,
ifhe fulfill the requirements of the law, but also
that he be entitled to all the privileges of cit
izen.
The Germans of Toledo, Ohio, have issued
an address to the people of Massachusetts,, in
which they say:
The citizens of Toledo, Ohio, of German
birth, have heard with establishment and in
dgnation that the Legislature of your State
has passed an amendment to your Constltu-
ton, to the effect that no naturalized citizen
shall hereafter have the right to vote in your
State until he has resided there two years af-
ter receiving his certificate of citizenship
Not questioning the right of your Representa-
tives to legislate on matters pertaining to the
welfare of your Commonwealth, we still take
the liberty as fetloo citizens and as members of
the Republican party, to express our opinion on
this subject, now before you for final action.
We hailed with delight the success of the
Republican party in Massachusetts, and the
election, as your Governor, Of the late Speaker
of the House of Representatives in Congress
whose elevation to that seat we watched with
anxious solictude. We always considered it
fundamental principle of the Republican par
ty, that all citizens had equal rights before the
law, without distinction of color or birth But
this action of your legislature strikes at the
very root of these external principles of equal
ity and right. We had never expected that
the Party of the Rights of All Men would
signalize their accession to power in your
State by enacting such clauses, discriminating
between citizens and should this measure be
approved of by Republicans, and by the silence
of their press, then we citizens Of German de-
scent will have nothing more to do with such
party-we will never more lend our help to
elevate party to power which tramples us
under foot.
The German Republican delegates of the
different wards in New York, in general coun.
Gil assembled, have issued protest against
the amendment of considerable length, and
very earnest in its terms. The German Re-
publicans of Chicago, in behalf of 1000 Ger
man Republicans of that city, sent out me-
mortal to our legislature, in which they say
The Republican party does not acknowledge
any particular superiority and privileged posi-
ton of race, but stands on the broad basis of
the Declaration Of Independence. Why,
then, create privileged class of white citi-
zens4
We are of opinion that the law Of Congress
in regard to naturalization is amply sufficient,