Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-10-10
German Democrats Mass Meeting,

Of Dayton aud vicinity held one Of the largest
Mass Meetings ever before held in this city
Beckels Hall was literally crSmmed with peoN
pie eager to listen to the speakers announced
for the evening. The procession presented a
noble appearance and could not have number
ed less than fifteen hundred participants
DR.. Egry presided, the proceedings com
meuced by the reading Of letter from Hon.
los. r. Egly, Of Oinci nnati, who in terms Of
sincere regret expressed his inability to be
present on the occasion. The meeting felt
somewhat disappointed at this announcement
for Mr. Egly numbers almost the entire German
population of this city among his friends who
always delight to hearhm dissect in his known
masterly manner. the fallacies Of the opposi.
ton and to preach understAndingly, true dem,
ocratic doctrines.
DR.. Fem was then introduced by the chair
man and received with tumultuous applause.
BE discoursed elOquenty democratic principles
and announced himself a firm believer in the
doctrine of popular sovereignty. In humorous
aud sarcastic strain he took the pseudo.repub
licans 10 task for their desire to tear down all
social and political dstn ction between the
white and black races and for their evident
aud expressed tendency towards complete
amalgamation. Unfortunately the Doctor
seemed to be in bad health which circumstance
compelled him soon to desist.
DR.. Egry then introduced Mr.. A. V. Hofer,
Of Cincinnati, who for more than two hours held
the audience completely spellbound. We sell
dom saw au audience so attentive listeners and
so much interested in every word that fell from
the speakers lips. A short synopsis Of Mr..
Hofer's speech will show our readers that the
attention Of the meeting and their expectation
Of Mr. Hofer's abilities were well bestowed.
The speaker began by atating, that the very
namess. the Opposition party, calling themS
selves Republican" was in itself cheat and
fraud, upon the people. 1t is, he said, not
only to be assumed but it is to be taken as
fact, that all who owe allegiance to our great
and growing Republic, were republicans in
principle as well as in fact that republicans
ism was diffused throughout the vast expanse
Of our country, aud that especially the adopted
citizen, who forsakes the home Of his youth,
the society of early friends, who wanders far
away where the soothing influence of his kin
drsd cannot reach him, to a land Of strangers
to him, solely with the purpose to escape from
the fangs Of an oppressive despotism, to feel
himself a man among fellow men, gives unde-
niabe and convincing proof of his firm attach
ment TO the principles Of Republican govern
ment.
II needs not, the speaker continued sepa-
rate designation, an iDvidious distinction OF
mere party, to show US who is republican aud
who is not. Every citizen Of this country is in
truth aud in fact consistent republican and to
say otherwise is a malicious slander upon a
vast majority of the Americeu people. The
Opposition party calling itself exclusively re-
publican are guilty of slanderiug the people
because by assuming that term they clans
timely insinuate, that those who oppose the as
cendancy of the Republican" party are anti
republican in principle. The speaker asked
the meeting whether any of them would quietly
submit to such slanderous insinuations, and
whether they would not be ready at all bazard'
to protect the institutions Of their adopted
home against any foe from within or without
This remark was received with tremendous ap
plause. But continued, Mr. Hofer, as we have
to fight with this so called republican party
let us examine how far their republcanism ex
tends. The first principle of true republican,
ism is the equality ofthe citizens, gra nting al
the same rights aud imposing upon all the SAINT
duties. Here the speaker analyzed the Massa'
chusetts amendment and completely refuted
the libelloVa charge made by certain Mr.. Has
ssuteck at a late German meeting in this city
that the Democrats ought 10 be held responsi
BILE for it, He explained the activity, Gov
Banks, one of the leaders of the republican
party, displayed to have that amendment, al
offspr ing Of his own mind, adopted in MassS
chusetts.
The speaker then referred to the action Of th
late Republican State Convention Of Ohio anC
that part OF their ambiguous platform which
seems 10 condemn the action Of their republican
brethren Of Massachusetts. But Dotwithstand d.
ing this pretended leaning towards the right
Of adopted citizens they nominated and nov
sustain and uphold as their candidate for Il
= Governor, DR.. Kirk, who in the Legislature Q
1856, tried his best to procure the passage OF
y law, taking from the State Courts the power t
naturalize, and failing 10 this. this very sam
DR.. Kirk then proposed to enact. that 81
months should intervene between the date q
naturalization and the right 10 vote. This
a the same odious principle as embodied in III
Massachusetts, amendment and the speAke
proved by reference to the journals of the Leg
I. islature, that all the republicans, with the e'
b. ception Of but three, voted for both Of d.
Kinks propositions, while all the democrat
with not single exception, voted firmly an
"a persislently against it,
|. Here the spesksr referred to the action of II
ia Republicans Of Wisconsin, who defeated thi
talented German, Carl SchurE. once in the ele,
? ton for 1t. Governor. and latsly in the Conver
10 tion for Governor, and contrasted with il tb
;, action Of the Democrats Of Illinois who not onl
nominated Gustays KOerner, German by brt
for Il. Governor. bot elected him, by givin
y HIM a larger number Of votes than to any oth'
is candidate on the ticket. Reference was all
IA had TO the Democrats Of Minnesota, who
\, 1857 elected @. Becker, a native Of German.
a as Representative in Congress, who have no
= nominsted the same gifted gentleman for Gov
~ ernor of their State aud who will elect him,
their ticket be generally successful.
" The speaker then took up the treasury defa
in cation and showed conclusively, that althoug
O. no party can be held strictly responsible for Il
n mis- deeds Of the three treasurers, that yet u