The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-05-02

an element OF a Republican Government, enter
ing into, and forming part Of its vital exercise,
and il has ever been the vain-glorious boast of
the soi-disant Democracy, that az party, they
have been the watchful and jealous guardians of
this sacred principle. How well grounded that
boast is, may be gathered from the following
article.
Democracy, so called, has in times past, en-
deavored To make the world believe that it hated
despotsm and tyranny in all forms, vet the cloven
foot, which has been covered by this sweeping
cloak of hypocracy, shows itself, in the sneers
cast upon the Germans of lsis, who boldly and
bravely though unsucces-fully, sought to throw
off tyranny and despotism, and to substitute
self-goyernment in their places. The party
maintaining such sentiments, is no less at heart,
than party of bigots and tyrants, as pro-slave-
ry party should be. 1t says:
''Nothing has been more evident for 4 long time
than the fact that the main dependence of the
black republicans in all the States where they
have an existence is on the German vote. In
that lies their main strength. II it be taken
from them in any single State, except possibly
Massachusetts, and Vermont, they Immediately
should be given to their opponents, but let
that vote be silent during a single election,
and there is not State in the Union, with
these two exceptions, in which the party would
not be beaten. In st. Louis it is the German
vote that has brought the black republicans
into power. In Cincinnati il Is the same vote
that has given them whatever triumphs they
have ever enjoyed. The same is true in Chica-
20, and it was the two German wards of that
city that gave Wentworth his whole majority of
twelve hundred at the late municipal election,
the strongest of these wards, the sixth, rolling up
a majority of not less than seven hundred and
fourteen in his favor. IL was in the German
wards of Detroit last fall that the black republic
cans made all the gains by which their Mayor
was elected. And just SO it is through the
country, and it does not by any means hold true
alone in the cities. All those States which have
the largest German population are the strongest
black republican, as New York, Ohio, Michigan,
Iowa, Wisconsin, and the northern portion of
Indiana and Illinois. The Germans at this day
are the mainstay of the black republicans.
This fact is AZ papablc rs the fact that the
black republicans themselves have majority,
and 1t is no diflicnlt matter to trace its cause
But, in the very outset, it is necessary to make
distinction between the Germans themselves,
for not all of them hare defled Hemselves By
tie Impurities and iniY,aties of black repub-
icaniaa. There are fe,c Germans who came
To this country before the year 1913, but are
democrats NOW, just a they always have been
and, if there are any who not, they are
the exception. These are the oh "leOr &c ~
man ci,i,onc, VINO nave settled down upon farms
in the country, or have laboriOusiy followed year
after year other calngs in the cities and larger
towns, and there is not more industrious, hon.
est, and in every way respectable class OF citi-
zens to be found in the United States. A large
portion of them are Lutherans or Catholics, or If
belonging to neither of these sects, they are
mostly believers in religion, and live in strict
accordance with their professions. II is the
German cote that has come into the country
since the year lS4S that a1ftiates pitk black re.
pu6licans and forms its main reliance. 1t Is tie
class that tomented the German ReUolution of
that year, and who since it went against them,
| found home and refuge in this country.
The large immigration that poured in for the
six years following that period is for the most
part directly traceable to that revolution as the
cause why they have fled the old country to tar
ry awhile in the new. Very many of them, and
especially those ,rho are nor prominent actors
an the black republican party, are Political Ref
ugees, Expelled From Their O,on Country as
Turbulent Spirits oho promoted sedition ana
recolution. These men at home uere an poll
ties revOlutionists: az social life beliepers IN
socialism and communion: and so far as reli-
qion uas concerned they belonged TO that class OF
free thinkers who many dub infdels. They arr
born radicals, and that Of the ertremest Kind
More speculative than practical, they embrace
all the extreme doctrines of erery mature, an gou.
ernmental policy, IN ordinary politics, an do
nestle lite, and in religion. The German gov
eminent was always in trouble with them on ac-
count of their revolutionary projects which cul.
minated in 1913, and Il lcas good thing for
the government achen 1t cas oceH rid OF them
| These men-and We speak only of the radi.
Gals, the communicates, and the free thinkers
who formed so large portion of German emf.
grafton for six years after lsIS, and every one
Of whom is now voting the black republican
ticket-these men brought with them exactly
the same principles they cherished in Europe.
| They Are The Same RecolutiOnists, The Same
Commemorate, The Same Mfdsls; Ihey are
as ready TO rage ,car upon the mythical Stare
porer Msy ,cere upon their government al
home They Still hare Faith IN their Erploded
Social System they still RerIe Reliqion and
put their trust in such spirits as Tom Paine and
the like. They make it point to preserve their
old habits and customs, and especially their
principles for many of them still live in almost
daily expectation of being called back to regen.
| crate Germany, Just As the Jews always expect,
and are prepared to be called to Jerusalem, at a
moments warning. Many of them convert their
property into cash, ready Tor start at any
time, and there is now a prominent black re.
publican Otice-holder in this city, who, two or
three years ago, had not been naturalized, and
may not be this day, and for the same reason.
If blast of revolution in Germany, like that OF
| ls4S, should come to-day over the ocean, there
would be hundred thousand black republican
voters out of the country in less than sixty DAYS
These men do not wish to become Americanized.
Their thoughts, their feelings, their interests
| are still in Germany; many of them came here
| through compulson, and they expect to return
again TO their home. They regard themselves
mere sojourners, and it really makes little diff.
| ference to them whether We have good govern
ment or bad one, whether the Union is 10 be
preserved or rent in twain. Coming here as
Reeolntionists and I-fdels, they naturally took
to abolitionism and sectiondlim worshipping
always a sort of dreamy ideal of liberty, they
really thought black republicanism was its im-
personation, and therefore attached themselves
very readily TO that organization, and became
great enthusiasts for it. Ertreme, Radical,
Revolutionary, Sectional, Fdna.ieai, Socialis-
| tic, and 7ransitory;-such is the character OF
| the major portion Of tbs Jlaek Republican Ger.
| man rote. On the slavery question they Guido
Garrison and Wendell Phillips; in socialism they
out-rival Greeley and Albert Brisbane; in reli.
cion they are match for Abby Kelley and
Henry c. Wright. The black republicans dare
| not take a conservative candidate for President
/ for fear thew offend them II WAS some Of the