Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-02-21

Gates OF Reconstruction" shall prove their
sincerity by stunning further alliance with
the enemies Of the policy.
The German Workingmen Of Ciacinnati
and Mr.. Lincoln.
Eighteen German Industrial Associa-
tons. numbering several thousand men.
marched to the Burnet House at eight o.
clock with flags flying, music playing aud
torches burning They packed the street
in front of the Hotel as clio as man could
stand to man. The arrangement was that
they should deliver Mr. Lincoln an address.
an arrangement that seemed likely never to
be effected. for the halls and corridors of
the hotel were SO thronged that it was for
a long time thought to be impossible to get
the President elect on the balcony. May
or Bishop tried to beg the crowd to ex-
cuse Mr.. Lincoln. but without avail He
was their President and they were bouad
to have him. One big Dutchman with
flaming tar stick and Q stentorian voice.
kept crying ont, "you shust brings him cut.
cumes out, you honest Old Abe"
Finally passage way was cleared. and
the following address delivered by Fred.
Oberkliue. Esq. and responded to by Mr..
Lincoln:
To Abraham Lincoin. President elect of tie
United Stofes:
SIn-We, the German. free workingmen
Of Cincinnati. avail ourselves Of this OPP
portnnity to assure you. our chosen Chief
Magistrate. of our sincere and heartfelt re-
gard. You earned our votes as the cham
pion Of free labor anu free homesteads.-
Our vanquished opponents have. in recent
times. made free use Of the terms. work
ingmen" and "workingmen's meetings."
in order to create an impression. % if the
mass of workingmen were in favor of CON-
promises between the interests of free Ia
Dor and slave labor. by which the victory
just won would be turned into Q defeat
This is Q desPicsbfc device of dishonest
men. We spurn such compromises. We
firmly believe in the principles which di.
rected our votes in your favor. We trust
that you. the self-reliant. self made maa,
will uphold the Constitution and the laws
against secret treachery and svowei tres-
son. If to this end you should be in aeed
of men, the German. free workingmen with
others. will rise as one maR at your call,
ready to risk their lives In the effort to
maintain the victory already won BY free
dom over slavery.
REPLY OF Mr.. LINCOLN
Mr.. Chairman, thank you and those
whom you represent. for the compliment
you have paid me. by rendering me this
address. In so far as there is an sllusion
to our present national difficulties, which
expresses. as you have said. the views of
the gentlemen present. shall have to beg
pardon for not entering fully upon the
questions which the address you have now
read suggests.
/ deem it my duty-a duty which owe
to my constituents-to you, gentlemen,
that should wait until the last moment,
for development of the present national
difficulties, before express myself decid-
edly what course ! shall pursue. hope,
then. not to be false to anything that you
have to expect Of me.
l agree with you Mr.. Chairman. that
the workingmen are the basis of all gov
ernments. for the plain reason that they
are the most numerous. and as you added
that those were the sentiments Of the Rsn-
tlemcn present. repres snting not only the
working class, but citizens of other callinss
than those of the me :hanic. 1 am happy to
concur with you in th,se sentiments, not
only OF the native-born citizens, bat also of
the Germans and foreigners from othw
countries.
Mr.. Chairman: hold that while man
exists. it is his duty to improve not only
his own condition, but to assist in anchor
ating mankind; and. therefore, without en-
tering upon the details Of the question, L
will simply say. that am for those means
which will give the greatest good to the
greatest number.
In regard to the Homestead Law. I have
to say that in SO far as the Govern
ment lands can be disposed Of, 1 am in g.
vor of cutting up the wild lands into par
cells. so that every poor man msy hsvs .
home.
In regard to the Germans and foreigners,
esteem them no better than othsr people.
nor any worse. Cries OF "good.'l II l.
not my nature. when 1 see people ssrrc
down by the weight Of their shsckles
OF tyranny--to make their life
more bitter by heapinS upon them greater
burdens; but rather would I do I'll IL my
bower to raise tho yoke. than 10 sdi arp
hing that would tend TO crush them
lnasmuch ~ our conntry is extensive and
lew. and the countries Of Europs arsdsuss-
J populated. If there sre any abroad Who
- A. II II. A. r-n