The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-08-09
Mass Meeting Of German Citizens at
Milwaukee.

Mass Meeting of German Citizens at
Milwaukee.
| A large and enthusiastic meeting was held
| in Music Hall, Milwaukee on the evening of
the 9th ult., for the purpose of consider
| ing what action should be taken against
| the so,called Sunday and Temperance
Movements. Addresses were delivered by
Ex- Governor Salomon, Messrs. Hartel,
Siebold, Scheffer and others; and the
following declarations adopted:
As in other States of the Union, there
has been also recently in Wisconsin move
for the introduction of laws intending to
conform the observance of Sundays to the
| views of certain religion sects.
As further, meeting was teld lately
in Milwaukee, which recommended the ob..
servance of Sundays in that light, and
even asked that their religious views should
be acknowledged in the constitution.
AS further, certain DIR. Schaf, travel
ing through the United States in behalf of
number of Germans, and especially the
taking, and that he, together with his fell
low believers, only wage.a war of defense
against Sabbath breakers
|
night give expression to the following dec
larations
First. We refer to the first amendment
of the constitution Of the United States;
which reads: Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof and
further, to section IS, first article of the
constitution of the State Of Wisconsin,
which reads as follows:
| "The right of every man to worship Al
mighty God according to the dictates of his
own conscience, shall never be infringed up.
on, nor shall any man be compelled to attend
| erect, or support any place of worship, to
maintain any ministery against his consent
Nor shall any control of or interference with
the right of conscience be permitted, or any
preference be given by law to any religious es-
tablishmcnt or mode Of worship. Nor shall
any money be drawn from the treasury for the
benefit of religious societies, or religious or
| theological semnaries.H
! In view of these paragraphs we protest
as law abiding citizens against each and cv-
cry attempt to substitute a compulsory at
tendance of church within the state of
Wisconsin, and to institute laws In direct
opposition to the articles of our constitu-
ton, to the spirit of the age and the hu-
man dictates of general toleration. We
take position on the stand point of per-
sonal and religious liberty for each and ev-
cry one, and declare that if any sect designs
to enforce upon the people its sorts of Sun
day observance, such usurpation is open tC
all sents, even if they celebrate any indie.
finite day of the week.
We further declare that the Germans oil
Milwaukee never denied the privilege to
anybody to participate at any place of wor-
ship, and never intend to encroach upon
said privilege and therefore we protest ex.
pressly against the assertion OF DIR. Schat.
that this object is but a wal against so call
ed Sabbath breakers, or to use his own
words, beer drinking, Sabbath breaking
and skeptical people. We oppose all pub
iicly pernicious and immoral conduct not
only on Sunday but on every day Of the
week but must insist on the rights
guaranteed by the constitution, to celebrate
Sunday, or days of rest according to our
manner; as we concede to others the right
to act ON Sundays as their conscience, re-
lgion or morals impel them.
We further declare that the assertions
of Dr. Schaf, who passes himself as a
minister of the gospel, and a promulgatol
of the religion of love, only served to pro
woke indignation and sow discord and tina,
the said DR.. Schaf misrepresents the ma
ljority of Germans in the United States
and was never recognized as the exponent
of their opinions.
We further declare that the Germans oI
Milwaukee have always been obedient to
the laws and opposed to all immoral tend
encies and every dissipation they are tol
Grant and eoncede what is absolutely nee
essary for the preservation, strength, har
mony, and mutual good will. And We ex,
pect that nobody will repay our federation
with intolerance, our liberal Tendencies
with fanaticism.
At the same time we express our ac
acknowledgement to those of our American
fellow citizens, who pronounced themselves
by words and writing against compulsior
in the attending of church, and in favo
of the maintenance Of personal freedom.
In conclusion we declare, that we ais
oppose the establishment of the SO callec
temperance laws, which it has been sough
several times to establish Their founder
are animated by the same spirit as tn
advocates of church compulsion. Thes
laws not only infringe upon personal right
like the liberty of trade, but do not checl
the evils of dissipation which we lament
but as experience teaches, abet them an
create and advance hypocrisy and pharis
aical disposition. 81
. MoRTz ScHoEFFLER,
f CHRISTI ANOTT,
BERNHARD DoMsCHKE,
Committee on Resolutions.
|