Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-09-08
The German Democrats and the war.

The Germans in the United States who have
adhered to the Democratic party appear to have
taken considerable notice of the fact that the
journals " their political party and tho party in
general have given the weight of their moral in
iinence to the side of France in the war. The
Anzeiger des Res'ens, OF st. Louis, tho most
influential German Democratic paper in the West
says OH ts subject:
With the exception of the Missouri Republican
and a few other rather insignificant papers, The
entire Democratic press III dmericd has taken
side in The present ,rar for France This is a
fact which cannot be denied, and which should
not be concealed from German Americans. In
vain one seeks for reasons to explain this sym-
pathy of the American Democracy with Bona
partisan aud its victim, the misguided French
people. AS the traditional prediction for France
on account of the support it gave to tho United
States in the war OF Independence, as nativistic
dislike for the unoved German element in
America, az, finally, ignorance and prejudces
with regard to European relations are within the
Republican party at least as strong as in tho
Democratic party, one might assume that the
| sympathy for Germany or France IN both parties
must be about equally divided. But this is not
30. The overwhelming majority Of Republican
papers recognizes the Justice Of the cause of
Germany and brings articles on the war and
state of affairs in Germany and France which
betoken a thorough knowledge of the subject
and independent judgment, while majority
| just as overwhelming of the Democratic papers
| of the English language, not only sympathizes
with France, but is filled with the most veno.
mons lies and the greatest abuse with regard tc
Germany.
| II ignorant American scllbblers still indulge
the Authorization that the French people, OF
which 45 per cent cannot read and write arc
marching at the head of civilization, one NIGH
attribute this to their ignorance of truth. Bu
il is spite, ii we must read in American paper,
that Bonapartistic France enjoys more freedom
than Germany, while every reader of newspaper,
ought to know that the contrary is the case
that for many years the press i'll Germany la.
been more free than in France; that the depart
ments of administration and Justice are more
honest and better,and that Germany has more
efficient representation of the people thar
France. That Germany during the last decennia
has advanced with gigantic steps in its scientli,
as well as its political life that in no country Of
the world popular education stands higher, ant
family life is purer and beter-all this seems t.
he entirely unknown to our American Democrats
II is equally unknown to them that under the
rule of the Bonaparte the decentralization Of
France in political as well as in family life has
made gigantic progress, and that the iron pres
sure of Cnsarism has paralyzed all minds. ever
in the provinces of literature.
Yet why discuss subject which in fact has
only one side, and with regard to which all un
prejudced educated men, among them even {
large number of Frenchmen, have only one
opinion' We have attentively read the Demo
cratic papers Of the English tongue which day fo
day have given expression to their English sym
pathies but found in tkem little deserving
reputation. But we also find daily in the Demo
cratic English press articles which fill MS witt
establishment, and, to be frank, with indignation
and shame. What, for instance. can we say Of
articles like the one in the New York World
, under the title, "School Girls, in which til,
most dissraceful insinuations are made agains
, Prussia.
The insults which Democratic papers now heal
upon the German people 80 deep, and will no
be soon forgotten. And it should not be forgot
ten, for it shows clearly the spirit which animate
; the English Democratic papers, and what W,
may expect from them.
} The journal Of .Neo York, one Of the dali
Democratic papers. copies and fully approves
, the above article.