The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-18
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Ep1roRIA1 OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT TOPICS COMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
CAN THE ERMAN-AMERICANS BE
GAINED TO THE RIGHT SIDE?


GAINED TO THE RIGHT SIDE?
From the N. Y. Times
Our remarks on the unfortunate position
of the German Americans in New FORK city,
in the long struggle begun by honest men
with municipal corruption, have had the effect
we desired. They have called forth from the
press in every portion of the country inqui-
ries and thoughtful consideration as to the
reasons of the New York Germans being
separated from the party to which they
naturally belong, and to which their COM
patriots in other States usually tend.
That the subject is of immense import
ance, both to the general welfare, and
to the success of the Republican party, all
will admit. The recent investigation of
the census shows an even greater population
of German Americans in this city than has
been supposed certain district alone, on
the east side, is credibly reported to con-
tain 237, 900 persons of German birth or de-
scent. Beyond this quarter In other wards,
in the outskirts of the city, and in Brooklyn
and williamsburg, must be as many thou
sands more. 1t is not extravagant estimate
that fifty thousand votes are cast by this ma
tionality in every municipal and general cleo
tion in this city and suburbs alone.
These votes are sufficient if cast on the
right side, to take the control of New York
utterly from the sharpers and demagogues
who disgrace it; to inaugurate an entirely
new and reformed city government to re-
deem the State Legislature and officials, and
bring them on the Republican side. 1t is
not too much to say that in q close Presden-
tial election they might decide the character
of the National Government. Those who are
struggling through much Encouragement to
bring about more honest state of affairs in
our city administration, feel that they have
nothing to expect from the Irish Catholic
masses. These men have, from the time of
their first emigration, been the tools of cum
ming demagogues and Democratic politicians.
The priests and the ring join hands in hood
wipking and leading this ignorant crowd.
They are bound now to the Democratic party
by association, by innumerable Offices and
by priestly influence. They will never break
from the control of the Democratic organi-
zation.
With the Germans, however, this is all
reversed. The German Catholic is not under
the control of mis- priest and if he be, the
priest may be of the school of DR.. Dollinger
and belong to the American Liberal party.
The Germans are tied by few offices to any
party; they are not led by American or Irish
demagogues; they are honest, intelligent,
respectable, hard-working folk, who are tenn
porarily separated by certain prejudices (of
social sort) from the political organization
which would best suit them. Their sympa-
thies are all with the old Anti-Slavery and
Republican party of this country, and directly
opposed to the reactionary and merely Office
seeking faction who call themselves the ''De-
mocracy."
The World fances that it can beguile its
German readers by repeating some of it's
well-used phrases, which had such remark
able effect during the war with the Rebellion.
Then, as now, it warned the people against
''the tyrant in the Presidential chair" against
GENERALIZATION terminating in despotism;"
against 'interfering with the sacred rights"
of Southern citiZens-and then, as now, it
protested with ponderous and Johnsonian
eloquence that this Government was being
perverted into centralized despotism." We
all know the effect of these warnings then on
our German fellow-citizens We may re-
member that they were among the first
in arms against the Rebellion, and that
their principal orators were the ear
lest in advocating emancipation, and
vigorous centralized" measures. Their
votes again swelled the tide which
carried in MIR. Lincoln a second time, and
which afterwards brought General Grant to
the Presidential chair. When the World
gives the COMMUNICATIONS the cry of
estates Rights now, it happily forgets that
the watchword of the Liberals in Germany is
Omitted Federal Government" with strong
powers, and that the 'Reaction" have in
scribed on their banners estates Rights" and
the independence of local communities. No
people nave 10lC tQ6 6VllS OF local 1nu0p6n-
dence, and of the constant expressions of
small States, like the Germans. They have
more fear of extreme NATURALIZATION OF
separation of community than of an over.
weeniDg Federal power.
They see in this country that q terrible
civil war like ours, and grand act of ma
tional emancipation, necessarily involve some
abnormal and semi-military measures, for the
sake of preserving the peace of the country
and protecting the freed slaves. 1t is not
the Ku-klux bill which has separated the New
York Germans from the Republican party
but far other matters, not SO important per-
haps, but which possess great weight in the
view of Germans. Those we have already
discussed, and we do not despair that the
causes of disagreement can be removed.
CAN THE TREATY BE USED TO SECURE
THE PAYMENT OF CONFEDERATE
BONDS?
FTom the N. Y. Sun.
There is something exceedingly suspicion
in the extraordinary efforts that have beer
made to prevent the public from learning tn,
actual details of the new treaty, and in tn
attempts to shroud the proceedings connectet
with its consideration by the Senate in mys
terry. Lord Granville announced in tn
British House of Lords that the treaty woult
be publicly submitted to Parliament as sool
as received; but here the administration ha
determined that it must be forced through
with closed doors, and from the first ever
exertion has been made to keep from tn
American people a knowledge of its proyi
sions. Worse than this, one-sided state
ment purporting to be a summary of tn
lo,,k ,7bf oh in in,