The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-03

motion of DR.. Bcldeman, the names
twelve German citizens for nomination q
Common Councilmen, two from each war
n the city. Whether this is to be gent
inc, bona tide movement, iuaugurated fc
the purpose of securing in the city govern
ment considerable representation of tn
German element of the city, or whethe
these men and this movement is designe
to be simply tail to the Conservative kit,
, will go far to determine the character G
the undertaking, and would enable US {
form reasonable opinion as to its proba
BILE success.
We believe that the whole thing is
sham and pretence, gotten up for tn
simple purpose of deluding honest mel
into the support of men and measure
with whom they have no sympathy
from whom they can receive no Justice
or even decent consideration. II ha.
not, however, the merit of being a new
device, but has been SO often heretofore
resorted to as to be tolerab'y well under
stood by even the most unintelligent Ger.
man voter.
There never has been, since the close Of
the war, an election held in Richmond
which has not been preceded by just such an
attempt as this to deudo German citizens
into the support of men who have always
been known to be inimical to them. 1t
would be interesting, if practicable, to as
certain at whose suggestion the meeting
last night was held; after that it would be
well to inquire what motives inspired the
originator of tue enterprise.
Does any intelligent man suppose that
any citizen of native birth nstigated that
meeting in order to keep men of his own
class out of the Council, aud put Germans
in? Probably not The inference is ire
sistible that the true object was not to put
Germans in the Council, or to elevate them
to any station of trust or responsibility,
but rather to keep them, as they hereto-
fore have been, politically, in the degraded
and menial employment of "drawers of
water and hewers Of stone"
1t is true, and recognized fact that the
Germans deserve to be, from their numbers,
responsibility and pecuuiary interest in
the city, represented in all important posi-
tions; but so long as they allow themselves
to be made the tools of those who wish to
use them only as the means for their own
elevation, they will utterly fail to have
such justice done. So long as wealth was
unequally distributed. it was easy for an
aristocracy to possess and exercise control
in politics as well as in social influence /:
but now that riches are being distributed
among those who work and save, rather
than absorbed by those who do neither, the |
old method fails, and there remains for
this aristocracy, which is not dead nor
likely to die, only one way in which they
can perpetuate vicious rule, which is to
wheedle and delude, deceive and defraud.
not only the Germans, but all other hard
working, intelligent and industrious men
into their support.
We know of but one way 10 which this
evil can be corrected. Let the seventy
five gentlemen who were at the meeting
last night, aud considerable proportion
Of all Of their friends, attend the ward
caucuses and other meetings where nomi-
nations are made, and propose, in order to
test this question, that one or more Ger
mans, of recognized character and stand
ing, too intelligent to be deceived and too
honest to cheat be at the outset nominated
Is candidates of the Conservative party as
Jouncilmen. Such movement, instead
If being successful and securing the nomi-
nation desired, will be denounced and op-
posed bitterly from the outset.
The "Ring" mentioned by the Wing on
yesterday, will surely be present, for its
'iews has permeated every single precinct
n the city. The controllers OF that or
,anization are determined to have no man
'ut in nomination who does not belong
o it and if You are honest and INTEL
ent you might be forty times the Ger
han you are and still never obtain a
omination.
1t is high time that not only Germans,
ut mechanics, and in fact all classes Of
nen who wish to save this city from the
esolution and ruin which awaits it, should I
asst off the lethargy which has heretofore
,ade them powerless, as well as the sub
-ryiency which has made them slaves of !
esigniug demagogues. Fighting singly /
nd alone they are sure to BE- beaten, act c
ig In concert unitedly, success is not only Q
ossible but easy. Let it be understood q
nat you are no longer in leading strings;
ut that intelligent and self-reliant, for the
lture you intend to take care of your g
wn interest, your power win become ire !
stible
The Republican party makes no false
retences, and offers no delusive hopes, 7
eing a party of workngmen, it respects v
bor; loving freedom, it clncedes liberty !