The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-31

ceded rights of suffrage; indeed, it
went further in making an attack
upon the Roman Catholic religion,
and denying to its believers, also, the
right, though probably natives, of
enjoying certain political privileges.
This attack upon Catholicity was
made in consequence of fear of for
eign influence in fact, the whole
scheme was a vile intention to knock
the foreign support from beneath the
Democracy, by denying them and
Catholics political ights, calculating
that by such evil means the defeat
and permanent downfall of their
opponents could be obtained and eff
fected. Butt such end was attained.
State struggles came off with the
defeat of this horrid ism, and finally,
in 1856, the Democracy spread itself
in a powerful effort, and hand in hand
with the foreigner and Catholic, con-
signed Know Nothingism to oblivion,
and preserved to themselves in tact
those sacred rights which the
Constitution and laws had declared
should belong to them forever.
The Democratic and foreign ele-
ments were identified up to the com~
mencement of the war. The Ger
mans, more particularly, being raised
in their native land to the profession
of arms, were readily enlisted into
the Union service. The ranks were
rapidly filled up by them, and a con-
slant, fresh supply was poured into
the service during the entire term of
the struggle. These men did not
join the army for any love of cause.
Thousands of them did not know
what it was thousands did not even
know the language of the people for
whom they fought. Large bounties
were paid, and so the homeless and
friendIess wanderer, just upon the
shores, it was a happy chance that he
could thus get immediate employ
meat, and to the German it only be-
came renewal of profession which
he had known from earliest man
hood.
Few Germans lived in the South,
and but few were in the Southern
army. The ports were all closed,
except at the North, and hence all
the foreign recruiting went into the
Union armies, and naturally, as their
numbers swelled to quite half of the
whole force, this element became
identified with the war party, and
gave it their hearty support. 1t was
not through principle but association
they commenced to extend toward
the Southern people any hatred.
But it should be remembered this
war party at the North was COM
posed largely of Democrats, some of
whom were the most inVeterate war
men of the day; yet so soon as the
battle was over, so soon as the BAN
ners were furled and laid away, these
Democrats returned to their homes,
and once more became the support
ers of civil law. They were still the
same men who struggled for the
rights of the foreigner and Roman
Catholic in 1856; the Democratic
party was the same, and the differ
enee in the conduct of these men and
their German associates, was attribu~
table to the fact that they were raised
under different institutions. The
Germans, in consequence of their
raising were awed by the prestige of
the ruling party, which, in the chang
ing of politics, represented the old
political foes of the Democrats. They
had simply not kept pace with their
steadfast defenders, in consequence
of hereditary ideas.
Happily the German is to-day
waking from his forgetfulness, and
falling into the ranks of those who
said, in 1856, that he had rights
under the Constitution and laws, that
should be his at every peril. In
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other
States, and now in Texas, his voice
is heard calling his brethren back to
the side and support OF his old
friends. He fled from oppression
and high taxation on the other side
of the Atlantic, but now he finds that
though the support he has given to
the powers that be was honestly and
charitably given, shey have turned
against him, seemingly determined
upon his destruction and the destruc-
ton of all who do not willingly bow
to tyranny.
We do not ask the Germans of
Texas to reflect, for they are even
now rapidly waking to a sense of
their terrible situation. The reform
has commenced, and like the raging
tempest, it will take everything with
it. They are too intelligent to be
longer deceived; they are beginning
to realize that they have been lend>
ing their aid to the establishment of
a Government more tyrannicul even
than the most absolute monarchy in
Europe. They came among US to
enjoy political liberty, and it is bold
ly denied them; they came to enjoy
respite from heavy taxation, and
their last hard gained earnings are
taken from them to line Radical
pockets.
We know you are not afraid to
associate yourselves with your old
, Democratic defenders to throw off
this yoke of tyranny. You have
} tried them and they have proved
, faithful. If they had not triumphed
: for you at the ballot box in 1856,
J they would willingly have shed their
) blood to secure to foreigners the
: rights guaranteed them. Your broth
ers in Texas are rallying to the