The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-08-14

| ical topics. p T. Deuster, proprietor
of the German namoerat.e organ. of
| this city, ca:sed tirs ae. yentiea order il,
| a speech Of some length in which he said
| that j; was not the purpose Of the con-
genilon to form new party. Mr.. Scheffi
| er. proprietor and editor Of the otiitr
German Democratic paper of Milwaukee,
was made temporary chairman, and
made the most sensible suggestion Of the
whole convention. namely, that as it was
a convention, of the AmeT3cda Constitu-
tionai Union it was proper that the pro-
eeedines should lie in EDglish. Catz-
hansen, Democratic State Senator from
this county, aas chairman Of the com
matee On resolutions and We presume
the author of the !,afform. b. s. We'll.
Sam. Riadskopf Paul Schueugel, and
other we'll known Democrats were prom
inent in the proceedings. The only man
at all prominent IN the convention who
has heret tofore been identified with the
Republican party was the permanent
President Of the Convention, Conrad
kretZ, Of Sheboygan. aud he. In his
speech upon taking the chair, contra
dicted Deustar and others by saying that
the convention was called for the pur
pose of forming Hew rarty.
The resolutions deHoufce the Repub
lican party as.the engine Of selfish few
to retain power, as corrupt III every man
ner and form, but nothing is said of
Democratic corrHptions. nor Is any allu
sion made to that party. Jnst before the
conclusion Of the convention Sam. RinG
skopf introduced resolutions denouncing
Gov v. ashhurn iur his recommends
tions n his last annual message concern
ing the liquor Law. and pledging the
withdraw! Of the support of all mem
bers of the convention from the Republi-
can party in case he should be re-nomi-
mated BY it. These resolutions caused
some excitement. and were finally with
drawn by the author ofthem upon Icing
ready adopted IN the platform
Such was the PERSONAL and such the
voice of convention prnfessed to have
been called and TO have met without
political purpose and in the interest OF
no party. In view of these plain facts,
it is no injustice to say that it was prim
arily intended to help the Democratic
party. Action upon the liquor question
was made the ostensibla object of the
convention. and the prejudice of the
Germans upon this questions was to be
wrought upon to secure the adoption Of
resolutions which would commit them
against the Republican party, unless that
party should adopt their peculiar views
and throw overheard all whom they
should condemn. which the managers
we'll knew that the Republicans would
not do. The Democratic party would
then step in and endorse the platform,
and thus gohble up the American Con-
stitutioi,al Union.
So much for the political aspect of
this convention. So far as it related to
the liquor question, it was an effort of
single nationality to combine, not as
American citizens, bat as foreigners, for
the purpose of forcing, through their
political power, their OWN particular
views upon the people of this country.
They are protuse in their denunciations
of and sneers at temperance men and
the observers Of the Sabbth they de-
nounce them as fanatics and Know-noth
lngs Did it never occur TO them that
there may be such thing as beer fana-
tic as well as temperance fanatic? Did
it never occur to them that it is qnite as
much an exeniplificatiou of Know moth
ingisnl for Germans to band together for
the enforcement of their views, as for
Americans to do the same f.? May it not
be quite as reprehensi5le 10 be beerist
the constitutional unionists upon these
questions would be highly beneficial to
them.