, 1873-09-28
THE COMING CITY ELECTION.
The Gcrtns4ns nn0 tho Sunday
QUESTION:

Question.
70 tho Editor " Tht Chicago Tribune:
SIN, Iu your article Oh tic iesuos and possi-
bic results Of the coming election, ln your last
Sundays Issue, occurs tho following:
4. Il hs zes hses e sa q
whom, however. nro silent m nnt reluctant members,
o ga Il ras 70 saE w 5 re
Sunday, according 10 tholr native customs nnd tra-
dtions. has boon waptonly md nccdessly intringod
upon.
You will reap tho thanks Of the best part Of
Tho German population Of our city for this fair,
honest, aud true statoment Of their SON
timonts on this vexod question, raised by
fanatics on both sidos, OF Sunday observation.
You etato tho fears which oxiBt in tho minds Of
fair and intollgent-minded mon OF all natiouall
toa as to what deplorablo results may flow from
the euccoHB of oithor one Of the presont ianAt-
loal organizations, botter known as tho "uos-
lug" aud "Temporance organizations. Tho
question for tho respectable citizons Of Chicago
to consider is, shall wo haye mn efficient and
honest administration OF Cur local government
Affairs, by uniting and oloctiug ono on plat
form on which all oitizons irrespective OF na-
tionnlity, can stand; or shall thoy, ny their
neglect and indifference, passivoly encourage
the extremists, and mnko tho 6unday-bcer QuoB-
lion the prominent and only issue, regardloss Of
pfliolent government. on which tho election shall
turn, and thereby accept tho results which will
dow from an administration Of local government
In possession Of tho class popularity known as
e1cction-bummors W A sorry day 1t will in
decd be If tho hungry pack Of either faction
meet with SUCCESS.
1t should 10 understood that tho Ger
manB arc not, by any means.
Tho champions Of aaloon-koepers, sun-
day-disorder, Incorporate drinking, and tho
many other things laid to our charge; that
uoithcr arc We total-abBtinonce mon. Thore are
many Of III, also, whose votes aro not deposited
sation.' But VIC arc independent aud. we think.
Intelligent enough to use our own judgment, to
cast our votes for such principles, aud measures.
and men, aB wo think best We also think we
hevo studied our American governmental
citizena; and such We moan to bo We do not
desire to 500 my distinctive classos Of people
here. such as "dormnn citizens" 1rish oiti.
etc., oto.; but We wish to ba plain and good
dutiful American citixona. AS such, we con-
slider the supreme principles of our great Magma
Charta, our own American Constitution, and our
Bill OF Rights, our law Of action. We beieve
al men aro FREQ and equal as regards The admin
lstration Of government; and wo do not believe
In claaB-legiBlatton. Wo believo 1t to be tho
problem Of America and its inBtitutions, prop
erly administered, to remedy aud right al!
differences as regards customs Of life, by moral
These being our vievs, NO cannot acknowledge
any Justice or right IN any faction Of citizens to
mode Of 6undny-obseryatlon Wo all consider
1t q day OF reBt, and tho majority of us q
Christian day Of rest but by thta torn re do
not understand that wo must spend our Sabbath
11,1 oy1af ft,of fn
Grafton Of tho day to have music In beautiful
mark. mud to spend our hours thero enjoying
Naturo's bountics. We cannot soc any. wrong in
making happy on tho Sabbath, If TO do
our our neigh55ore' peace. We aro willing
ITO livo md lat tive," and pormit others to
spend their Sabbath according to their ideaB If
not disordcrly ; but NC claim tho same right for
ourselves. 1s thero anything Objectionable in
this7 Wo are as willing to have All orderly Sab
bath as any others Of our fellow citizens but
We will not act fanatically. We aro willing to
yield to others' opinions, and limit the opening
hours Of saloons to tho afternoon and carly
compel them to bo koptin an orderly way. Is
this not reasonable, and q proper respect for
others' wishes Then Why the fanatical tend
ency on tho part Of tho temperance faction to
have 4tho whole hog or noue Z"
As Gormnn-American cltizons, We cannot con-
ceive-and think most native-b0rn onea will
agree with me--that American character iB by
any means perfect, but that nc all have much to
learn from others. This hoing our conception,
the modes and customs OF our Fatherland. We
think our native 1and acroBs tile water has many
things worthy of imitation, and that We show
only u comnendable characteristic In zeaonsly
chsrishing The many good traits Of German char
acter aud good modes Of life. We recognize
that tho Frenohmeu, Scandinaviana, English
men, scotchmen, etc., etc., can bring many good
teachings aud modes to na from their nntive
4-S Ia f},nr Hru In in
Does this mako uB and them any loss American
citizens? Can we not combine the good OF
others with our American character We think
we can. We consider thus great America plant
ing and fluitng- ground for the good clomente
Of all foreign character, and tho good customs
and modes Of oil foreign peoples. Americans
would indeed bo g. nnrrow'spirltod people were
they unwilling to learn anything from others
because they arc foreigners, and especially Ger
mans.
These being our views, wo cannot accept Will
goodwill tho abuse heaped upon us as o body
Let it be understood that We are ready to act fol
the good Of our people md city, with our fellow
American-oitlzens Of all nationalities, who arr
willing to be reasonable and conservative.
We are anxious to SEQ an efficient, honest, ant
energetic local government elected no1t fall
and fair-mindod citizens. But lot 1t be 1emcm
bered that there Ia danger ahead If duty is neg
looted. It is fact that tho Germans vii
not hare any peculiar Sunday observation foreo'
upon them, il thoy can prevent It Mt tho polls
II this ia to be tho issue. they, with thousand
OF Irish aud Americans, will vote In d solid PIN
lAnx to crush temperance -fanaticism 30 far Q
they are concerned. It cannot DO denied that
on tho question Of sunday-obHoryation In th
manner have e1pressod tic Gormans at leas
sre united. II fanatclHm is to bo Btubbornl
forced upon them, they can aud vii
resist with equal stubbornneas. We hop
and trust tito issue will not com
to this, but that the fair.minded aud well-mear
ing people will unite In IN honest, conBeryativ
party, and secure law aud order, and good cit
government; and am froo to say that all goo
Germans and Irish will vote with them, and cleo
men to oflico who will at loast ondoavor to I'D
minister city-afrairs in an honest and compotou
manner. Lot roason and intelligence rule, M
fanatic.sm and bummeriam be discarded. LIE
the platform bo: Competent and honest men fo
office. regardless Of party or nationality; econ
omical administration OF municipal affairs; al.
liberal collreN Of action toWardB al citizena Q