, 1873-06-28
THE PLATFORM OF THE GERMAN MOVE
MENT.

party. This Ia true Of tho Reform Republicans
In Philadelphia, who hn7o jotnod tho Liberals
and Democrats for tho purpose Of putting down
the coHuptionists who havc controlled the city
and state for some years. It Is equally true Of
tho Democrats in A1lon Comfy, Ohio, who, in
aovering thoir allegiance to tho old Democratic
party, havo gono still furthor from tho Ropub-
ncan party. 1t ia 80 with tho farm
ers, who, In Iowa and elsewhere, de-
claro that there ID no hopo for . redress
Of thoir grievancos from tho party In
powor, or any other party. So 1t is, too, with
tho German elemont In Chicago, whose recent
declaration Of tho political principles TINT will
mako up tho Issue Of tho local campaign noxt
fall azrnl8n tho Republican party with that dis
honesty Of purpose and bad faith which scems
likely to command univoraal recognition. II tho
departure from tho Republican party were
ohoaon by any single ono OF the new moyementa
Of the 9.55, it might - accounted for on tho
F.ound that its aimB and thoso of tho nopub-
lican parsy woro different, and thoro the nattor
would ond. But, as al tho movements ngreo in
denouncing theconduct Of tho Republican party,
and declaring tho purpose OF having nothing
in common with 1t, tho inforouco ia plain
TINT there ia very general sentiment among
NIL classes that, if anything is to DO accomplished,
1t cannot bo done under tho auspices Of that
organization. In other words, tho instances arc
constantly multiplying which expressly recognize
tho fact that tho power and usefu1noas Of tho
Republican party aro passed. The local moyo-
mont, startod Bomo weoks since by tho German
citizens, has indicated, in tho platform adopted
Inst Wednesday evening, TINT tho Republican
party can no longer depend upon tho vote Of tho
Ger1nan-Amorican oitizens, which tho party has
addroBs issuod by tho German-Amorican Liberal
Association will command tito sympathy OF tho
majority Of tho people, 80 far AZ 1t coniomns
in unmistakHblo terms tho dcsirc OF private
gain that charaotorizos tho offlco-holdera Of tho
day, tho BcandalouB transactions OF mon In high
placos, aud tho frequent attompts at defrauding
tho Public Treasury. Tho introduction Of this
feature INTO tho platform. which was not neces-
sary to a definition OF tito local Issues, shows
that tho detection among the citizons Of German
birth from the Republican party has not boon
suggested simply by local differences, but by q
recognition Of tho vices that hare permoated tho
political organization with which they hayo horo-
tofore been identified.
As for the local issues with which tho 0ermanB
expect to go to the polls at tho fall election they
will commend themselves to tho public
generally aa they arc defined in tho ros-
olutions unanimously adopted US much fairor
and moro worthy OF support than those
which have been put forward by Irresponsible
persons and gatherings from tlmc to time. Tho
public hasbocn aptto Identify tho movement with
the action OF tho saloon-loopors in opening their
doora on Sunday In violation Of tho law, with
the attack on Field i loitor, begun in tho Slaats-
Zcihug md indorscd by the saloon interost;
with tho ylolont expressions uaod by nfr. Heaiug
and other extremists. It has been yariouRly
confused with whisky interest and " German
Know-Nothing intorost. Thero Is certainly
nothing in tho address and resolutions Of tho
Association which has takon tho leadership Of
the movement that will Justify any Of thcae as.
aumptions. Tho resolutions expressly disc1aim
all intention Of natiyiHtio moyomont, but
claim that tho supporters Of ofthomovomont acting
as American citizons, invite the corporation
Of all citizens without regard to the accident Of
birth. They moreover cxproHs high respect
for tho cause OF temperance, aud DECLARE that
intemporanoo In all things should DO combatod
with every sulsablo means, Their idoa Of
temperance, howoyor, is not that with which tho
term Ia frequently confusod-total abatinonce-
but in favor Of oultivating grape-unes and Gu
oouraging tho brewing Of good boor and alo as
means Of diminishing the use Of strong alcoholic
drinks. The Germans havo certainly right to
advance those principles by reason of thoir own
te,nperate habits o. o1hss associated with
tho uso OF bocr aud wine. Tho resolutions
further declare tho iutontion to obey
tho Objectionable lava as long as they aro in Ok
istoncc, but tho purpose to dofoat thcn, II pos
alblo, al the polls. No one eau find In this
declaration anything b!tt the oomonts OF good
citizenship md tho o1eroiuo Of right guaran-
tocd by our form Of government.
Whatever opposition, then, tho local move
mont under tho ausplcos Of tho Commandment
oan Libcral Association may encounter at tho
polls, no fair man car maintain that tlo mannor
OF making up tho issue Inns not boon calm, or
dorly and decent. Tho Association and tlosc
who act with thom foresoo In tho enforcement OF
tho Sunday law a. 1t now stands an Infringement
on tho religious Freedom guaranteed by tho Con-
stitutlon, "a VOL az an unnecessary constratnt
OF tho habits and social customs Of largo class
Of tho people. They assent to tho demand tint
"duriug Sunday all business and amuaemcntH
s1all bo undor sucl, restrictions "a will in no
mannor lntorfero with or disturb tho devotion or
woralip Of any olaHa Of 6ooIety." This Ia an at-
mission of what has before boon suggested ~
compromlse,- that tho classics who regard ro1t aud