The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-08-14
TO the Germans OF Texas.


A call has been issued by Germans, as
Germans, to meet at Austin on Thursday,
the seventh of this month, as expressed in
the call,
f'FOr the purpose of free discussion of
the present political situation of the coun-
try; an expression of our wishes as Amer
lean citizens; a definition of our position to-
ward the different parties, and of unitingon
the platform on which we intend to work,
pending the next election
All Germans without any change of poll
tics are invited, and the call says it is ad-
dressed Ito all the Germans of Texas"
1t says there is
'.No talk of erecting German party, but
of union of Germans upon liberal plat
form to make use of their rights as citizens
of the United States and of Texas.
''To throw the weight o. THEM influence
where it will best subserve their interests"
We must be permitted to say that We
deeply regret that any German in Texas
ever entered into this movement. We re-
speet the Germans as among our best citi-
zens. They are laW-abiding, thrifty, in
telligent and just such people as will de-
velop the resources of our great Texas
paradise. But there are also American eiti-
zens, and whatever public measures affect
them, also affect all the people Then why
should they meet as Germans2
''Why should they, as Germans, meet to
determine their position between the differ
ent POLITICAL partiesl Why should they, as
Germans, seek to cast common vote? Are
! they not citizeRs2 Can they not act with
other citizens in ward, beat and county
conventions, and also in the State Conven-
tionsl True, the call says that the object
is not to build up German party, but let
intelligent Germans look at the call itself
and see the effect of it upon American
minds.
1t proposes that the whole German popu-
lation of Texas, by their delegates in State
Convention shall make a platform, on
which the Germans shall work, and to de-
fine the position of the Germans of Texas
towards the different political parties. It
must be that the projectors of this move
nest designed and design to so unite the
Germans as class chat the German vote
I will be cast solidly.
Already it has been charged that this
movement was projected by Radicals, and
! whether this be true or false, we are relia-
bly, informed that the names of several Ger
mans, who were Democrats, were signed to
this call without their knowledge; and
i WuGtueE II DC luIeuueQ 10 iDILl 0CEHldu
party or not, the movement is most unwise.
There are very few naturalized Germans, if
any, indeed, who cannot understand English
well enough to act intellgently with the
English population upon all subjects affect
ing the public veal, and we respectfully
suggest that for State Convention, it
would be far better to so act than to hold a
State Convention of Germans alone, to de-
termine upon a platform fer the Germans
and to define the course of the Germans to-
ward the political parties.
short, we see such a want Of wisdom in
this movement that we must warn the Ger
mans of Texas against it. Let them remem-
Der the Know Nothing party, and remem-
bering, let them have nothing to do with
such q movement.
Let our thinking, patriotic German fell
low-citizens eschew this movement and act
with the party Of their choice. If they have
wrongs, the night can only be obtained by a
concert of action By both native and for
eign-bon citizens-it cannot be obtained by
Germans actilc az Germans, because that
would only array native against foreign
born.
Remember the Know Nothings. Houston
Telegraph