The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-23

but is the effect Of the sociable, aggregative
character of the people, partly natural and
partly acquired under the perfectly organ
lied governments of Germany. A perfecu
network of associations binds them together
through their turnvereins, saengerfests
schutzenfests, sterbvereins and religious
unions. They have learned to feel and ap-
preciste their own strength and to under
rate that ofothers. It would be wrong to
say that, under so many temptations, they
have forgotten that they are Americans
rather than Germans; but in matters
especially affecting their own interests, they
have certainly made the mistake of putting
forth their claims as natives OF Germany
rather than as citizens of the United States.
In the former character, they have right ia
glory. National achievements in arms
arts, industry and letters have given il q
pure and noble lustre. But it is in the
latter capacity only that they are
entitled to consideration in American poll
tics. The action of their editors of this state
protesting to speak for their fellow country
men and offering terms of offensive and de
fensive alliance to every party convention, is
! blunder of this sort. If the authors Of
such a movement really understood its ma
ture, this act might be properly character.
lied as strange piece of impudence WHY
should a German citizen, more than a native
American, assume to dictate the policy o.
either party on the liquor question. The
subject is one for the delegates TO consider
and the party should be supported or opoo-
sed by each Individual in his independent
capacity as he approves or dis approves of IFS
principles.
The Republican party is to no small degree
responsible for the attitude which our Ger
man born citizens assume in politics. They
naturally fell into the ranks of that orgsni-
zation and the reckless leaders of il
were not content with the support o.
the Germans singly, but desired to secure
the alliance OF the element as a whole
Every means was taken to isolate and con.
solidate the Germsn vote. The newly nat.
uralized citizens were taught the fashion oil
marshaling in solid phalanx to the polls
They may not readily forget the lesson. Ii
| becomes the republicans under the circum-
stances of the present campaign to deal fsirly
with the spirit which they have fostered. 1t
looks bad to see the politicians of Indiana
simply because new issues have arisen, turn
with opprobrious epithets upon the men
whom they have heretofore petted and
praised, viturersting the very qualities
which they eulogized. The organ of the
party has already opened fire upon them in
a style which is coarse and offensive with
out being effective. 1t has set to work de-
liberately to widen the differences, deepen
the distinctions and foment the preiudices
which exist among the different elements
of our society. If the Germans have
flung down the gage Of nationality
it has stopped with esger haste
TO pick mp the glove and accompanied
the action with taunts AID insults. Every
honest man will deprecate the renewal of the
old struggle of twenty years ago. AS yet there
is scarcely fair ground for crusade against
our German citizens, as such, and il looks
as If the republicans, their late allies, were
beginning one simply with the hope of de-
voloping out of the passions of the comnu-
nifty new force, by means of which they
may carry the election.
An exchange gives a table based upon esti-
mates from the election returns OF 1875, show
ing the relative proportion of what is perni-
ciously called the German vote. The figures
are probably distorted, yet they give some
idea OF the great numbers of men who are
slowly breaking away from the republican
party: