Omaha daily bee., 1874-07-07
THE GERMANS AND THE pEnocRAcY

Just two years ago, during the
memorable reconciliation campaign,
the great old Democratic party went
into voluntary political bankruptcy
by placing itself under the protec-
torate of Liberal Republicanism
with Greeley and Brown as chief as
signees. The experiment proved
disastrous and the old political bank
rupt at once, and without ceremo-
ny, repudiated its liberal Republi-
can associates.
The German Republicans who,
under the generous impulse for re-
form, had followed in the wake of
Schurz and Hecker, were the chief
element i'm the ranks OF liberal Re
publicanism, and they felt the
treachery of their Bourbon allies
most keenly.
Two years have past. A majority
of the Liberal Republican Germans
have resumed their former allegi-
ance to the Republican party, de-
termined lever again to put their
trust in The promises of Bourbons.
And now when the old political
bankrupt in Nebraska, is again on
the verge of collapse, its leaders are
making frantic efforts to convert
German Republicans to the Demo-
cratic creed.
The leading Democratic organ,
the Omaha Herald, which as We
all know, never displayed much
love for the conquerors of Louis Ma
poleon, except during political cam
paigns, places great stress upon an
article that appears In the columns
Of a German contemporary, over the
signature of Philip Metz.
This gentleman, says the Herald,
is widely known in the State, as a
leading Republican, whose iItelli-
gence, integrity, and candor, will Sc
cure for him a hearing from all men
of all parties Taking his cue from
Boss Hesing, and the Illinois
Stats Zeitung, Mr.. Metz concludes
that in Nebraska, as well as In I'LL.
nois, very little improvement can be
hoped for either from the Republi-
can, or from the so-called Farmers
party.
After admitting that some of the
reforms demanded by the farmers
and mechanics party, are timely,
Mr.. Metz declares that nothing can
be hoped for from a party led by
preachers, women and conscience
less professional politicians.
Mr.. Metz very properly inquiries
whether it is necessary under the
best form of government in the
world to organize secret political so
cieties to oppose corruption?
Is 1t not q sneer at progress to in
troduce secret bylaws in o land
where free speech and free press
exist, to bring In mysterious and
antiquated humbug in order to Sc
cure the Just demands of the peo-
pie?
Again referring to the Republican
party, Mr.. Metz states:
The experience which the Ger
man Americans have had in Ohio,
Illinois, Indiana, and especially in
Iowa, will be wholly lost on them
if they now and in the future follow
the Republican party through thick
and thin, ana Tie more so if it is
proved that the bigot element forms
a principal part Of that party.
Referring to these superficial ut
terances, the CHIEF organ Of Nebras-
ka Democracy says:
"Mr. Metz advises all Germans to
Join the Democratic party, and it is
not for us to question, when we
thoroughly appreciate, the wisdom
of that course The Democrats of
Nebraska do not merely need Ger
man votes at the ballot box to elect
good men to office ; they require
their cooperation to re-establish
the grand old party upon the ad-
vanced principles for whose practical
play in the national, state and
local government it is their COM
mon duty to labor. 1t was the
Democratic party that struck down
Oath-bound leagues and cabals
which threatened foreigners with
political and social ostracism i'm
this land, twenty years ago it is to
the Democratic party that the saIne
class of citizens, now so justly great
and powerful in THIS country, must
look for the maintenance of
their political, as well as their
social rights and freedom, against
rising intolerance and fan
aticism."
Yes, the Democrats of Nebraska
do not merely need German votes
to r~e-establish their broken down
Bourbon party, but they will need
several thousand other votes to
carry this State in the impending
campaign.
The BEE is a Republican journal,
and as such it has done more'to ex-
pose and denounce dark lantern po-
litical organizations than the Her.
aid and all the other Democratic
papers IN the State combined.
And now we will address a few
plain questions to Mr.. Philip Metz.
You advise the Germans to join a
political party now, which you re-
fused to support two years ago. Has
the Republican party become more
corrupt in that short period? And
what has the Democratic party done
since then to merit your confidence T?
Do you claim that there has been as
much corruption In our present
State Government as there was I'M
der the reign OF Butler & Co.
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