National Republican., 1876-06-10
Propositions and Principles Of the German
Republican Club.

The German Republican Club has submit
ted the following facts and principles for the
Consideration of the German-American con-
vention in Cincinnati, which is to lay before
the Republican National Convention q dec
laration of their principles, views and wishes
l. The principle of equal rights of all
American citizens is recognized and estsb-
lished by the Federal Constitution. An in
fringement of this principle Of equal rights
exists, however, in the fact that according to
the treaty between the United States and
Germany on naturalization and expatriation,
the German-American citizen loses his Amer
lean citizenship after n two years residence in
Germany, while fhe native American, even
after longer stay Ia foreign countries, does
not suffer that loss. Further, while citizen
Of Germany or England loses his citizenship
only after q continued absence of ten years,
and citizen of Switzerland never, a German
American citizen is deprived of this right after
two years. stay in Germany, thus set
ting aside and violating principles, rights and
honor.
2. Late decisions Of the Supreme Court
have declared the matter of emigration and
the protection Of emigrauts as belonging ex-
clusiyely to the Federal Government. The
States having no jurisdiction in the matter,
the emigrant is deprived of all protection. The
immense advantages derived from the produc-
tive classes of emigrants by the country In its
Industries and its general welfare, are
acknowledged everywhere. Since 1919, over
three million emigrants have landed on our
shores from Germany alone, bringing with
them capital to the amount of one thousand
million dollars; the productive labor which
they represent vastly exceeds that amount.
The protection OF these, to America so i'm
portant emigrants, who are exposed, on the
vessels as well as at our ports, to excessive
extortions, thefts and misery, appears,
therefore, in the interests of America and of
humanity bounden duty of the Federal Gov
ernment. The establishment of Federal
Bureau OF Emigration, with agencies or
branches at the various ports of the United
States, and investing the American consuls
with the control of the embarkation at their
respective ports, is pressing necessity. Emit
grafton, wisely regulated and guarded by
Federal Bureau of Emigration, will be bless
ing to America, and will confirm the word of
Thomas Jefferson: "Europe's misfortune is our
prosperity"
3. Labor is the foundation of the welfare of
the land, for all production depends upon It.
The conflict between labor and capital will be
fierce one. 1t Is the duty Of the Federal
Government to promote the general welfare;
the laboring classes, who form the larger part
of our population, require particularly the
protection of the Government. It Is impera-
tive, under all circumstances, that by means
of Federal commission full statistics of the
laboring classes, their needs and their wants,
be obtained, for only when the cause of the
disease is clearly known can sure remedy be
applied. For the further efficiency of this
commission, 1t would be in place to recon-
mend regulations of arbitration for the strikes
SO often recurring, and SO detrimental to the
general welfare. Moreover, to further aid in
this direction, the many thousand working
men who live in misery and want ought, BY
means of Governments aid, be encouraged to
settle in colonies on the public lands of the
West and South. The distressing condition of
the laboring class and humanity both appeal
for the protection of the Government.
4. Freedom Of belief and conscience is q
natural and inalienable right of every indi-
vidual, guaranteed by the Federal and State
constitutions. The State has no right to in
fringe upon this individual freedom of belief
and conscience by compulsory laws, or by
passing any obligatory enactments concerning
religion. The Church is private institution,
and should be taxed as any other private cor
poration. Personal and social liberty are in
born rights of each and every individual, and
shall not be oppressed by tyrannical temper
anee laws. /
5. In this Republic, where each is sovereign
and co-ruler, it is the duty to advance and
disseminate general education by free public
schools, and BY compulsory education to bring
up intelligent voters. As the Church is sep
arated from the State sectarian instruction
should be excluded from all public schools,
ard no public school money shall be used for
sectarian purposes.
6. The nation stands above the State. The
dangers threatening the Union-as the history
of nations, and particularly that of the Aneri-
can States, has taught us-comes not from the
sovereign nation, but from the sectional
supremacy of the States and the consequent
division of the unity of the popular will.
Madison declared, with prophetic words, "the
the General Government; the people and not
the States are in fact the foundation of all
power"
Z. Civil service reform, depending on proven
capacity and honesty of officials, must not be
confined to the subordinate officers of the De-
partments, who are under immediate control,
but should include particularly the higher
political officers, who, because not under i'm
mediate control, are more easily Influenced by
corruption, and hence require strict system
of control as q means of reform.
s. The resumption Of specie payments, the
of the promissory notes of the
Government, and the maintenance of the pub
lie credit by the prompt payment Of the ma
lional debt, are the honorable principles of the
Republican party, by which 1t is worthily dis
Initiation and repudiation, destructive alike to
pubic honor and public welfare.
CARL RoEsER, jr., President.
JOHN G. BUxMAN, Vice President.
J. A. .SCHULTHEIss, Vice President.
L. EIsINGER, Recording Secretary.
G. STIERLIN, Corresponding do.
F. w. BoGEN, Treasurer.