The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-09-06


YOU can force into those schools u sys-
tenn of German instruction which is u
failure in German and exceedingly hurt
ful to the English. So that in any aspect
you are dangerous enemy to our schools.
to destroy, which you would stir up the
passions OF the Germans rs class, and
teach them to hold every man notorious
ly bad and scandaiouS, detestable and
despissble' who opposes you in your war
on the degraded tree schools" OF Wheel
ing.
And this brings me TO your allusion in
your editorials OF the Doth, to private
interview between you and myself, in
which another phase OF your true in
wGrdness is disclosed.
Before the final action of the Board,
you came TO my office to persuade
me to your views. | gave you II polite
and protractcd hearing. | was investl-
eating The matter seeking light from
every quarter, and MS member OF n
committee, trying to hold my mind open
to honest conviction end the legitimate
influence of every fact and fair argument
and so told you.
In answering or failing to answer
my questions l then understood
you rs virtually admitting
that little practical German had been
taught, snd that there was no need for u
German superintendent but that it was
good thing to keep up, to make the
schools popular by making the Germans
their friends.
As was acting officially and WAS not
Just then in the popular BUSH ess hi
the expense Of good schools, did not
see much force i'll such argument.
During the interview, you gave promi-
hence TO the fact that John &.
Miller was Gs) Roman Catholic,
and that as such ne, as Chairman OF the
German Committee, was aiming blow
NJ the public schools, and WAS trying TO
make the German ProLeSLants enemies of
those schools.
told YOU then that that WAS matter
to which my attention had been called
by your friends on and of the committee,
and that l was considering Mr.. Miller's
position with due caution, that | too had
inherited pteiudices against the Roman
Catholic Church, and understood it
~ not lavoring our public schools,
bat that as grew older
and wiser tried not to allow my pre-
iudlces To lead me 10 refuse to act with u
man Simply because he is q Catholic
whose argument and position commend
ed themselves to my judgment and
reason.
1t was in this connection and no other
that assured you personally on my
side that | desired TO be faithful md
earnest, to give the preference TO my bet
ter convictions over Inherited prcju-
dice" and stand By it US n true and
manly doctriac.
The above quotation excepting n
change of pronouns) is taken from your
last German editorial ~ words uttered
by me, and they are employed n
"A sense 10 impress your German readers
that | admitted Ia you that mad in.
herited prejudice against the Germans.
This | never did io- inherited German
blood from my maternal ancestors.
Ii you think well OF yourself tor thus
bringing private interview before the
public, make the most OF IT
| now find you publicly appealing to
the prejudices of your Catholic and
Protestant readers as Gcrn,aaS to "mark y
and "kick" me because | did not yield &c
your private appeals to my religious
prejudices.
You tell your German readers
that our schools are degraded, and
try to get them to make the very war
against those schools which you regarded
so sadly reprehensible in the Catholics
All this in Wheeling, u. :. A., in the
light of the civil and religious liberty OF
the afternoon OF the nineteenth century
You are the saddest importation o. in.
cOngruities and cOntrarities | have ever
met, and if henCeforth yon can secure
numerous following in the business Of
hating, marking" and kicking" rcspccta
bic citizens, it will be because your follow
ers are demagogues, or love the German
idiOm more than they love English
education, American citizenship, Ameri
can liberty and that American na!ionslI
ty which they came here to find and
swore to support protect and defend.
There ought to be time in this COUn
try when people will make their demands
not as Germans, French or Italians, bu
as Americans; and | can imagine IT q,
q GLORIOUS nobility that men will delight
to give their children good Englist
education and support free schools ,oJ
that purpose, not tfst they love Ger
many less, but America more.
And now let me tell YOU what mos
people think and great II any, who AT
not afraid of imperiling cheap popu
larity or losing little trade, say, snC
that is, that German should not b,
taught ut ali in the public schools; that
they are growing weary of men, hk'
yourself, everlastingly trying to subordi
nate American customs and institution!
to those which are new and distinCLively
German.
Ii you like the German :,
much better han the EnglsL
language and liberty of.this land. Wi,
NlNA N'NA lION "i4'AO : - N''aN Nif
them in their entirety and especially /,
we protest against your coming here al.
attempting to .oist your crude notions eli
our system by attacking the good name
Of men who have done something to Sc
cure you the very law and liberty whicI
you as an alien enjoy. II you were I,
speak thus of public men and worth,
citizens in your ns:ive Denmark, an
told, You would be jailed very quickly.
Not Goethe" but some other Smsr
person has said:
THE little tleaS have lesser fleas
Upon their backs 10 bite EN-,
The lesser tieas have other tieas.
And so at utiHituDl.'
And whilethis applies to. human conduct
it Is well TO remember that persistent suC
Indifferent attacks on private character
and entertainments on moral and publ,
sentiment will sooner or later provoke NJ
indignation and attentionsthat will bring