, 1879-03-30
rHE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: RAEta

German-born. citizens Of Chicago intend tt
vote for the German candidates, without
regard to the tickets on which they are sew
orally running, and without thought as tt
the effect, on local government. On one
occasion, it is true, the Germans united with
the Irish in sort Of foreign-born alliance
butat that time there was q principle involved,
and the Germans, as class, though gratltied
at accomplishing their purpose, have always
regretted the. necessity that prompted such
combination. There would be no such
Justification, however, for the Germans to
vote for the Socialistic candidate for Mayor
simply because he is q German, for the Dem
ocratio candidate for City Treasurer simply
because he is German, and the Republican
candidate for City Clerk simply because he
is a German, thus making up German
natiyistic ticket without regard to the per
sonal merits and associations Of the candi-
dates. No German citizen with true idea
of the Importance and responsibility OF
American citizenship will ever think Of such
IN exhibition Of nativism, and tiae int1uen-
tial men among the. German-born citizens
should urge all their compatriots to abandon
SO unreasonable and un-Amerlcan scheme.
The Socialists have nominated DR.. SCHMIDT
for Mayor. DR.. SCHMIDT is German-born;
but an old citizen Of Chicago, and parson-
ally very popular among the German-Ameri-
cans. Nevertheless, it will be unreasonable
and unjust for German-born citizens who
have no sympathy with Communism to vote
for DR.. SCHMIDT. He himself is q Socialist
of the most pronounced type, and he has
consented to lend his name and influence to
a party which conservative, property owning
Germans have no desire to. encourage in this
country. :. More than this, every Republican
German vote cost for DR.. SCHMIDT on ma
tivistic grounds will be precisely equivalent
to direct vote for CARTER HARRISON, as the
situation is such that the Democratic candi-'
date will be gamer by every detection in
favor of the third candidate. It will be equally
unfair and unwise for the German-born
citizens to vote for SE1pP, the Democratic
candidate for City Treasurer, simply be-
cause SE1pP is the son Of d German-born
citizen. The Germans Of Chicago certainly
cannot claim that the Republican party has
ever slighted them or Disseminated against
them. As between Mr. FABwEL1 and Mr..
sE1rr, then, it should only bo q question
with them as with ell others which Of the
two candidates is the filter man and has the
better associations. A1r. SE1pP is young
man who has no peculiar claims or qua1ifca-
tions Of his own, but has the misfortune to be
running on ticket put forward by the very
same classes that "made Rome howl" in
GOWNS time. Mr. MARCUS A. FARwE1L is
on old resident Of Chicago and prominent
business man, whose integrity is unimpeach-
nb1o and whose qualifications are eminent
for the Office Of City Treasurer. He is the
candidate On the ticket representing the
property owners and conservative classes,
sponsible German citizens, just as he would
receive them if his opponent on the Demo-
cratic ticket were an Iishman or an Ameri-
can-
As nativism in city politics is utterly false
in principle, so it is dangerous in practice.
American nntiyism develops foreign nativ-
ism, and rice persa. The issue is unwise and
threatening. There is no doubt, for instance,
that il American-born citizens felt sure that
the German Republicans intended to vote in
any number for SH1FP, the Democratic car-
didate, because he is Of German extraction,
they would rally good many native Amer
ican Democratic votes for Mr. FARwE1l,
and thus defeat such a combination against
AIr. FARwE11 on account Of his American
birth. And so in every other case where
and foreign-born citizens are
candidates, there would be race issue. But
such conflicts always bring out bad blood,
nnd should be denounced and discouraged |
by foreign-born and American-born citizens
Glike, as menacing to the best interests of
American government, and especially Of local |
government.