Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-06-25
4 WORD TO THE GERMANS.
Nrom the sedalia Democr.t.)


The German population of this u
try, as a man, are opposed to all sorts
and kinds OF sumptuary legislation. The
most of them lett their homes because
they were oppressed, imposed upon, dis
criminated against, or made to carry in
the every day toll and struggle of life
They brought with them habits and GUS
toms that are the same as second nature.
They are a part and parcel OF their So
cial economy. They have something
about them of the ardor OF an unpro-
fessed faith and al unwritten orthodoxy.
These habits and customs grow out
from, and are closely connected with,
the making and drinking OF beer and
wine; with gardens of public resort
where there Is music and drinking ; with
unlimited freedom In the use OF all sorts
of liquors and with an exemption from
all interference on the part OF fanatical
temperance people or Indifferent Prohi-
bitlonists that amounts to practical
Independence. They supplement a day
or o week of hard work with these
pleasant gatherings OF Intercourse and
relaxation. They are fond of brewed,
or iermented, or distilled liquors; but
they control themselves in the use Of
each or all Just as every other we'll reg.
ulated member OF society controls this
or that appetite which, if unduly graft.
fed, would lead to a hurt and trouble.
It IS to be presumed, therefore, that
the German people of this country wish
to retain these habits and customs of the
fatherland. They came here to be
American citizens, but. not Puritans ; to
better their condition bptanotsto surren-
der the right to pursuet the sort Of pleas
ure that is most agreeable to them I; nor
the right to clothe, feed, and govern
themselves Individually no matter what
intolerance to foi bid it. But the Ger
mans should not be backward in avail
ing themselves of such. help as can be
secured for their own protection In
America the liberties of the people come
through the constant struggling and
attrition of two great parties, rivals in
everything, and especially rivals in
their processes OF government. The
republican party is one Of Capitalization
-of sumptuary laws-oi arbitrary rule
-of unconstitutional legislation-oi
powerful oligarchies, eternal expert
ment, and transcendental ideas of ,
paternal management which shall have
to do with the citizen both in his in
dividual and his collective capacity.
The democratic party is n which
begins with the family IS a unit and
goes up to the state. 1t has always
striven to extend instead of concentra-
ting authority. It IS the individual first,
afterwards the ruler. 1t has always been
Jealous of arbitrary power. 1t has
foughtaevery species of prescription and
tyranny known to American politics.
Whenever and wherever it has been in
the ascendency, sumptuary legislation
has fled away from before it in terror.
1t. throttled Know nottingham. It guar
anteed for all the future the most perfect
freedom Of conscience. 1t has held the
Maine liquor law In utter contempt, and
has always refused and still does refuse
to endorse the hateful doctrine OF Pro-
hibition. no matter in what specious or
plausible guise it Is presented.
The Germans can see for themselves
that since the republican party has been
in power IN the country. a perfect del
uge of proscriptive legislation has
swept over the country. There is a
mania among the republican law makers
10 tamper with the question of the a
ufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors.
It is spreading all over the north. It has
reached the west, and makes Kansas
and Iowa hateful IN the sight of all lib
eral and self-governlng people. 1t has
even invaded the south to a certain ex-
tent, and right here in Missouri the
democrats will be forced to meet the
issue at no distant day and stamp it out
or perish.
Do the Germans mean to play fast and
loose with this party or that, when the
very malt that they brew above all 9TH
or classes OF people,and the very grapes
that they grow above all other classes
OF people in this country are in danger
of extirpation. Let them make the cal
culation and see where their millions OF
invested property will 60 when once the
dark shadow Of prohibition envelopes
Missouri. No more breweries, no more
vineyards. no more distilleries, no more
beer gardens, no more beer. Prohibition
is the legitimate child of radlcalism, and
as radicalism grows and increases in
power over the masses, SO Will prohibi-
ton grow and increase. taking state
alter state and finally the Union.
The German, when lett to himself and
in q natural condition, 10 instlnctively a
democrat. Democracy means anti-Kals.
er, anti-conscription, a~nti-ten.years with
the colors, anti-war, anti-everything
which builds up a chosen dynasty at the
sacrifice of a nations blood, and Drawn,
and manhood. The civil war in Ameri.
ca made the Germans temporarily re-
publicans. They lived mostly in the
north, and it vas but reasonable that
they should go with the defenders Of the
Union; but the war has been over for
sixteen years, and other and vital ques.
tions have come to the front. 1t is GER
tain that if the Germans do not make
common cause with the democrats in
fighting this prohibition question in Mis-
souri, they will, before they are we'll &C.
quit OF it, repent in sackcloth and ashes.
Nor can they do any work worth at
tempting by any halt hearted alliance.
They must become part and parcel OF
the democratic party, and help it fight
not alone the. battle against prohibition,
but against every ether species of pro-
scription and intolerance.