Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-19
OUR GERMAN REPUBLICANS.
(From Chicago Champion, Organ of the Whole
sale LIQUOR Dealers)

Nriom ShiNhSo OIEuu VI tuc WI
sale Liquor Dcalers.)
Not to go back into ante-bellum times,
we can say that from 1859 TO 1881 the Ger
American citizens of the West and
Northwest have been the main support of
the Republican party, in fact they really
have constituted the bone and sinew, and
in many instances, the brains OF the Re-
publican party. For all will concede that
our German. Americans Use their votes
with intelligence, forethoughl and fixed
purpose, and are less venal or corruptible
than even the native American.
But the more stress the German lays up
on his vote, the more solemn and sacred he
considers ii, the keener he is to enjoy all
the privileges OF American citizenship
and when his rights ure trodden under
foot, when he is asked to bare his back TO
the party lash, he rises in his anger, and
turning upon those who attempt to tyran-
ize over him, he crushes them with all his
might. This is exactly what the German
Republicans have done in Ohio at the lssi
municipal elections throughout the State.
This is what they have done in many of
the larger cities of Indiana and Iowa, and
Wisconsin and Michigan, this is what
they will do in all the States of our glor-
io,is West and Northwest ut the next State
elections.
And what has thus angered the German
| Republicans and made them shake hands
across the deep political chasm with the
| Democrats? 1t IL the spirit of intolerance,
of injustice, o. oppression manifested by
their Republican brethren in the various
State Legislatures. 1t is the union of their
Republican leaders with the ultra-temper-
ance and prohibition zealots; and he at
tempt, nay, the very act and deed of fos-
tering unjust and oppressive sumptu AIRY
laws upon the people, at the dictation OF n
few prohibition fanatics.
| Had this outrage against the liberties OF
the people been confined to one or two
States the opposition and stern practical
rebuke OF the German-American citizens
might not have assumed such national
character. But when temperance howlers
and Prohibition lunatics are not only in
vading, but actually ruling our National
Congress, when auch outrageous legislation
as the Investigating Committee bill passed
by the Senate of the United States, and
now pending before the House OF Repre-
sentatives is about to be imposed upon
them, even the German-American, who has
sworn allegiance to the stars and stripes,
rebuke the action of the party which en-
dorses and upholds such measures as an in.
suit TO his manhood, or attempt to rob him
of his rights and privileges, and, like our
revolutionary fathers, the Patriots of l776,
ha wi II ri,a in ammo ~ noab ha and E,,I,t
for the maintenance of his personal liberty.
The German may be slow to move; but
when he has once taken his ground from
principle and conviction, he will stand or
die in the attempt.
Our German. Americans are not so sim
ple-minded AZ to be luded with the sug-
gestion that the Congressional 1nvesligat-
ing Committee to be composed OF a major
ity of prohibition advocates is to direct its
sole investigation against the effects of the
manufacture and sale OF whisky.
They well know that beer drinking ia as
much an abomination IN the eyes (if not to
the stomuch) of the Temperance Refurmers
as whisky drinking and that the fate OF
the one will be shared by the other.
| Wherever Prohibitory or strongly restrict
i've laws against the liquor traffic have
been enacted, beer and nle were tabooed as
strictly ns wine and whisky.
The late phenomenal election results,
therefore, are easily explained; and the
day is not lar off when the whole German
Republican population in the United States
will spurn their lifelong allegiance to their
party, and teach even our National Con.
gress that the Representatives and Senators
at Washington are but the servants of the
people, sent there to enact laws for their
benefit, and not to the detrimert Of their
constituents.