The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-14


Richmond, April 13. 1882.
The German Citizens Association
what Are It's Real Objects?
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
have read with much interest the in
genious "Defence Of the Germans" pub
lished in Tuesdays Dispatch. The au-
thor states that the truthfulness Of what he
has to say Is vouched for "by the personal
assurance OF gentlemen present" at the
meetings OF the Association, and therefore
what he has to say may fairly be regarded
as the quasi official utterance OF that body.
That writer sees that the real question at
issue Is the position OF the German Citi-
zens' Association in regard TO our Sunday
liquor laws, but he nowhere clearly defines
their position, and the article l. In several
respects confusing and contradictory. Let
us carefully read what friend Of the As
socation has TO say in its defence:
/. In referring to its origin, he states
that "some OF its officers declared that in
no sense should the organization be used
for political purposes and yet in the very
same paragraph he adds that :" at meeting
a week or two ago IL lcdS resolved TO pro-
pose certain questions for candidates for
! IL asking questions of candidates is not
using the organization for political pur-
poses, will the writer please explain what
| il does mean?
2. alt Is dbSOiutely denied that the Ger
man Citizens Association have discussed
the Sunday law as such, or that they mean
or wish TO move for any agitation on this
subject" and yet he Immediately adds that
I nn "A I Il lafa 10 hn aal-n a.. 4
favor Of cqualizing the penalty for the yio-
lation Of the present Sunday laws?" In
one breath he "absoutely" denies that the
Association has discussed the Sunday law,
and yet in the very next he declares that
each candidate will be required 10 state his
position in reference to those laws.
3. 1t may be my own stupidity. but |
must confess that | do not understand
what bearing the following questions can
have upon our municipal contest. Read
them:
(d) "Are you in favor OF and will you
encourage immigration
VIII some member of the Association be
good enough to tell the public who in town
is opposed to immigration? don't know
anybody.
(b) "Are you in favor of and will you
trial enterprises, by relieving them to some
extent Of taXation?"
Has any one ever said they were not in
favor OF doing this? And il they have,
what has the City Sergeant or High Con-
stable to do with this question: And yet
they, with other candidates. would be re
qured to answer it.
(c) 4" Are YOU i'm favor Of maintaining
personal and religious liberty, and will you
do all i'm your power to and and prOmotc
these great fundamental and constitutional
principles 2"
II will be news to our people that their
"personal and religious liberty" has been
so seriously threatened as to make an or
ganiZed movement i'm their defence neces-
sary. But what has Mayor Darlington,
Andrew Jinkins, Aylett Woodson, Jim
Phillips, and the other members OF our
municipal government TO do with this
question? Have they been conspiring to-
gether to destroy the personal or reli-
gioIIs liberty" OF their feIow-citizens II
not, why should they be required to an
swer any questions about ItY
(dD Are you in favor of strict economy
IN municipal affairs, so rs TO avoid any in-
crease OF taXatiOn!"
Did you ever see a candidate just before
an election that wasn'tl
(e) "Are YOU in favor Of local-option
| laws?"
As there are no local-option laws that
affect Richmond how can our people be
interested in their discussion at this
time?
% "Are you in favor Of equalizing
the penalty for the violation OF the present
Sunday lawsy"
What is meant by equalizing the penaltyi
l. IL desired that the fine for the sale Of
cigars and cOniectionerieS shall be made as
heavy rs for the sale OF liquory Nobody
would object to that. Or does the ASsocia-
ton mean to say that they desire that the
fine for the sale Of liquor on sunday shall
be made the same as for the sale OF these
other articlesy That is just what the
saloon-keepers want, for they would be
glad TO pay two, or even five, dollars for the
privilege OF selling whiskey all day sunday
Now, in all fairness, will not the soili-
GERS OF the Association frankly state their
reasons for proposing to ask these iues-
tions Does not careful reading OF them
| Justify the conclusion that they did intend
to agitate the question OF the Sunday laws!
The storm Of indignation which has burst
upon them will doubtless irighten them
from any further public agitation OF this
question. Are they afraid 10 meet the
question Squarely before the people! and
will they not continue to secretly organize
for the political defeat OF any man who OPP
poses their views on this question! This
some OF the members Of the Association
have done, and will continue to do. III our
people do not wish a repetition OF the
scenes which are witnessed every Sunday
in Cincinnati and IT. Louis, let them or
ganize for resistance 10 those who seek the
overthrow OF our American Sunday.