The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-07
lYoR OTHER LOCAL SEE FIRsT PAcE.I
Letter from L.. Wagner, Esq. Secretar,
Of the German Association.

10 he Editor Of the Dispatch:
Yesterdays article speaking OF the Ger.
man Citizens Association" allow me 10
say, does not give its aims and objects
fairly nor correctly, and is calculated to
create false impressions. Our German
american citizens. with perhaps individual
exceptions, are law-abiding, peace and
order-loying people. They are moral
andChristian people. and as such, to rep
resent them as being opposed to the enact
ment and enforcement OF laws governing
our Sabbath. or, indeed, any lars govern
ing and protecting the peace, order, and
morality of our city, is simply out OF rea-
sou. Why, sir, are they not us much in
tercsted in the welfare OF the city as any
one else? We help TO bear the burdens III
the shape OF taxation, and we simply mean
10 vote for the best men, with an eye single
10 the good OF our city; and il the ques-
tion OF Maine-liquor or local-Option law
does become live question with us all,
then / suppose they will vote just rs they
please. and II they think that their personal
rights and privileges are threatened by IL,
they will vote against it--a right every citi-
zen can exercise whenever he chooses.
You may, perhaps, Mr.. Editor, feel in
different as to this matter, but we claim
shat injustice has been done us. This is
no move on part Of liquor-dealers, as your
article seems To represent, nor is it IN the
interest Of any party or politician Gas cor
rectly stated. and when the time comes
and the Association adopts its constitution
il viii be published in full, and will be
found to contain no such revolutionary
socialistic ideas, n one would suppose
from the reading Of the article. There
are other statements more or less correct
in that article, bat as they do not affect
any one in particular, will not make FUR
ther reply. In regard TO the charge, or
rather libel, upon us and our characters rs
peaceful, law-abiding, and responsible cti-
xens, and some OF us members OF various
christian denominations, / think that an
honorable career and record OF years will
offer ample security for the future and will
20 further TO reiute such charges than
mere words have hastily and with the
knowledge OF some Of our members pen
ned these lines, not to excite controversy,
tut simply TO have Us properly represented
son this one question.
Yours respectfully, l.. w.
The Dispatch reporter, in justice to HIM
self and to all concerned, makes the fol-
lowing reply TO the foregoing communities
tion:
!. II the chairman and secretary OF the
Executive Committee Of the German Citi-
1ens' Association will say over their sigma
lures that at q meeting OF the German Ex-
.cutive Committee it was not agreed to ask
candidates at the coming municipal cleo
lion certain questions, which in effect are
substantially those published In the Dis
ootca, then he will give the sources Of his
infol nation on the subject.
=. II the aforesaid officers, over their
signatures, viii say that the. question OF
taking part In the coming primary election
was not considered at meeting of the
Executive Committee OF the Association,
and postponed until its next meeting, then
che reporter win show n written statement
70 prove what has been published.
3. The reporter denies making any libel
Gus charge upon the character Of the Ger
nans "as peaceful, law-abiding, and re-
sponsible citizens" and nothing OF the sort
can be seen in the article In yesterdays
Dispatch. He Is not responsible for what
IL " read between the lines"
l. II the aforesaid officers will point out
specifically any statement Of fact which is
error In the article referred to by L. W.,
the reporter win take pleasure in correct
ing 10,