The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-10-04

The Sentinel is unfair and uncandid
in the construction put upon the Ian
guage of The Pilot in the reasons given
for the Norwegian people of the United
States being republican. There is moth
ing in the spirit, in the language or in
the general tone Of the article that will
Justify the Interpretation that it charges
Norwegians with being republican be-
cause they are ignorant. Some petty
papers that cannot indulge in argument
without Justification always have the JUS
LITIGATION that lack of brains urges. But
to misrepresent without this excuse of
necessity, exceeds the limit of the broad
plea ''don't know any better"
The name republican is misnomer
when applied to the party of that name
in the United States. Their principles
from the very first, tended toward mon
archy, and since their advent to power
their government has been as despotic
as the temper of the people would allow.
Is it to be wondered at that class of
foreigners should look upon the name
as being synoptic of principles7 The
purpose, tendency and spirit of the re-
publican party are yelled by specious
arguments. Capitalization is for the
purpose of cementing the Union, while
in truth it is designed 70 perpetuate the
power of the party whose policy it is.
Protection is for the benefit of the labor
er, though it is clear to those who ana
lyze motives and study results that it is
designed to build up an aristocracy of
wealth. Is it to be expected that foreign
people coming to this country because
their necessities could not be supplied
in their own, have studied the history of
parties so closely as to Enthusiastically
join that with which their interests are
most closely loentiied2 The Norwegl-
ans wishing to act upon principle, accept
the name as indicative of principle and
become republicans. There are very
few who study party policy and hence
individual prediction for party is
largely hereditary, or, in case of foreign
born citizens, community of feeling
resulting from identity of language and
nationality. Thus new importations en-
brace the political faith of their natural
lied countrymen. Before the now re-
publican party assumed its present name,
g. majority of the Norwegians acted with
the democratic party, which unfortu-
nately discarded the name republican.
Why are the Polacks democrats? 1t
may also be asked, Why are the Irish
democrats? The answer is by no means
difficult. Why are the Norwegians re-
publican, and the Polacks democratic,
both seemingly striving for the same re-
suit in their native lands2
When parties first formed in the United
States, the issues were clearly defined.
Parties then were formed because of
honest differences of opinion regarding
the construction of the constitution, and
the wisdom of certain lines of govern
mental policy. 1t Was a formative per-
iod and the government was taking shape.
Issues were clearly understood, honestly
discussed, and judgment instead of party
passion had to be appealed to, because
ideas had not yet crystallized into party
The tendency of the federals (the parent
of the republican party toward monarchy,
of the anti-federalists (the parent of the
democratic party toward SO limiting
federal powers as to make the people
sovereign, thus contending for the vital
principle of republicanism, were we'll
understood The same cause existed
then why the Irish and the Polocks
should hate a despotism and look with
favor upon government of the people.
Oppression had driven large lumber of
the Irish and Polo,ks to the United
States and they joined that party which
most nearly represented their views.-
The hereditary transmission" has kept
them there, and the policies of the par
ties have undergone but little change. &.
At that time the Norwegians had no
yearning for republican form of gov
eminent. They had no reason to be dis
satisfied with monarchy and there were
few of that nationality in America. The
union of Norway and Sweden and the
practical subiugation of Norway to Swe-
den under King Oscar have caused, later,
the Norwegian people to look with favor
upon republican form of government
and have led them to act with that party
whose name is a promise of what it
should be.
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