Daily globe., 1883-10-29
An Intervic,v ,oith Mr.. Biermamn.

An Intervie,c ,Uith Mr.. Biermann.
Hon. A. Biermann was at the Merchants
yesterday, and, after exchanging greetings
with GLOBE reporter, was accosted by the
latter thus:
s'Mr. Biermann, how goes the battle?"
"Oh, we haven't had any battle yet; we
are only enlisting recruits and getting our
forces in readiness for the BATTLE" was his
smiling answer.
"The Republican papers seem greatly
exercised over the fact that you are Nor
wegian," said the scribe.
eyes," he answered, "if they were to be
believed it is disgrace. am disgrace
to my countrymen for taking the high
honor offered me, and my country
men will disgrace themselves If
they manifest their qualification
by voting for me-. However, rather like
such bulldozing on the part of Governor
Hubbard's organs; it helps me in my can
vass."'
'Do you f9d the Scandinavians," asked
the reporter, very generally supporting
you:"
Indeed do,'' he replied, ''more gener-
ally than had reason to expect. The
Scandinavians hold the balance of power
IN Minnesota. They have been used by
the Republican party without so much as a
''rhank YOU" They have got tired Of that
kind of treatment and are keenly alive to
the fact that if am elected by their as
sistance, that they will forever afterward
have it in their power to compel the
Republicans to recognize them. II
I am defeated, the Republican party will
not think it worth while to ever
honor scandinavian. They appreciate
this and I am convinced that will secure
over two-thirds of their support"
"Wbat effect is Nelson's speech making
going to have?"
"None, whatever; the Scandinavians are
laughing at him; Last year when he was
running for congress, he made his strong
est appeals to them on the ground that he
is a Norwegian. Hence when he comes
around now talking different they refer
him to last yeer and hint about next. The
Democrats of the Fifth District will only
have to nominate Norwegian next fall to
defeat Mr.. Nelson very easily"
"Well, now tell the GLOBE readers what
Capt. MacCarthy means by his accusation
that you belong to the kings party in
Norway"
"Mr.:: MacCarthy," saidi Mr.. Biermaun
with so strong an accent on the prefix MIR.
that the absence of captain was pain
fully noticeable, sis either an ignoramus or
an ass, perhaps both, and now let me take
this opportunity to sci at rest the foolish
- 70
from Willmar that I was born near the line
in Denmark and that my father was Ger
man brewer. In the year 1418 my ances-
tor came from Germany to Christiana, the
capital of Norway and settiei there. There
my people have resided through succe, ,sive
generations and there l was born. There
never was one of cur family engaged in
the brewing business, though for that mat
ter l cannot see that that would have any
bearing in American politics. Tweuty-one
years ago came to this country and en-
LIFTED at once in the Union army. l had
received fair education, my family being
of that turo and local school in Chris
tiana having been endowed by my grand
father; but farming was the field that had
the most promising opening when the
civil war was over and TO farming I went,
and have continued at it except when
called upon to serve the people
in an official capacity. AS for
being in sympathy with the so-calIed
''k1ng's party" in Norway, that is party,
as it now..stands, of very recent organiza-
tion, and having imbibed the air of Amer
lean liberty and fought for it in the army.
certainly cannot be said to have sympathy
for royalty. On the contrary my sympa-
thies are with the peoples party in either
America, Norway or Ireland. I think
have said enough to confute the arguments
of this mimic soldier, Mr.. MacCarthy."
'Of course you know that MacCarthy'F
appeals are all to the Irish,' suggested
the reporter.
"IIies, I know, but his efforts are puny
Irishmen from all over the state have writ
ten to me repudiating him and have sc
many warm Irish friends that l have nc
fears. Indeed one of them to-day com
plim ented me by saying I was better
Irishman than IMr. MacCarthy."
| Again that emphasis on the "Mr." The
conversation would have been gladly con
tinued by the scribe, but the tete-a-tete wal
broken by the advent Of others and the re
porter hastened away.