Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-10-15
IT DESERVES DEFEAT.
VIGOROUS CRITICISM OF THE
WISCONSIN DEMOCRACY.
VictimiZed by the Scallawag Democratic
Leaders in MiIwaukee-NOt a Fit
Exponent of Democracy-Ly-
ing About the Ben
nett Law.


attacks the Bourbons of Wisconsin
because of their attitude on the school
question. In an editorial, Saturday
morning, it says:
A month of public and private discussion
has done nothing to weaken and every
thing to confirm the opinion repeatedly ex-
pressed in these columns that the Demo-
Gratis of Wisconsin Numbered OutrageouSIv
in taking up the fight of parcel Of foreign
know-nOthlngs, meddleSome clergymen
and characterleSS politicians in Milwau-
kee against the Bennett law. It has done
more. 1t has established the conviction in
the minds of honest men and true Demo-
Gratis that as the issues are now outlined
in that state, the Democratic ticket de-
serves to be beaten, and that it will be
beaten.
Democracy in Milwaukee is at present
hosSeG and bullied by q few violent young
demagOgues and foreign know-nothings
who, anxious only for Office and plumber
Wisconsin is one Of the United States of
America and that the Democratic party,
Tor which Ghey assume to speak, is not In
some manner the instrument of an alien
civilization. They have made a mistake.
This is America. The Democratic party
does not draw It's inspiration from CONT
mental Europe and it never did. 1t is
American through and through. Ithas no
counterpart anywhere else on earth. and
the presumption of few foreign fanatics
in Milwaukee, assisted by a few unworthy
Americans, that they can give instruction
TO true Democrats, is an exhibition of in
science that is not to be borne.
The honest Democrats of the state of
Wisconsin have been victlmized by the
scalawag Democratic leaders of Milwau-
kce. To enable the latter to seize the
County and city offices with the assistance
of a misguided foreign vote, the entire
party throughout the state has been
falsely placed in antagonism to prin-
liberty and American nationality. It
matters not what tine-spun arguments
may be advanced to prove this
that or the other thing about the oppO-
siliOn, the fact remains that an American
party is asked by turbulent and brainless
demagOgueS to aSSail the principle that the
state has right to educate It's youth, and,
il need be, to compel instruction in the
English language. Unfortunate as the is
sue is, il has been ralSed and it cannot be
settled until it is settled right. The Ian
guage of this country is English. 1t is to
remain English, no matter what race or
what church may aSSail it. The Great
Chatter was written in English. The Dec
laratiOn of independence was written in
English. The Constitution of the United
States and the Bill of Rights were written
in English. The Emancipation Proclama-
ton was written in English. We need
make no apologies to any power on earth
for insisting, now that the right has been
denied, that every American citizen shall
understand English. From that rock no
true Democrat should fly.
The Democrats of Wis
consin have permitted themselves to be
led off on race and religious issue con-
cocted by Milwaukee demagogues for self
fl,nfr ri tod
city. Never was there a surrender in the
face of the enemy more cowardly or more
ineXcuSable. Not since the slavery lords
fastened their corrupting grasp upon
Democracy has that great party of Amer
lean liberty, equality and justice been so
seriously compromised by its pretended
friends.
On Monday the Herald criticised the
Wisconsin Democracy, as follows:
1t is folly for the true democrats of Wis
consin to shut their eyes to the Importance
of the surrender that the Milwaukee
demagogues have invited them to make.
They may ignore the facts now, but if they
do time will come when they Will be
compelled to consider them and to act upon
them.
The offensive foreigners who have de
clared that the Bennett law must go assert
that they are in favor OF compulsory edu-
cation, and of the widest instruction in the
English language, but they oppose the
Bennett law ''becauSe it iDterfereS with
parental rights" This is mere playing
with words. The Bennett law cOntem-
plates nothing at all but compulsory edu-
cation and reasonable amount of instruc-
Will, no parental right. The parent may
send his child to any sort of a school that
he pleaseS SO long as it is one in which
some portion of the time is devoted to the
study of English. Any parent who believes
in education and in the English language
will never know that there is such a meas
ure as the Bennett law. 1t will reach all
parents who do not believe in education
and all parents who do not believe in the
English language, and it ought to reach
them. If this republic is to endure there
must be education, and if the American
people are to remain nation they must
speak and read the language in which their
constitution and laws are written.
Clearly enough the controversy so far as
these offensive foreigners is concerned de-
ponds upon the answer that is to be given
to the question: What is education and
who is to decide what is education? The
Bennett law is resisted because it very
state to determine this matter for itself.
Offensive foreignism admits that educa-
ton is desirable, and that instructiOnin
English is desirable, and it even comedies
the right of the state to declare that these
things shall be obligatory, but it denies the
right of the state to determine for itself
what is education and what is proper
course of instruction in the English Ian
guage. The power that can say there
shall he compulsory education is sufficient
also to determine what's education. There
can be no division of that responsibility.
The State Of Wisconsin cannot declare in
favor of compulsory education, and then
permit the bishop of Milwaukee, the pas
tor of church in Ozaukee, or political
boss in Oshkosh, to decide what is educa-
ton.
1t is this dishonesty and this denial of the
proper sovereignty of the state over every
body and everything within its limits that
constitute the weakness of the entire anti
Bennett law movement. The law is lied
about. The people who support the law
are lied about. True Democracy. national
pride and individual Self-respect are ali
fiouted because it is hoped on these sorry
lines and at this cost to gain q paltry vic
tory at the polls. The religious and race
interests that originally assailed the Ben
nett law made mistake grievous enough
but pardonable. They will see the error
of their position i'll due time, and
will recede from it. The noisy Dem
ocratic demagogues in milwaukee were
dishonest at the beginning and are
6iSb0noct ctilI Thov cara notbipO for INV