The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-06-14
BROTHER wITTE ON HIS EAR.

Brother White, Of the WOchentt0n,
in his Fridays issue, is voluminously
indignant over the FREE TRADERS
intimation that in spite Of his violent
outburst against Congressman Hill,
when the latter shall be renOminated
by the Republican convention, the
German Republicans, with White at
their head, will meekly fall into line
and vote for him.
This Brother White Indignantly re-
pells. The commandments, wheth-
or Democrats or Republicans, he says,
are accustomed always to carefully
scrutinize their ballots ard never vote
for man who is inimical to their ma
tlonity. Thus the Germans, he says, in
1884, under the leadership Of Carl
Schurz, voted for Grover Cleveland;
but afterwards. when Cleveland de-
veloped as free trader and enemy OF
American industries, then the Ger
mans, who favored reasonable mot a
McKinleyish) tariff, deserted Cleve-
land and voted for Harrison. All Of
which shows, maintains Brother
White. that the Germans are not vOt-
ing cattle, or obedient servants of any
party.
All this, so far as the action Of the
New York Germans under the leader
ship Of Carl Schurz in reference to
Cleveland is concerned, is nonsense.
The Germans Of New York city are
mostly Democrats, and the vote Of the
city for Cleveland having been about
the same in 1884 and 1883, and Carl
Schurz having supported Cleveland at
both elections, the New York Germans
appear also to have voted for him at
both. AS TO the other statement,
that the Germans never vote for a
man, no matter what his politics, who
is inimical to their nationality, that
we have no doubt is true. They will
vote for German as against an
American, Irishman or Frenchman
every time, regarding the latter
whether so or not, as ''inimical to
their nationality" If two Germans
are opposing candidates, or two
or Irishmen, or French
men, they vote for the Republican.
OF course we refer to the German Re
publicanS only, for there are in Otta
wa, as elsewhere, many German Dem
)crats, and except that occasionally
they show pardonable preference for
their own cOuntrymen, they are among
our truest and most reliable Demo-
,rats at all elections.
Coming back to Hill, if unanimously
dominated for reelection, we are will
.ng TO accept Brother Whites vehe-
ment declaration that he will in no
case support him, on the ground that
the IIochenbiot is an independent, not
4 partisan sheet, and always supports
the candidates whom the editor pre-
ferS pcrSonoHM and not poldicollN
which certainly is news to u.s. But
low, as to the German Republicans,
rom whom Mr.. White thus eliminates
himself? Suppose Andy O'Conor or
L. w. Brewer should be nominated
against Hill, whom will they support?
Perhaps we shall see.
As TO the final declaration Of Broth
n White, that one thing can be
depended upon and that is
10 matter by whom nominated, the
Germans will vote for no candidate
or the legislature who is not in favor
If a radical amendment OF our COM
JulsOry school law, We have no doubt |
le is entirely right, and as an Ameri- |
AN Democrat we have no hesitation |
n saying that the Germans are justi- |
led in taking such stand. The COM |
)ulsory education law Of lllinoies. in |
Is present form, is great injustice. |
Il llt ttl VIC uliutlSldlIti w tOn-
EIDE the right OF the state TO require |
hat all children shall receive rudi-
nentary education, and that a part of
I shall be in the English language. |
That is all any law should require.
Even the English language require
nent might he safely omitted, for we
10 not believe there is any German
parent so brutal as not To insist that |
n this country, at least, his children
shall be taught TO speak, read and
write English. Most German children
would learn il even in spite of their
parents. Yes, you are right enough,
Brother Witte, on the education
question. Stick to il !