The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-10-02

re lures branches to be taught in English? If
they are not the enemies of English education,
what IS their true motive and object in demand
ing that the Bennett law be repealed, all tnelr
ostensible objections 10 it having proved to be
groundless?
CHURCH-STATE POLITICS.
Since the enactment Of this law churches
have, for the first time in the history OF the
State. entered the political arena as churches
the German Republican Lutheran Church mas
held caucuses TO devise means OF eHectln6 Inc
repeal of the law it openly threatened the Re
publican party with the loss OF us influence
mud the weight of it's wrath ii the principles OF
III Ut law were not abandoned it has resorted
to all known political methods to accomplish
its purpose it has entered into al VEh0ly al
lance with the Democratic leaders 10 deliver
the German Republican Lutheran vote to the
Democratic party, for this election only, re-
ceivin9 as consideration therefor q ple9ge
that the Bennett law shall be repealed ana
PoOdly share of the Offices. This church, enter
lag the field as q thoroughly organized and
equipped political power, has demanded ana Is
demanding that the State stultify itself and be-
trav it's trust by basely concsdlnS that 1G nas
neither the leght nor tho power 10 demand that
its children and future citizens receive certain
limited amount Of instruction, in branches
purely secular, in the legal language OF TINS
country.
This attempt on the part of a church. by the
manipulation of party noltics aided by church
caucuses to compel the State to submit TO &C.
clesiastcaI dictation i'll matters relating only to
secular education, raises an issue OF greatest
Importance fraught with grave suggestions OF
future danger and it's evil results, II the ere
mics of English education and State supremacy
in secular affairs are allowed to triumph at the
polls. ara incaIc1lable. There is no religious
question at issue, no right Of the church at
stake. to Justify this church interference. The
parochial schools may give their religious in
st:uc6ion in German, may give all their instruc
tiOn in German, without violating any require
ment of the Bennett law. That law does not
attempt to dictate TO the parent where he
shall educate his child; it only says to him
you must give your child some education, and
as e. part of that education you must cause him
Itch hnrn
ultimate question OF encrOachment on parental
rights The State has not invaded the domain
of religions belief or of parental authority The
warfare is made from the other side. The Ger
man Republican Lutheran Church is the aggres-
sor demanding that the State surrender one ofits
updoubted prerOgatives; that it make co ward
" and dishonest disclaimer of right and duty
which all free states possess and exercise 1t is
not the State attempting to abridge the liberties
OF its citizens. but the churches endeavOring to
encroach on the functions and power of the
State and the issue thus forced upon the peo-
pie by the arrogance of the German Lutheran
Republicans is by far the gravest and most vital
question involved in the State campaign. We
have confined our remarks largely to the Ger
man Lutheran Church but we resent ecclesias
tic Interference in State affairs by any church.
as dangerous to the liberties of the people, I'M
American and un-Democra+ ic.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Unwise or unfaithful leaders of the great and
honor able Democratic party have, by the plat
form framed by them and adopted by the recent
State convention, pledged that party to the
German Republican Lutherans and their
church to the cause of church against state on
the question of secular education; to the APP
prevail of this most unHise, unhOly, and I'M
democratic amalgamatiOn of church and state
to the surrender by the state under threat of
the ecclesiastical LASH Of its unGoubted right
to demand the education of its children III the
legal language of the state to the uncondition-
al repeal of he Bennett law. The attitude into
which the party is thus sought to be forced is
essentially un- American. unpG rot1c, and I'M
democratic. and is hostile to the best interests
of the state and OF every child within it's bor-
ders.
And all this shame has been brought uoon thu
party merely to gain for this one election, the
votes of those who boast they are not and will
not become Democrats, but will return to the
Republican PARTY as soon as (having used the
Democratic party as their toOlfor that purpose
they shall have brought it TO its knees. Such
course is not only immoral and UEprincipled,
but, like all Immortality, it is q upid blunder
WE'LL
THE DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.
The question confronting us is, shall we,
as Democrats. give our sanction to such base
prostitution of the party we love and revere
Shall we. as Democrats, permit even by mac
ton the triumph of such q shameful sacrifice
of principle and of the faith and honorable ira
ditions of our party for the pitiful purpose of
securing the brief and discreditable support of
the German Republican Lutherans. 1t IS time
that such unclean and laundering leadership
should be rebuked.
Mere inactive disapproval can accomplish
nothing. The only way to free the party from
the domination of those who sacrifice all princi-
pie, all pa triOtism and all Democracy to
vicious determination to gain votes at any cost,
is to vote against the State ticket nominated on
and pledged to that shameful platform. The
election of thai ticket will not be Democratic
victory; it will mean the degradation of the
Democratic party and the triumph of the Ger
man Republican Lutherans. Defeat now will
strengthen and purify the party, not weaken it;
it will cleanse it from the stain placed upon it
by unscrupu1ous bosses"
We who thus address you are Democrats,
strong in love of the Democratic party, in rev.
erence for it's historic grandeur, and in faith in
its present integrity and patriotism and it's fu-
ture triumph. We not trying to organize
new party we are seeking no personal political
advancement, nor are VIC becoming Republi-
cans We are neither leaving nor asking others
to leave the Democratic party; we propose to
vote for Democratic congressman and county
officers. The State ticket only is pledged to
the English teaching. church-state plank
of the platform, and the d feat of that ticket
will vindicate the integrity of Democrats
on those questions. We are making no fight
against the party, but are fighting for it, and
against the leaders who have betrayed it. On
a l national issues are in accord with the
party and believe the best interests of the
country demand it's success those issues
But in our Judgment the church-state question
State ticket is concerned. We believe, and we
think large proportion of the party through
out the State believes that Democrats owe it
to them selves, to the party, to the State and to
every child within tho State to aid, Demo-
Gratis and because they are Democrats in crush
ing out all attempts at ecclesiastical assump
the absolute right of the State to insist that it's
children shall receive certain amount of edu-
cation in the English language; to rebuke the
faithless leaders who have bartered principle,
patriotism and the partys fair name for Repub
hcau votes to vindicate the well-earned repu-
tation of the Democratic party IL party of
principle and patriotism and not of trucking
eApediency and trickery. and to take broad,
enlightened American and patriotic stand on
the great question of the education of our fu-
ture citizens and State supremacy in secular
affairs. The only way to do these things is to
vote against the candidates for State offices
who are pledged by the platform on which hey
stand and by their public utterances to repecsI
the Bennett law and the UNFOLDING of all of the
heresies involved in that issu5
TO those Democrats who are in sympathy
with us on these great and vital questions we
suggest the necessity for vigorous action. Or
ganize local Democratic Bennett law clubs urge
upon your Democratic friends and neighbors the
necessity of defeating he State platform and
ticket, to cleanse and purify the party and
strengthen it for future victories. Do not fear
the name of "bolter ;" lie who repudiates vic
ious platform and the candidates pledged to it's
iniquities is doing the most dutifu1 service pos
sible to his party as we'll as to the State.
We shall be glad to have NIL Democ ats who
desire to aid i'll this work send us their names
and addresses and to receive suggestions from
them q to how Democrats may best contribute
to the triumph of the Bennett law and the cause
of English education. Respectfully,
T.AJx