The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-01
raE CHAMPION DEsEcRAToE.

Yesterdays issue OF this paper con-
improper observance Of Decoration Day
But when those reflections were penned
the report OF speech made by German
At the decoration services at Prospect Hill
cemetery. near Washington City. had not
been received. Indulgence in frivolous
enough. but Is not comparable to the exc
cradle taste OF this orator on the occasion
referred TO. His remarks would seem TO
imply that he had been . victim OF mis-
spelling and had been led to suppose that
be was taking part in the dissertation.
rather than the decoration Of Union sol
diers' graves.
Ignoring to great extent all eonsidera-
tions OF common devotion to . common
country, this wrong headed orator branched
of into political discourse, and attempted
to resolve American citizen ship into an I'M
assimiated mass of elements" and to in
duce a conflict between these. Politics of
any sort over the graves OF those whom
oil are supposed TO regard with common
reverence Is miserably out of place, but
politics mingled with, an appeal TO race
prejudices Is doubiy so: IL is monstrous.
At the graves Of dead soldiers who died
to preserve an Union OF homogeneous peo-
pie. this orator. whose name the dispatches
bad the grace 10 omit, exhorted the
German element" in this country to de
vote itself to political duties In future in a
greater degree than heretofore. Ii is
hoped and believed that in the course he
pursued. aud especially in this remark,
this man did not at all reflect the seEti-
ments OF the great mass of American
citizens of German birth or extraction. A
German element or a French element,
or an Irish element, or an Italian element.
or any other as distinctly representative of
foreign nationality. has no business in
American politics.
In nine great states OF this Union.n
said this ill-advised orator. mo governor,
no legislature, conld be elected If they
should be unfriendly toward the just
but assert ITS inherent power and political
strength What does this man mean
What lust claims" has one or another
element" upon the governor or legisla.
,ure OF a state which are properly separa-
be from the lust claims" of the people as
whole. or OF equal citizenship. without
respect to the race or nationality from
which sprang this or that or another
sAarer OF this equal American citizenship
70 quote further: The principle OF
political equality upon which our govern
ment is based places in the hands OF
everyone one Of the most powerful weapons
az seli-dense-the elective franchise. has
the German element properly appreciated
this weaponr We find the German ele-
mens nearly one-seyenth OF the entire
population OF the Union represented
neither IN the supreme court nor the Sen.
ate by single voice. Among hundreds Of
representatives in congress hardly any of
them speak The mother tongue"
To none but a most perverted mind
would such ideas as these present them
selves a, any time. ans certainly not on an
occasion as this man selected for the air
Ing Of bis mad yagarieS. tie is poorly
fitted fer American citizenship who con.
siders his political equality" affected by
questions Of former nationality in respect
10 The incamhsnss Of Offices under this
government So he be an American In
heart and principle. The question OF birth.
place or descent has ma;ssrea little with
cur people heretofore IN the choice OF
proper men for official position.
IL is true that there - not German on
the Supreme bench. Nor il there native
of England. ireland. Scotland. Wales
France. Italy. % q any other of The
many lands from which our country has
drawn IFS population by the immigration OF
those who were supposed TO have sought
these shores 10 eaiov liberty and Re satisfied
with American" citizenship. No right or
Just claim OF any citizen. whether native or
adopted. Is husstally affected By The fact
thai al OF the Justices OF our Supreme
Court are natives Of the United States.
What cali there Is for she use 81 anv for.
elga mother tongue" in The congress Of
she United States this cEsscE has not made
clear. II there i reason tor one, whv not
fer another aad AL Others Of ,he languages
ci The many natsonslisiss who have been
welcomed - these shores and invested with
American sisissnship' Congress IS already
g gooa deal Of babel sometimes. bot with
THIS mans iaeA pat in force there woald BE
confusion worse consonzaed,
Peerss who think and fee as this orator