Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-09-28


The Lutherans object to both Of these
provisions. They claim that it Is diff
cult for them to force their children to
continually speak German; that the
tendency is to speak the dominant Ian
guage Of the country, and that the habit
of acquiring the elementary studies in
German .alone grounds the language
into their minds so they will retain 1t
through life; that pride of appearing
well among the larger American popu-
lation tends to make all American BON
children of foreign parentste acquire
English and speak it well in spite of
their use of their own language in the
.parochial schools; that therefore the
compulsion to study the elementary
courses in English is a needless act Of
tyranny. They claim, too, that so long
as they pay their school taxes the at
tempted espionage of school boards into
their paroch;al schools system Is unre.
publican and naked tyranny.
The Democracy holds that the natural
guardian Of the child is its parent, and
while the state may possibly have the
right to compel n reasonable. amount Of
education, it has no right to demand
through school board by whom that
education should.De impaired. That
certificate that child has, been 70
school twelve weeks IN the year Is as
much as the state- should dernawl. II
does not believe IN apaternal govern
ment. and holds that the home and tho
family should have the right to have
inscribed over. the doorway "Intrare
non" to.every one, except under necessi-
ties of public safety. A
The obnoxious clauses in the lawwere
forced by Republican Legislature and
signed by Republican governor, now,
again candidate for recollection, and at
the last legislature, though promises
were made to expunge the obnoxious
features, it was promiseemade only TO
be broken. The Lutherans will vote for
the Democratic candidate Altgeld al
most to n man. They will more than
probably carry to him from 20, 900 to 3d.
600 votes heretofore solidly Republican.
Now, look back twelve years. In 1880
Garfeld's majority inIllinois was 4O, 600;
Cullom's little less. In 1884 Blaino's
majority over Cleveland was %, l22:
Oglesby's, over your correspondent, Ia
500. In 1888 Harrison's over Cleveland.
22,105; Fifer over Palmer, 1850. The
Lutherans at each of these elections
voted a straight Republican ticket.
There is reason to believe that to man
the German Lutherans will oppose Fifer,
and it is hoped that heavy percentage
of the Swedes and Norwegians OF the
same church will rally with their Ger
man coreligionists.
State pride will carry many wayering
and weak kreed Republicans to Steven
son. All men respect and honor Cleve-
land.
But, on the other hand, Harrison has
winning ways TO make men dislike him.
Reid's name falls ont west as a cold
blanket. But Adlai Stevenson appeals
largely TO mems hearts. He is KNOWN
70 be frank. kindly man who belongs
TO the people-is one Of them. In this
respect the Democratic ticket is stronger
than the Republican. No Republican
ever speaks with any warmth of either
Harrison or Reid. All they can say Is
Harrison has given a clean administra-
ton. But what president gave cleaner
one than Cleveland? No Republican
will deny that the country will be safe
in his hands II is common expires
sion among business Republicans that
no harm will come to the country with
either Harrison or Cleveland.
There is as yet no enthusiasm in poll
tics in this state. The sl1irmish line has
not been thrown out. The cleanness OF
the last two administrations TO q great
extent tends to repress any marked en-
thusiasm. This condition continuing
will have q worse effect upon the De-
mocracy than upon their opponents.
Why? Decorous quietude tends to keep
men in accustomed lines. Now, there
is a general tendency among the young
men to lean toward Democracy; pos
sibly from the natural disposition Of
young men to set up for themselves and
10 show themselves free from leading
strings. In the east young men go west.
In Illinois young men stay in the state.
These young men delight in the excite
ments attending a presidential election.
They are disposed TO join in n hurrah
Without this hurrah they will be apt TO
vote as their fathers have done; with IL
they will gravitate to the Democratic
party. There is an army Of young men
in the state who have never voted for
president. Their first vote for one is 10
them momentous thing, and they will
wish to cast it TO the tune Of political
music.
A change of II ,098 votes from those OF
1888 will carry Illinois from Harrison 10
Cleveland. These will easily be found
among the Lutherans and among the
young Of all kinds if there be but IL usic
enough 10 put life and metal in .heir
heels. A cold campaign will give the
state to Harrison and Reid, but not 10
Fifer. He is doomed. a red hot cam
paign viii give it 10 Cleveland and
Stevenson. State pride can be aroused
with the name Of Adlai Stevenson. A
campaign full Of dash and noise will
cause the young TO rally about their own
fellow citizen. Cleyeland's name and
administration are better theme for o
stump speaker than that Of Harrison.
The national committee should leok
well to it that from the opening Of tbs
campaign to the day Of election thu
western prairies should hear the rattle
Of musketry and the roar Of cannon.
Democratic national committees have
heretofore found delight for their ma
nipulations only in the east. The Repub-
lican committees have had able repre-
sentatiyes in the west. The result has
been marked. Let the Democratic com
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