New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-31
A WORD TO GERMANS.
AN INSULT TO GEMAN-AMERICAN iNTELLI.
GENCE md MORALS

AN INSULT TO GEMAN-AMERICAN iNTELI.
GENCE md MORALS
| TO the Editor OfThe Tribune
Sir: With thousanG of my fcllow-caizcns who
are either Of German birth or descent, lately re-
ceved circular containing the Arguments Of a
eo-called German American Union forthe Flee
| ton of Grover Clevelant' signed nv hat a doz.n
well-known German Democrats We ar. familhr
with appeals Of this kidd and, under .rdinay
circumstances / would MT pay the slightest a.
tention to the document. whose partisan ,hara.
tor is sufficiently DISCLOSE by the dishonesty o
its statements the contemplate nature of tn. propl
osition on which rests it's most blatant appeal
and the political affiliations Of the men who Sign
it officers Of the Clevelanl Union Under the
circumstances. however, cannot look Upon the
circular letter anything leSs than an insult TO
the intelligence and manlincs Of all German
Americans and hence l ask you to give me vent
for my indignation.
II there were anything which could make me
ashamed Of my allegiance to that to which oui
political demagogues continually make appeal un
der the name Of "das Dcutschthun,7 it would bt
an address like that to which men like Oswald
Ottendorfer. Carl Schurz William Steinw,y, Isl
dor Straus. Henry Clauscn, jr. and Henry Vii
lard have affixed their names. We ran expect
brewer to be ever foremost in the fight for "pcr
sonal freedom" when his associates are willing t.
interpret the term as meaning tho privilege
to drink beer when. where and in al
great quantities az one pleases. regardless
Of the rights Of all the rest of the community but
! confess that l am a little overcome by the in
congruity of proceeding which involves an at
tack on the Republican party because II quote
from the address,. its action in Wisconsin. Iii
nois and other States has proved its wish to dcny
to the German mother the right to converse will
her child in the German tongue when that at
tack Is made by men, some OF whom have demon.
strated their devotion to the mother tongue by
changing the spelling Of their names so as to
eliminate German characteristics.
Does this indicate the degree Of intelligence
which these men attribute to American citizens
Of German birth as a class? am forced to
believe 1t, for there Il not one argument in all
those contained in tho address which is not on
the same plane. Let me enumerate them
1.-The Germans 1t Is said, are sufferers as
class from the protective tariff system, because
they ore not employed by protected industries.
2-The Germans must not consort with mo-
nopolists THAT "a, with the Republican party,
because they ore accustomed to leisure and social
which arc dependent on good wages.
md Protection means moro work and smaller
wages"
3-The opponents Of Cleveland more and more
,ecome the opponents Of religious, educational.
linguistic and political freedom.
l-Grover Cleveland Is the beau ideal Of the
Germans. because Of his sympathy with all their
acisl predilections.
The latter probation in the progress Of its de-
'elopment eliminates in the statement that the
iermans Sre drawn to him lccause OF his "peiSonal
labits and domestic life," and 10 20 outrageous an
INSULT to the well-tnown characteristics Of the
herman family relation that have no patience