The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-10-14
GERMAN VOTERS
Not Overawed by CIeveIand's DIstin-
guiShed Supporters.


gulshed Supporters.
Jacob IL. Schiff is prominent
and honored German-American
business man of New York City.
He is one of those who was asked to
sign the appeal to support Cleve-
land, which Carl Schurz, Oswald
Ottendorfer, and other distin-
guished German-Americans thought
could be made to influence Ger
mans by having their names signed
to it. Mr.. Schiff declined to sign
this appeal, as his political beliefs
are at variance with those of Mr..
Cleveland and the Democratic
party. In declining to do so he
felt it his duty to give his reasons,
which he has done in the following
strong and concisely worded letter:
"New York, August "a, 1892.
"To Messrs. Carl Schurz, Oswald
Ottendorfer, William Stein
way, Henry Willard, Louis
Windmuller, and Gustav IL.
Schwab.
"GENTLEMEN,-I have received
from the secretary of the German
American Cleveland Union an APP
peal addressed to the German-Amer
lean voters (Which appeal | also
find published over your name in
the public press,) with an invita-
ton to append my signature, and
coupled with the inquiry whether |
will consent to become one of the
German-American National Com.
mittee, to take the place of the pro-
visional committee you now tenn
porarilv constitute.
81 have already informed your
secretary that, since | shall cast my
vote for the Republican party, |
cannot well join your committee,
but beng, like you, impressed with
the unusual Importance Of the com
ing Presidential election, l regard
it, like you. my duty to give my
reasons for believing why the well
fare of our adopted country requires
the election of Benjamin Harrison
and Whitelaw Reid, the Republican
candidates, and why they deserve
the votes Of the naturalized Ger
mans as well as the votes of intelli-
gent citizens in general.
above all, | should state that |
conceive it duty to my country to
vote for Vice President as well as
for President, and | fail to dis
cover in your appeal any reference
to the qualifications of the gentle
man who appears upon the same
ticket with Grover Cleveland as
candidate for the second Office.
Ear be it from me to detract
from the high character of Mr..
Cleveland. But you have made
this one man your idol, and if by
any fatality he should become in
capacitated for his office, the candi-
date who is the nominee of the
Democratic party for Vice-Presi-
bent is one over whose qualifications
You have evidently found it wiser
to pass in silence. Nor have you
much to say in your appeal, except
in an apologize way, in favor OF
the party as whose banner bearer
Grover Cleveland has again been
chosen. Well do | understand
your silence in this respect. Bet
ter than many Of those to whom
your appeal is directed do You I'M
derstand that the Administration
in the hands of the Democratic
party, with its present Vicc-Presi-
dental candidate called by acct
dent to the Presidency would be
standing menace to the country.
"9ou, with every intelligent
voter, know that the paramount
question Of the day is the silver
question. You well know that the
tariff is for the present settled by
legislation, and that no matter how
unjust some my consider, existing
laws, an attempt at this time to I'M
settle, through new legislation on
the riff, the basis to which bust
ness affairs have only just begun to
adjust themselves would be followed
by the gravest consequences to our
commercial prosperity.
"The struggle of necessity upon
us is upon the silver question, and
during the next four years, no
doubt. 1t is to be finally decided
whether our currency shall retain
the qualities which are recognized
by practically the entire civilized
world, or whetherour dollar is to be
degraded to the standard of Mexico
and India, and our commerce and
people to be in consequence SUBJ
jected to all the depression and
misery now prevailing in those
countries.
1.-The attitude of the Republican
party and it's candidates, both for
the Presidency and the Vice Presi-
dency, upon the silver question is