New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-21
PRICE THREE CENTS.
HOW GERMANS SHOULD VOTE
JACOB H. SCHIFF WRITES A VIGOROUS
LETTER.
HE TELLS CARL sCHURZ, OSWALD oTTENDoN
FER AND THEIR ASSOCIATES WHY HE

FER AND THEIR ASSOCIATES WHY HE
WILL VOTE FOR HARRISON AND REID.
Jacob H. Schiff, the well-known and influential
merchant, was one of the commandments 10
whom Carl Schurz, Oswald Ottendorfer, William
Steinway. Henry Willard, Louis Windmuller ana
Gustav II. Schwab sent their appeal for votes IN
favor of Mr. Cleveland and Free-Trade. Mr.
Schf will vote for Harrison and Reid, ard he tells
the men who sent him the appeal that he will 10
80 in letter which is given herewith.
1t will be interesting reading for all who be-
beve in a sound financial policy and In protection
to American industries and American interests
both at home and abroad. But Mr.. Schurz and
his associates will not find it 80 entertaining. Mr.
Schin gives the reasons why he will vote for the
Republican candidates with drectness and force
that are not calculated to please Democrats.
Here is the letter, and every one should read it:
New-York, August "a. 1892.
To Meesrs Carl Schnrz, Oswald Ottendorfer, William
steinway Henry Willard Louis Windmulcr ard Gus
tav II. Schwab.
Gentlemen: / have received from the secretary of
the German American Cleveland Unlon' an appeal
addressed to the American voters (which appeal
I also find published over your name In the pubic
press with invitation to append my signature, ana
coupled with the Inquiry whether will consent TO
become one OF the German-American National Com
mittee. to take the place Of the provisional committee
you now temporarily constitute.
have already informed your secretary that, since
1 shall my vote for the nominees Of the Re
publican party, l cannot well Join your committee
but being, like you, impressed with the unusual Inn
portance Of the coming Presidential election, regard
IT, like you my duty TO give my reasons for believing
why the welfare of our adopted country requires tns
election Of Benjamin Harrison and Whitelaw Reid the
Republican candidates, and why they deserve the voes
of the naturalized Germans rs well as the votes OF
intelligent citizens in general.
Above ALL should state that conceive 1t a duty
to my country to vote for Vlce-President as well
as for President, and fail to discover in your appeal
any reference TO the qualifications Of the gentleman
who appears upon the same ticket with Grover Ceve'
land as candidate for the second Office.
Far be 1t from to detract from the high charac-
ter OF Mr.. Cleveland. But you have made this one
man your idol and II by any fatality he should become
incapactated for his Office the candidate who Is the
nominee Of the Democratic party for Weep esdent
one over whose qualifications you have evidently
found 1t wiser to pass In silence. Nor have yol much
to say in your appeal except in an apologize way In
favor Of the party whose bannerbeares Grover
Cleveland has again been chosen. Well do under
stand your silence In this respect. Better than
many OF those to whom your appeal Is directed do
you understand that the Administration In the hands
of the Democratic party, with its present VicePresi
Dental candidate called by accident TO the Presidency
would lie a standing menace to the countrJ.
You, with every Intelligent voter, know that the
paramount question OF the day Is the silver question.
You we'll know that the tariff is for the present
settled by legislation, and that no matter how unjust
some may consider existing laws, an attempt at this
une to urse,t Ihrou Ii lefs,a on OF .e tarir,
the basis TO which business affairs have only just
begun to adjust themselves would be followed by the
gravest consequences to our commercial prosperity.
The struggle of necessity upon IS upon the silver
question, and during the next four years. no DOUBT,
II Is to be finally decided whether our currency shall
retain the qualities which recognized by practically
the civilized world whether our dollar Is to
be degraded 10 the standard OF Mexico and Indla and
our commerce and people to be in consequence sub
ected TO all the depression and misery now prevail
Ing In those countries.
The attitude OF the Republican party and its candi-
dates both the Presidency and the VicePresidency
upon the silver question is well known. II has alone
been due TO President iarrisors repeated public as
surances that any freccolnage bill would receive his
veto that saved from the panic which. with
ont this knowledge. would have been upon us when
fec coinage became assured Of large Democratic ma
orties in the late session of Congress. Parties, like
men. must be judged By their deeds and not ty their
professions What value attach TO the professions
of the Democratic party at Chicago, which, within
week after they had been made and In spite OF Grover
Cley Glands nomination. repudiated by the partys
action in Congress, when with the vote Of the Demo-
cratic Senator from the State Of Newfork, it passed
a free coinage bill in the United States Senate and
came within few votes OF securing its passage In the
House?
With this record before you, gentlemen you have
the courage TO appeal TO constituency, known for
It's Intelligence and conservatism TO cast its vote
In favor OF party which would had 1t the power,
flood the country with unlimited debased silver, and
whose nominee for the Vice Presidency Is 20 say the
least believed not 10 be safe the currency ques-
ton. You are willing to stake the veal Of your
country upon the one human hfe you have constituted
your IDOL and for which, H. perchance, 1t should be
broken. you have no substitute whom you find 1t
even worth while to make mention OF In your appeal
The German American voter is accustomed 20 reflect
and, reading your appeal the conclusion must force
itself upon him, both from what you have said, and
more from what you have preferred not to say, that
the welfare OF his adopted country demands that he
cast his vote for Benjamin Harrison and Whiteaw
Reid, the nominees OF the Republican party.
JACOB II. sCHIFF.