St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-18
GEN. sEELEY'S SPEECH.

The GLOBE returns to this question of
the intrusion of the nationality issue
into the pending campaign with extreme
reluctance. 1t expressed its views
strongly the other morning on this sub
ject; SO strongly, in fact,as to have called
forth some indignant protests from GER
tain Of its friends. The GLOBE is con-
scientious and courageous enough to
stick to its position. 1t is still of the
opinion that no patriot will be justified
Ill voting for a forelgn-born candidate
because he is foreign-born, nor against
him for this reason. General fitness is
the only criterion in such matters.
Several Republicans have written to
the GLOBE, however, saying that they
propose to- work against Mr.. NELSON'S
election not because he is Scandina-
Wan, but as rebuke to the leaders of
their own party for having attempted to
force the race question into the contest.
They have argued in their letters that
Mr.. NELSON was put at the head of his
ticket because he was Scandinavian,
and they insist that this was an un-
worthy motive, and should not be i'll
dorsed at the polls. Every body who
reads this can see that there is a dis
tinction here, but it is very fine one,
and the average man had better beware
of the dangers which Turk in logical
Subtleties.
There is no doubt that the feeling
thus summarized has wide prevalence
in tine state, and it has found its clearest
expression in the very extraordinary
speech which Gen. SEELEY delivered be-
fore the Central Republican club, on
Tuesday evening. Gen. SEELEYl is a
Republican of the Republicans, but he
is dissatisfied with the course his party
has taken. Said he in somewhat
startling sentence:
TN looking over the present and prospect
i've personnel OF the state officers l find
Scandinavian governor, Scandinavian Sec
rotary of state. Scandinavian state auditor
Scandinavian clerk of the supreme court,
and German state treasurer. =
find native Americans holding but two elect
i've offices, and those not really part of the
administration, viz: the lieutenant governor
ship and the attorney generalship."
AS the GLOBE understands the gem
eral, he does not object to the prom
inepce Of the foreign-born citizens, nor
intend to cast any reflections OH their
character or capacity. What he does
object to is the system of which these
facts are the evidence. He declares that
| it has been through the efforts of de-
signing politicians of American birth
| that native-born Americans are excluded
from participation in the government of
the state! The accident of birth is;con-
ceived by the Republican bosses to give
| man sort of availability, because it
promises to secure him the support of
| others Of his nationality. Gen. SEELEY
and the GLOBES correspondents agree
| that no one should be made candidate
for such considerations, and they pro-
| test against its being done because it
foIbodes ill for the commonwealth.
There is good deal of this, and all
fair-minded people will have to admit
it. The GLOBE reiterates its adherence
of the spirit of Knownothingism, and
| fears that reasoning Of this pattern may
| degenerate in something of the Know
| nothing nature. 1t calls on all our cit
liens to exercise their right of suffrage
with minds free from such faint. But
it cannot undertake to be the keeper of
| eyerybody'S conscience. Its only piece
| of advice is that everybody should vote
for DANIEL w. LAWYER for governor
| of Minnesota.