The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-09-02

twelve weeks. but permits that GER
tificate Of attendance for like number
Of weeks at private school shall ex-
empt the child's parents from fine, pro-
vided such school shall be approved by
the regular board of education, and that
certain elementary studies shall be con-
Quoted in English.
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 popa-
lation tends to make all American born
children of foreign parentage acquire
English and speak 1t 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 needless act Of
tyranny. They claim, too. that so long
as they pay their school taxes the at
tempted espionage of school boards into
heir parochial 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 a reasonable amount of
education, it has no right to demand
through a school board by whom that
education should be impaired. That a
certificate that child has been to
school twelve weeks in the year is as
much as the state should demand. 1t
does not believe in paternal govern
ment, and holds that the home and the
family should have the right to have
inscribed over the doorway "Intrare
non" to every one, except under necessi-
ties of public safety.
The obnoxious clauses in the law We're
forced by Republican legislature and
signed by Republican governor, now
again candidate for reelection, and at
the last legislature, though promises
We're made to expunge the obnoxious
features, 1t was a promise made only to
be broken. The Lutherans will vote for
the Democratic candidate Altgeld al
most to q man. They will more than
probably carry to him from &c, 900 to 30,-
600 votes heretofore solidly Republican.
Now, look back twelve years. In 1850
Garield's majority in Illinois was 10, 600:
Cullom's little less. In 1884 Blaine's
majority over Cleveland was 25,122:
Oglesby's, over your correspondent, H..
500. In 1883 Harrisou's over Cleveland.
22, 1876; Fifer over Palmer, 1850 The
Lutherans at each of these elections
voted straight Republican ticket.
There is reason to believe that to a mau
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 wavering
and weak kneed Republicans to Steven
son. AL men respect and honor Cleve-
land.
But, on the other hand, Harrison has
winning ways to make men dislike him.
Reid's name falls out west as a cold
blanket. But Adlai Stevenson appeals
largely to mems hearts. He is known
10 be frank, kindly man who belongs
TO the peoples 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 admini,tra-
ton. But what president gave cleaner
one than Cleveland? No Republican
will deny that the country will be safe
in his hands. 1t is a 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 skirmish 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 worse effect upon the D.
mocracy than upon their opponents.
Why? Decorous quietude tends to Keep
men in accustomed lines. Now, there
is q 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
to 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 presidential election.
They are disposed to join in a hurrah.
Without this hurrah they will be apt to
vote as their fathers have done; with it
they will gravitate to the Democratic
party. There is an army of young men
in the state who have never voted for o
president. Their first vote for one is to
them momentous thing. and they will
wish to cast it to the tune of political
music.
a change of II, ,G9S votes from those of
1883 will carry Illinois from Harrison to
Cleveland. These will easily be found
among the Lutherans and among the
young of all kinds if there be but n usic
enough TO put life and metal in .heir
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