The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-24

become still weaker. IL is Well 1or tAe
country that such is the case
RACE QUESTION IN POLITICS.
The race uestion is bee 1ming q more
troublesome question ia our politics than
any other. Men are nominated on the
different tickets because they control
this or that vote. Year after year local
tickets are made up with that end in
view. Nothing is said openly, but those
who engineer the nominations keep the
idea Of nationality in mind at all times
Nothing could be more un-American.
The privileges granted to our foreign
born are debased by those seeking poll
tical capital Conventions do not inquire
as to the candidates. capability or hon.
esty, but as to his birthplace, his religion
and his name Work Of this kind is a
reflection upon the Intelligence and pa
triotisn of the vote sought after. 1t Is
a fraud, which one political party is as
much guilty of as another. The result
Of this kind of politics is pernicious in
the extreme. THE object of our govern
msnt is to assimilate as quickly as pos
sible all foreign clements. The result Of
the evil complained of is just the oppo-
site, Race prejudices that might other
wise be forgotten are revived, and ques-
tons OF vital Importance passed by on
account OF matters that in no way con-
Germ an American public.
Two Years ago the Democratic party
in Illinois nominated Altgelt for gov
ernor because he could control d dis.
affected German Republican vote, This
was his only apparent qualification. The
party secured the vote it bid for and
elected q man who in no sense is a
Democrat, who is thoroughly untitled to
hold snch high ctfice, and who has
called down upon the Democratic party
of Illinois a lasting disgrace. At the
Same time the Republican party Of
Minnesota nominated for govern r man
calculated to control disafsoted Re.
publican Scandinavian vote. This man
could not have secured the nomination
had it not been for the fact that" he was
born in foreign land. We are far from
being opposed to having foreigners hold
office, but we are opposed to the idea OF
nominating man because he is for
e,gner. It is disgusting to hear speakers
talk about the Irish, German or Scandi-
navian vote. 1t is gross insult to any
nationality to intimate that the price OF
it's allegiance is race prejudice. Not
until the intelligence and patriotism Of
voters resent the reputation of ignorance
and prejudice will political conventions
cease to nominate men because OF their
nationality. In our local poiitlcs this
year We have had several examples of
! race warfare. Political clubs Of one
| nationality opposed tbs regular nominee
of party because that nominee was OF q
different nationality. The result of such
actions is q race warfare, which, so far az
]
cerned, is rs deplorable as religious
warfare. Every reasonable person con-
dennis the nlingling of religion and poll
| tics, yet the religious war in politics is
no more deplorable than the race war
Both are questions which we're long age
decided and both are foreign to the
spirit Of our institutions But it il
much easier to point out evils and sug-
Rest remedies than it Is to apply RENE.
| dies. The evil in this case consists in
| unwarranted 2reiudices and the natural
gullibility of people, the remedy consists
in bringing home to people the fact that
such prejudices are foolish and un-
| American. The criterion of candi.
dates fitness should be: lis he an
! American citizen, honest and capeble?'
not is he Irish, German or Scandinaviani
The race warfare is as un-American az
the religious warfare.
I
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