New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-12
cOLD COMFORT FOR THE BEERITES.

II is necessary II one would discuss the Ger
man vote cast in last Tuesdays election In
snirit of fairness to recognize the fact that our
ccrman- American citizens entertain just as de-
c,ded views on the general issues OF the DAY rs
do those Of native birth. The arrogance WIN
which self-appointed leaders speak as for 'das
Deutschthnm." therefore, compcls any one VINO
desires to discuss the nationality OF Tuesdays
vote TO distinguish sharply between the Ger
mans rs a whole and the Germans whose Dusi-
ness interests. or stupidity, or prejudice, or
hatred Of decent order has put them into class
which might be called the Beerites. 1t Is
humiliation for the intelligent eeI~ent among
the Germans-those who believe in physical, IN
tecctual. moral ard political cleanliness-that
,hev should so often be Jumped with those Of
their countlymen by birth who are always ready
to sacrifice everything that makes for the good
Of the community to their god, Gambrnus.
There are tens Of thousands Of Germans In New
Work CITY who would like to see relaxation Of
the laws and customs which belong to the
American Sunday yet do not believe for mo-
ment that the sun Of personal liberty rises In
beer-barre and sets in beer-bey. In a coun-
fry where there is rigidity in the enforcement
of laws designed 10 preserve public order ana
dccorum. chiefly the laws regulating the sale or
intoxicating drinks. which makes Mr. Roose-
yelts efforts seem farcically mpotent in com
parison they learned to take different view
of the weekly day of rest than has heretofore
prevailed I'm this country. They would like TO
see II devoted more to mental and bodily recrea-
ton: to pleasures which are in themselves inno-
cent and which do not infringe upon the rights
Of others so long as they are kept Under proper
regulation. They have witnessed change in
that direction in the gradual but steady extern
sion Of opportunities for innocent diversion; and
they have seen all this accomplished without
conflict between the native and foreign-born
elements in our population.
Can ANYBODY recall time when the leaders
Of the German party which shrieked for per
sonal liberty" in the recent canvass got up a
decent orderly agitation in favor or widening
the opportunities of the people for moral, intel
lectnal and aesthetic culture? Remembering
their manner of conducting an argument, does
any one believe that ii would be possible for
them 10 carry on such an agitation! Have they
ever displayed any anxiety to secure anything
for their cOmpariots except the privilege OF
drinking much beer at all times? They talk
yolubIy about the need Of maintaining German
liberty whatever that may bel German GUS
toms and the German language in this Amer
can land of their adoption; and many OF them
talk both from the platform and In the news
paper press, in n manner that is disgrace 10
the German tongue. Have they ever done any
thing TO preserve the German language OF when
they are so fond for political purposes from the
voful degeneration into which it has fallen. ana
which bids fair TO make Of the spoken German
of the East side a patois like the "Iiddsh OF
the Polish quarter or "Pennsylvania Dutch
They have not. The question with them has
ALWAYS been. and will always be, beer qlies-
tion. Tammany seems to understand il MS such,
and. if our scintant contemporary, The New
York SUM-" speaks either by inspiration or a'i-
thoritv. the victory which the berries helped
70 win on the personal liberty issue is going
to be- for them n barren idealty. Tammany Is
now going to assume Il lofty attitude as the pre-
server of the existing excise and Sunday laws.
ynmmany did not stipuate and agree TO yield
to the personal liberty Sunday opening. free
"bccr advocates" says The SUM- which speaks
contcmptuo,lsly Of the GERMAN reform radicals.
"vbo are before all for free beer and plenty
"of it." Worse than that. 1t argues that by the
very fact Of their support of Tanmany Han
the Germans relieved the Republicans from all
obligations TO secure more liberal Sunday laws.
Here's gratitude. Der Mohr hat seine Schul-
dgkeit gchan; der Mohr kahn gehen.'