The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-11
LOTTO'S SPEECH,
His Remarks on Voting Resolution in the
House.

During the discussion of the election
Dill yesterday morning in the house Mr.
Lotto of Austin made an appeal for the
Germans of Texas, holding the attention
said:
Gentlemen of the House-Before |
make an argument on the question | wish
to state that l have the highest personal
regard fer the gentleman who introduced
this resolution He is q gentleman of
culture and education and there can be
no question that he is actuated by the
nob!est and most patriotic motives But
while | do not question his motives. l
may question the expediency of the meas
ure he advocates. 1t is wrong to act
from impulse, no matter how noble: we
must look to the effect of our actions. Let
us look at the effect of this policy. In
Texas there are ope.quarter of q million
CT Germans and of German descent. Of
these only $4,000 are foreigners who
have been born in Germany. This meas
ure would not affect more than 5000 Ger
man voters: Now the object of this bill
is to exclude from voting persons who do
not know our institutions. But before
German gives his declaration to become
a citizen and is enabled to vote he gener-
ally has stayed from two TO FIVE years in
this country; he has learned great deal
about our institutions and therefore. can
vote intelligently.
Gentlemen of the house, / am glad
that it is my good fortune to voice to
you the sentiments of this foreign elc-
ment. "A kind star guided me when |
came to this country and made the ac-
quaintance of broad-mindcd, liberal
Americans. They taught me to respect
me about the forefathcrs who stepped on
Plymouth Rock and had acquired citi-
zens' rights in this country before they
even landed. They did not bring world
~ goods, but brawny arms and an in
domitable energy. These physical and
mental forces have made these people
the grandest nation of the universe They
taught me of the freedom-inspired lead
ers of the revolution: how this country
the last refuge of those oppressed and
prosecuted for their political convictions.
Like in olden times, temple was the last
refuge for political fugitives, where they
found safety on holy grounds so now, for
over n century the United States have
been the altar of freedom that protected
them. These, gentlemen of the house,
have been their teachings. have learn
ed to love and admire our institutions.
| pronounce it openly that am Ameri-
can first, before l am anything else.
While love the country of my birth as
love my father and mother, | love the
country of my adoption with devotion
as man would love the woman of his
choice. As he would defend her against
the world, his parents and anything else,
| never would hesitate for moment 10
stand by the side of the country of my
adoption. Gentlemen of the house, am
Il democrat; principles above nationality
If you adopt this measure, | still would
be a democrat and stay with the demo-
cratic party. But would all of my coun-
trymen do this? Would not great
many misconstrue you, and misguided by
INSCRIPTIONS leaders take this as an in
suit offered to them officially by the dem
ocratic party? Gentlemen of the house.
| have constantly tried to teach them
the greatness of our institutions and of
the, democratic party, and to rely on the
business of this party. What must tell
them when come back? Gentlemen of
the house, these elements have proved
bulwark against populism; at least three
fourths of them are democrats Now,
when populism makes constant efforts to
overthrow democracy. will you weaken
your ranks by throwing over half of them
out of your ranks?
Another thing, Texas is large state.
1t is greater in area than the German
Empire 1t can support easily 10000, 600
ry is settled by new colonies. when they
pay taxes will you deprive them of their
vote? Gentlemen of the house, taxation
without representation was the principle
against which the fathers of the revolu-
ton fought and thereby secured to us the
blessings of liberty.
"Now, most of us are anxious to So
cure immigration to develop the great
natural resources of this state. Surely.
you do not hold this measure out as an
nducement? You know.that immigrants
and capital are attracted TO those states
where the most liberal immigration laws
exist.
Gentlemen Of the house bescech you
to vote against measure which is
against the interests of the democratic
party. measure which is against the in
terests of the state, and Il measure which
is not just"