The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-19

NHE FOREMOST German
American journalist of the
IL United States, Mr.. Ottendor-
fer, proprietor and editor of
the New York StaatsZeitung, is quot
ed in a published interview as having
almost made up his mind not to vote
at all this year. 81 am" he is credit
ed with saying, "disgusted with both
parties, both candidates and both plat
forms. I cannot support Mckinley
and the suicidal action of the Demo-
Gratis at Kansas City prevents me from
supporting Bryan" Mr.. Ottendorfer
adds that if 16 to had been left out
of the Democratic platform Bryan
would have been supported by many
Americans of German ancestry, hither-
to Republicans.
This latter assertion Is frequently en-
countered. The Democrats are build
ing great expectations on capturing a
large percentage of the so-called Ger
man vote. 1t is this vote which Mr..
Bryan thinks will elect him. The idea
seems to be prevalent, even among Re-
publicans, that the German Americans
are seriously disaffected and eager to
record their disapproval of the admin
istration's Philippine policy and of eX-
pansion in general. 1t is also asserted
that they are displeased because of
the absence OF American Intervention
in behalf of the Beers and because the
administration leaders have recon-
mended a larger permanent army.
1t is too early in the campaign to
know what truth there is in these as
sertions or to distinguish fact from
scare. We Judge from the expressions
of opinion which we have overheard
among citizens of this class that they
have sympathlzed deeply with the Bo-
ers, that they have not admired the
British course in South Africa and that
they would have been glad had the
United states not got into the Philip
pines, but t. G1's not follow as a neces-
sary conclusion from these premise.
that those of them who have hither-
to been Republicans or sound money
men are likely to be attracted to Will
liam j. Bryan, running on the Kansas
City free silver platform. They rec
ognize that the South African war is
not properly an issue in American pol.
itics that the government at Wash
ington, like the government at Berlin
or at Paris or at St. Petersburg, could
not reasonably have interfered in thai
war; and that it discharged it's ut.
most duty when il offered its friendly
offices to Great Britain and was told
that Great Britain would not tolerate
intervention from any quarter.
AS to the Philippines, we have OBJ
served that our German American
friends at bottom are a level headed
and practical people, very prone t
adopt finally the common sense view
of things. They may not fancy tn,
jobawhich Uncle Sam has on hand owe
at Manila a good many of them be
lie@ that It might at one time hav,
been avoided: but now that we ar
in FOR it. now that we have the hsa
by the tail, making it more dangerou
TO let go than TO hold on, their shrewt
practical sense will undoubtedly brinl
them around to the conclusion that tn
thing TO do is TO hold on. They do no
like the idea of large standing armies
and in this belief they have plenty o
company, but they can see, as practica
men, that when an army is needed
pays to have one big enough to d
the work required.
Why, then, should they oppose Nc
Kinley? What has he done that an
man, who voted for him four years ag
should hesitate 10 vote for him again
He has been careful, prudent, conser
vatlve. He has fulfilled his promise!
His administration has reformed tn
currency and restored the public credi
1t has enlarged the foreign commer1
while increasing greatly the volume G
domestic business. 1t has preserve
relationships of peace and friendlines
with.every nation except Spain and
stood out against the war WIKI Spai
as long as It could. so long. in fac
that many of its supporters In eongres
lost their patience and temper ard be
gan to call It names. Especially friend
~ have been the official relations be
TIVE Va this country and Germany. d