The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-18
The German.Americans.

| The German.Americans.
| A good deal Of ridiculous talk is be-
| ing INDUCED in at the present time over
the question how the German meri-
| cans are going to vote this fall.
| Four years ago their votes were cast
almost solidly for Mckinley. especially
In the Middle West. They could not
be led to give their support to the can
| didates who were standing on plat
| form that represented dishonest money,
| and that is what they believed free sill
yer at the ratio of Is to / to be. Ger
| man American Democrats repudiated
| the silver plank of the Chicago plat
| form and voted for Palmer and Buck
ner or for Mckinley. All over the coun-
| support of sound money. and in the
| present campaign there is every reason
to believe that they win not waver.
The Bryanites are claiming. however.
that in spite OF the fact that the 10 to
doctrine Is specifically reaffirmed in
the Kansas City platform. the real is
sue Is to be imperialism, and on this
question the German Americans will
come out solidly for Bryan. The Dem
ocratc candidate, II Is claimed, has
strong anti-imperislistic views, is OPP
posed to colonies and down on milltar-
ism. His attitude in this respect is just
what appeals to the Germans. so the
Bryanites say and as Imperialism is tAe
paramount issue. they will ignore the
silver question and rally to the Demo-
cratic standard
The German-Americans are pretty
solid. sober-thinking people. and II Is
not at all likely that they will be mis-
led by all this hullabaloo over imperial
ism and the imaginary evils that the
Democrats are wont to associate with
1t. They realize that this talk about
choosing now between an American and
European theory Of government Is all
nonsense They appreciate that the cry
that their liberties are being inperiled
is humhug pure and simple. They know
that a republican form of government
is here TO stay. and that II will be ad-
mlnistered just as the people determine
at the polls. They are not frightened
by the direful predictions now being
made by the Bryan shouters. because
they are aware that II Is all part of
a bogus campaign cry which the Dem
| ocrats have taken up as last resource.
in the hope that timid and unthinking
people may he stampeded by IT,
The twaddle about miIitarlsm is also
something with which the German
Americans are not likely 10 be deceived.
! This Ia merely an appeal 10 preiudlces
| brought from the old country. but II Ia
too tar-fetched 10 carry any weight with
people as Intelligent az the German ele-
ment in this country Is Germany today
has II IL soldiers to every 1000 people.
and as nation Il ia poor compared
With the United states. We have se-ioo
OF a soldier 30 every 1000 people. and
| with standing army Of iO0. 900 men
/ would have only Ia for every 900
| people, Moreover. al of these soldiers
are volunteers They have enlisted OF
| their own free Will. and the service -
In no sense compulsory This system OF
voluntary service the Brysni,es would
try 20 dlstort into something similar
. 60 the eptorced military demands ~ the
fatherland bat the German Americans
all not be deceived 0y any nisrcpres~n-
tAton 50 absurd. They have had an op-
p0riunity 20 IVA ANIME into ana appr--
ctAte The STABILITY q N. American sov-
eminent and they arc sensible enough
4 - know that maintaining 100 90 soldiers
In - nation ~ 20, oso ~ PEOPLE wtI never
resist ln hgracniag the United states
v,th a system ~ miutartzu such as
European countries now suffer from.
X Is all an attemp; 10 make a para.
mount issue out - a mere SCARF with
the idea az draWinE attention away
from the offensive money plank: bat
II NIL prove Intellectual, and especially
among the German Americans
Mr. Bpsas latest Is that Il any op-
ponent Of imperialism refuses TO sup
port the Democratic ticket because Of
the silver piAaS it must De because he
prefers a gold standard empire to a BIZ
L. EaAtA.iLa ras1ble-" This 10 mere DANA