The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-09
oERMAN-kMERICANS.

An Ogden correspondent encloses a
clipping from an administration paper
printed in that city in which the state
ment is made that the German vote
win cut an important figure in this
years presidential campaign" and fig
ures are given to show that Mckinley
was elected in 1896 by this vote, with
out which he cannot be reelected Our
correspondent wants to know what we
think about it.
The Herald is of the opinion that
considerable truth is expressed in the
statement that Mckinley could not
have been elected in 1896 without the
aid of the German vote. 1t is very
apparent. furthermore, that he cannot
be reelected without that vote. The
Ogden paper, upon the authority Of
the "Pan-Germanic atlas gives the
following statistics:
New York, with 55S,OOO heads the list
of the states in the number OF native
born Germans. Wisconsin has the larg-
est proportion of residents born in Ger
many, the number being 2S3.000 Illinois
follows New York with $4,000 German
IA. 900, and Massachusetts $1,000
Assuming that the German vote will
go this year as it went four years ago.
the Republican Journal quoted says
that the $4,000 native Germans in
New York City will assure New York
state to the Republicans"
Facts and figures are likewise given
to show that it will require the German
strength of Wisconsin, Illinois and
Minnesota to keep those states in the
Republican column this year. In ali
probability this is true. But how are
German-born American citizens going
to vote in the United States this year?
Every influential German newspaper
printed in the United States is Oppos-
/ ing McKinley's reelection. The Chi
cago Record has heen printing inter
views and letters from prominent Ger
mans throughout the United States for
! several months Invariably they are
| pronounced against Imperialism. With
/ out a notable exception they consider
/ this the paramount issue. And the
! Record. itself a supporter of the Nc
] Kinley administration. comments upon
]
erywhere as follows:
! German antagonism to imperialism
and militarism is natural enough Many
if not most of the Germans in America
/ left Germany because of a dislike OF
! German military methods. Indeed, the
Germans who emigrated from the IA
therland to America may be said tC
be a selection of that element of Ger
man manhood to whom the military
methods of the imperial government
( were most hateful. The part the Ger
man-Americans played in our civil wal
proved though, that they were ready
to fight bravely for their country wheI
it's welfare was threatened and grea
principles were involved, so that it il
not war but militarism which excite
their apprehension
The Boston Advertiser, another Nc
Kinley paper, says that the Repub
lican platform and the policy of tn
administration have "alienated all VIII
came TO this country to find liberty
freedom from militarism and popula
government" 1t adds that all 'thes
Republican editors and politicians VIII
have striven to commit the Repub
lican party TO a policy of expansion b.
armed conquest, have taken the sures
course to drive out from the ReDub
Hcan party the tens of thousands O
German voters who, in many grea
pivotal states, hold the balance of pc
litical power
1t says further that when Reouh
licans in congress stified as far as pos
sible all expression in the ReDublica
party of sympathy with the heroi
struggles of the Teutonic republics i
South Africa for national existenc,
the utmost aid and comfort which
was possible for such jingoes, claimin
to be Republicans, to give to Brya
and Organism, and all that they i'm
ply. was given"
And the Boston Journal concede
that if the Republican party is to wi
in this campaign 1T must win withol
the aid of the German vote
There are millions Of Germans !
this country. AS a rule they are goo
citizens. They came here to find II
liberal institutions of a free republi
They were welcome to come and al
welcome to remain They have helpe
TO build the country. They are nun
bered among it's heaviest taxpayer
Their influence is potent and the
strength is an important factor in ele
tons. They have a voice and a pa
in the affairs of government and the
want others under the flag to hav