The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-24
THE GERMAN.AMERIcANs.

Seattle Post-InteIligeneer.
A good deal of ridiculous talk is be-
ing indulged in at the present time
over the question how the German
Americans are going to vote this falL
Four years ago their votes were cast
almost solidly for Mckinley, especial
ly in the Middle West. They could not
be led to give their support to the can
dldates who We're standing on plat
form that represented dishonest money.
and that is what they believed free
silver at the ratio OF l6 to to be.
German-American Democrats repudiat-
cd the silver plank of the Chicago
platform and voted for Palmer and
Ruckner or for Mckinley. All over the
country they were as rule stanch in
their 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 ls
to doctrine is specifically reafirmed
in the Kansas City platform. the real
issue is to be Imperialism. and on this
question the German-Americans will
come out solidly for Bryan. The
Democratic candidate. it is claimed. has
strong anti-imperialistic views. is op-
posed to colonies and down on militar-
ism. His attitude in this respect is
just what appeals 10 the Germans, so
the Rryanites say, and as Imperialism
is the paramount issue. they win ig-
more the silver question and rally to
the Democratic standard.
The German-Americans are pretty
solid. ber-thinking people. and It is
not at all likely that they will be mis-
led by all this hulIabaloo over imper,
ialism and the imaginary evils that the
Democrats are wont to associate with
it. They realize that this talk about
choosing now between an American and
a European theory Of government is
all nonsense. They appreciate that the
cry that their liberties are being i'm
periled is humbug pure and simple.
They know that republican form of
government is here to stay, and that it
will be administered Just as the people
determine at the polls. They are not
frightened by the direful predictions
now being made by the Bryan shout
ers. because they are aware that it is
all part Of a bogus campaign cry
which the Democrats have taken up as
a last resource, in the hope that tirnid
and unthinking people may be STAN
peded by it.
The twaddle about militarlsm is also
something with which the German
Americans are not likely to be deceiv-
ed. This is merely an appeal to preju-
dices brought from the old country,
but it is too far-fetched to carry any
weight with people as intelligent as the
German element in this country is.
Germany today has liz soldiers to
every 1000 people. and as a nation it
is poor compared with the United
States. We have 86-1OO Of a soldier to
every 1000 people. and with a stand
ing army of 100000 men would ha. .
only TX for every 1000 people. More
over. all Of these soldiers are volun-
reers. They have enlisted Of their own
free win. and the service is in no sense
This system of voluntary
service the Bryanites would try to dis
tort into something similar to the en-
forced military demands Of the father
land; but the German-Americans wlHl
not be deceived by any misrepresenta-
tion SO absurd They nave had an op-
portunity to examine into and appre-
ciate the stability Of the American gov
eminent. and they are sensible enough
to know that maintaining 100000 SOL
diers in nation Of 5000, 900 people viii
never result in burdening the United
States with a system Of miitarism.
such as European countries now suffer
from. 1t is all an attempt to make
a paramount issue out of a mere scare
with the idea Of drawing attention
away from the offensive money plank;
but It will prove Intellectual, and es-
pecially among the German-Americans