Year: 1871

I


ming, August cath, 1871.


Translated from the German, for the Com


mercial.l


FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS -
When was requested to act as speak
er during the impending campaign,
in behalf of the Republican cause, /
, selected Akron for my debut. / did
so in the belief that was not astrang-
er here, and because it was here where
few days previous to the last Presi-
Dental election, had the honor of
addressing a Republican meeting the
last time. I do not know whether
that meeting contributed anything to
the splendid Republican majority in
Summit county at that time, but a
recall of my participation therein will
certainly, hope, aid in securing me
your indulgence for the imperfeetions
of my address to-day. believe my
self the more entitled to this indul-
gence because an embarrassment, 9TH
erwise unknown to me, has taken
possession of me.


The cause Of this consists in the for
tunate or unfortunate circumstance
that 1, myself, am one of the ''elect"
OF the party whose cause would rep
resent before you tonight. When l
still walked in the virgin Republican
garment, the thought could not occur
to me that any body could doubt the
sincerity of my sentiments, since l
have become a candidate / have al
most lost that ingenuousness of heart.
; VIII he speak in behalf of himself, or
pro domo? The suspicion of being
held capable of it would render it
, difficult for me to address my fellow
citizens.


/ owe it, therefore, to myself and
| this meeting, to declare above all that
the fact of my being nominee of the
: party does not make me more servile,
but positively more skeptical in re-
gard to that party. Honorable as the
position is for which the Republican
party has nominated me, would not
have accepted it at the plice of my
independence and convictions not
even then, If (which is not the case)
I had sought or wished this nomina-
ton.


Some Democratic journals have ex-
pressed the opinion that my name in
the Republican list of candidates was
only intended to gain German votes
for the Republican party. Truly the
Democratic party has never yet made
4 itself amenable to such charge, such
price being considered too high by
Democratic leaders TO pay for Ger
man votes. Hitherto it has certainly
not been one of the weaknesses of the
Democratic party to do even approxi-
mate justice to the German Demo-
cratic element, although the same is
strongly represented in that party and
no doubt, has very just claims on il.
That is precisely one of the points
in which the Republican party has
always distinguished itself above the
Democratic party, as Illinois, MissOu-
ri, Wisconsin and Iowa proved even
formerly, where German Americans
were called to the highest post of
honor.


To answer, once for all time, the in
situations made respecting my nOmi-
nation, let it here be stated in the in
terest of truth, that in the nomination
of candidates q convention was per-
haps never actuated by more patriot
ic motives than the last Republican
one in Columbus. My nomination
implies nothing but the just and
merited recognition and appreciation
of the German element, and the
alaerity, nay, enthusiasm with which
| this recognition was offered and ex-
pressed, enhances the honor. There
were no professional politicians" no
"malcontents,n no "sore-heads" to be
| gained or coneiliated there, no con-
| siderations, no obligations were either
entered into or demanded. 1t was an
act of friendly approximation on the
| American part toward the German
element, and as such let it be recOg-
nized and confirmed here, and if the
confidence that the Republican party
would profit by such act had share
in, I hope that on the part of the
! Germans this confidence will be vim
dicated in high minded way.


Motives, not of a personal kind, ap-
peared to me to make the acceptance
Of this candidacy duty for me. 1t is
my desire to contribute to the over
coming of those national prejudices,
which, to the damage of the country,
have so often impeded the develop
ment of its liberty. In his lOYe for
liberty and sacrifices for the welfare
OF his entire adopted country, the Ger
man-Ameriean is not surpassed by
any class of his fellow-citiZens This
fact recognized, the different views
regarding social habits and customs
should furnish no ground for con-
tinued misapprehensions or for bitter
ness and discord. The country is
large enough, and its population in
telligent enough, to let every one be
happy and saved according to his own
fashion.


I would also like to aid in dissipat-
ing that political depression which
for some years has manifested itself
frequently in the best circles Of the
people. Intense disirust of political
parties and persons is beginning to
become epidemic. While l readily
admit that there are causes extant for
this phenomenon; would warn you
against supposing that the way to re-
move those causes is to sulk and do
nothing. The means of cure lie nei-
ther in the LGiSSez pdSser, nor in prob
lematieaI departures" but in the
arousing of the apathetic masses in
more active participation and eo-opera-
tion in political life.


WHAT Is COMPLAINED OF.


We complain Of the corruption of
parties, of corruption in all the depart
ments of political life. Unfortunately
the corruption is not confined to the
political domain, but is likewise at
home in another sphere. Political
corruption is but a reflex OF social cor
ruptiOn, for political parties are made
up, not Of distractions, but of men of
flesh and blood. The censure of par
ties, therefore, applies to their MEM
bers. Corruption does not exist be-
eause these members want it, but be-
cause they tolerate it. We are, there
fore, all aceo-Ipliees in the guilt
From the morals of the individual are
formed the morals of the WhOle-this
is what is called public opinion. When
that ceases to be tolerant and indiffer-
ent toward corruption the latter viii
disappear. Public opinion is, in mat |
ters of morality, the highest and most |
dreaded of tribunals; before its forum |
no criminal can stand; from its SEN
tence there is no appeal.


The elevation of the level of public |
opinion is, therefore, task worthy /
the nOblest men in the land, and to |
which everybody can contribute who |
is serious about the restoration of a |
better condition of things.


now proceed to the consideration |
of the DartieS and their DrilciDles