Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-23
WHO HAS TEE HONEY

HAAO HAS THE mGHEY7
The debate IN the United States Senate,
on Mr.. Summers resolution asking for the
appointment of a select COMMITTEES to inves-
tigate into the sale of arms and ammunition
to the French Government during the late
France-Prussian war, has brought to light
the fact that four millions of dollars have
gone into the pockets of some Of the Radi-
cal rings that surround the President. IN
the report Of the Secretary Of War it ap-
pears that ordnance and ammunition to
the value of 100000 was sold by the
department, while the report of the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury shows that only
s., 286, 131.70 was received from the sales.
This shows discrepancy of over 81 $4,000
to be accounted for. Perhaps it can be
satisfactorily explained. At all events, the
public will expect an explanation. There
is a darker transaction, however, on which
the light Of investigation ought to be
thrown. The published accounts of the
French government show that $11 100000
in gold, or about $4,000, 600 in
currency at that time was expended in pur-
chasing arms in this country, while the re-
port of the Secretary of War, even if cor
rect, shows that only s10,O0O,OO0 was re-
ceived by the United States Government.
Here, then, is the immense sum of four
millions of dollars to be accounted for.
Who has the money! The agents of the
French Government have not, for they re-
ceived only p per cent commission for
making the purchases, which would yield
but trife compared with the amount to be
accounted for. The United States Govern
ment did not receive it, according to the
most favorable report. If not the agents of
France or the Federal Government, where
then could the money have gone
There are suspicious circumstances, all
tending to prove the existence of military
ring at Washington. Sufficient facts are be-
fore the public to show that such SUPPOSE
ton is not improbable. The remarkable
Iavors extended to Leet, Porter, Babcock
and other military dignitaries by the
President, and the INSCRIPTIONS
manner in which such privileges have been
employed to rob the public have excited
suspicious Ia the public mind which moth
ing but a most thorough and impartial in
vestigation into the management of the
departments can allay. At time when
two of the greatest nations in Europe were
contending for supremacy, and when every
interest of the United States demanded the
maintenance of a strict neutrality towards
the belligerents, the Administration thought
fit to make large sales of warlike stores. I'm
mense quantities of arms and ammunition
were sold, and the workshops Of the Gov
eminent were opened to manufacture cart
ridges, to sell to the agents Of the French
government. The money obtained by these
sales was not urgently required by the
United States Government at the time, and
even though it had been, the comparatively
small amount to be realized in such way,
was not sufficient to risk disturbance of
the friendly relations existing between this
country and Prussla. The action oftheGovern-
ment can, therefore, be accounted for in but
one way. The military ring at Washington
of which the President is either amember
OF an ally, saw in the European contest an
opportunity to fill their pockets by means OF
a profitable war contract. To afford them
this opportunity the neutrality Of this coun-
try was violated, the friendly relations ex-
listing between the United States and Euro
pean powers were jeopardized, and the char
acter of the American people was degraded
in the eyes of other nations. If the Gov
eminent of the United States has been con-
Quoted in the interests Of corrupt rings, the
people should know it; if it has not, an i'm
partial investigation TO show to the people
of Europe that the American Government
is innocent of the charges made against it,
is absolutely necessary. But no white
washing committee will serve the purpose.
In question which involves the public
honor, no venal parasites of the administra-
ton should be permitted to hoodwink the
people, and blacken the already sullied
character of the United States Government
vr;tI, q foIea yarort