Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-30
4 SANDER ANS WER Ed.

During the campaign the New York Fri
bune published slanderoas article asaias
Hon. John L. Stevens, the American Miais
ter a; Montevideo. Ths personal friends q
Mr.. Stevens knew it was lie, because Is vas
totally at variance with his we'll knswa char
acter for public spirit, undefa.igasie industry
and ambition and ability to perform well
whatever public duty he undertakes. And
now we find in the Tribune Of the 2Gih the
following letter from Mr.. Stevens in answer
to the SANDER, which was not needed to con-
vince his friends Of the baseness Of the Tri.
bune article, but was necessary in other parts
Of the country where he 10 not so we'll known
as here.
For the New York Tribune.
Response TO a Base Attack.
In the course of many years Of public life
rarely have regarded it necessary to pay at
tention to calupnious personal attacks, having
been willing to trust my character to its own
inherent laws of vindication among those with
whom passed nearly half century. But at
present residing seven thousand miles from
those who really know me, and believing that
| my conduct in an official position in some de-
gree involves the honor of my country, can
not permit my general rule of remaining ST.
lent under aspersion, in this instance, should
govern my action.
The last American mail brought me the
New York Tribune, Of Sept llth, in which
there Is an assault on myself, which for vul-
gar mendacity and consecutive false hoods is
seldom surpassed. The principal statements
ana implications contained in that assault, in
All their essential particulars, are as inappli-
Il n n nhrk
Saturn, and totally void of foundation. The
: asseverations OF the Tribune writer comprise
: several specihc statements. The first is to
j. the erect, that "a bill was passed giving me
TWO legations. Had the writer been better
Il informed, he would have known that the Par.
d aguay Legation was placed under my charge
h IN virtue OF a general law which has been ir
!, iotce many years, and this law had been an
Phed IN previous instances as matter O
g. government economy. Instead Of bein,
v separated by country of difficult passage,
:! as is alleged, Paraguay and Uruguay are CON
oi nected by lines of steamers and regular mai
y communication. BY repeated visits and off
ID cial correspondence l have discharged tn
duties OF the Paraguay Legation.
The Tribune calumniator charges that
he disagreed with my landlords and for disrepu,
N able reasons abandoned my hotel In ever
word and letter this statement is false. NJ,
sell ana FAMILY to-day are occupying the sam
l. rooms at the same hotel which we occupie
=. the first day we entered this city in 1870, {
the same terms, with the same landlords, wit
Is whom we never had the slightest difficulty a
It to accommodations, prices, or in any respet
n whatever. The quarters we now occupy W
originally intended to retain during our en-
y tire residence in this country. Why did W
= for while take rooms elsewhere? Earl, /
q 1871 the small pox ragged excessively in Mon
. tevideo, carrying TO the grave seventy I
y eighty persons a week. In malignant forl
If 1t made its appearance among the servant
d and guests OF our hotel, several dying wit
g the disease. Our physician and commo
'i sense directed US to leave the hotel, which "
N did with nearly all the other guests. Befor
" It was regarded safe to return to our oil
u Quarters at the hotel, the yellow fever brok
!" guy IN Buenos Ayres-a city closely identj
i, neo with Montcyideo in its commercial an
[. sociai relations. For months this scourp
;. RACED, until swept away twenty five thous
" and persons, causing a frightful panic
is Aiontevideo and neighSoring cities. Ii seeme
n. madness to return to the hotel with INV famil
under such circumstances. AZ the time M
u usual population Of the city was largely II
W creased by persons who had fed from Buent