New-York tribune., 1872-09-10
SENATOR WILSON EXPLAINS.

THE LETTER TO THE GERMANS UNAUTHORIZED
BY HINT WAS WRITTEN UNDER MIsAP-
PREEENsION-HE NEVER PRETENDED TO
DENY THAT HE WAS D. KNOW-NOTHIEG.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRlBUSE.l
BosTON, Sept 9.-The caucuses of the Lib
eral Rcpublicans and Democrats have masy Of them
been held to select delegates to the State Conventions at
Worcester on Wednesday next Several were held this
evening The indications that both Conventions
will be largely attended. Senator Wilson made a
speech on Saturday evening. at Cocmtuate' IN
which he paid some attention to his recent German let
ter The German friend referred TO in the epeeeh Is
Herman Askenasy. The Senator said that a few days
before he wrote his letter branding the brutal speech at
fributed 10 him az fabrication German gentleman
had called his attention 20 that speech and to Others OF
a kindred nature, He had denied 10 MIN
that he had written or uttered
those sentiments sent him several speeches to show
that he held views precisely opposite and these speeches
clearly revealed the fact of his association for brief
time with the Know-Nothng organization The Senator
had furnished copies OF those speeches to the gentleman
who made extracts them which he had published,
and several which he had IN his possession
Receiving a day or two before he went to Maine, a
German paper marked and q letter from some German
gentleman Mr. Wilson, meeting his German friend
in tbe street had given him the letter and the paper
together with copy of The TRIBUNE OF 1860 in which
was an article branding forgery the speech which
had now been imputed him, and asked that
entaman 70 send the extracts from his speeches then
the genemans possession to the Germsns elsewhere
"a evidence OF the real opinions he entertained, and to
nrenare and send TO them extract from The TRIBUNE
nroyinp the speech above referred TO to Aaye been
forcerv twelve wears ago. These extracts which he
requested his German friend to send to the
writer's of the letter clearly showed his opinions and re-
vealed bis connection with the movement After quoting
the speeches Mr. Wilson said his German friend readily
promised to send these extracts, and did so,
but be wrote letter and slsheu MI WI
son,s name to 1t together with his own ini-
tails The Senator said he did NOT nave INC
slightest idea that his friend would write letter of any
kind and use his Wilsons) name The mandld not hVe
that he would trust write letter for him on public
affairs and send 1t without his seeing and reading lie
would certainly be guly:of objectionable indlseretion
TO do so I this time.
The letter was wholly unauthorized, and was written
and sent without his knowledge and much TO MS regret
when he read it ho had no ideawhatever that IL was
written by the gentlemen whom he had requested 10
sand extracts from his speeches to Germans IN Otner
parts OF the country. 1t was some time before ne
knew that his friend had written IT," he was
sure that his friend had intended no wrong to himself
r 10 anv one else deceive anybody but had mace
a great mistake bunder. Mr. Wilson SAID that ne re-
cretted that some Republican journals, In attempt
ing 20 trace the authorship OF this letter.
had r,aected upon a gentleman who had written
a vary sharp letter upon the assumption that he CMr
Watson, was the author of the letter referred teo How
aver others might treat him. he did wish to retaiate
c had rather suffer wrong than be the occasion OF do
ing An Injustice to Others matter how unjust they
had teen 70 him.