The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-02-29
A Great Speech.

We have telegraphic synopsis of
the speech of Senator Schurz, deliv-
cred in the United States Senate on
Tuesday of last week, in reply to SEN
ator Conkling. of New York, 1t was
masterly effort, and he proved be-
yond doubt that while the admins
tration was boasting of its sympathy
with Germany in its great struggle
with France, it was knowingly selling
arms to the agents of France in viola
ton of the rules it had professed 10
lay down for itself in fulfiiiment of
neutral obligations. In commenting
upon this great speech, the World
truly says:
Mr.. Schurz fastens this
charge upon the administration by
Overwhelming proofs. He shows that
the administration gave notice of its
sales of arms to the Remingtons and
other known agents of the French
government, and did not notify Baker
and Company, the most extensive
dealers in New Z ork, this latter firm
being in active sympathy with the
Prussian side in the great war then
raging. HE showed from Remington's
own sworn testimony before a court
in France, and also before committee
of the French Assembly, that he not
only bought arms of the United States,
but that the government actually de-
livered them on board the French
steamers free of charge. He visited
with pungent ridicule the absurd con-
trast between Withholding notice of
sales from the great arms-dealing firm
of Roberts and Company and giving
notice to Richardson, small attorney
at law in the rural town of lion, New
York. The fact that such man made
bids for large quantities of arms was
of itself calculated to arouse suspicion
and ought to have caused inquiry into
his connections. The War Depart
ment could not have doubted that this
Richardson was mere man of straw,
the tool of other parties; and if it had
not been too willing to connive at a
deception, it could easily have found.
who were hts hackers.
Mr.. Schurz also showed that the ad-
acted without any author
ity of law in selling ae,o arms and
manufacturing fresh ammunition to
go with them. The War Department
is convicted of violating our own
laws in selling that kind of arms to
and the scandal is worse
when the illegal sales are shown 4oi
have been made in the interest of one
of the belligerants between whom we
had made professions of neutrality,
and what is still more dishonorable,
were furnished to be used against the
side for which the Republican party
was then making ostentatious profess
sions of sympathy. sn sed sf# ufc
In the latter part of his speech Mr.
Schurz rises to strain of lofty in
scornful eloquence which;
cannot fail to make deep impression,
ON the country. A more stirring ap-
peal was never made to the honesty
and public virtue of the people Of the
United States 1913 baz.527 aii>l
FoLLowING IN GRANTS FOOTSTEPS.
"A New York special OF. the 18th
says. q kss2al's' s'ie,' ? 80 10y
Secretary Robeson recently visited
Camden, New Jersey, and was made
the recipient of a thousand-dollar set
of jewelry and q costly span of hor-
ses from Ben Starr, of the wealthy
iron firm of j. W. Starr & Son, who
obtained contract from Boss Tweed
for iron pipes for the Tweed boule-
ward. Since the Introduction of Town
sends bill for twenty. iron-clad sloops
of war, involving many millions of:
the National wealth, these presents
from the Camden Iron firm to the Sec
retary of the Navy have been SUBJ
ject of comment. 1t has just, leaked
out that E. G. Cattell, the Philadel-4
phia Navy Contractor, recently paid
$1,000 to repair one of Mr., Robeson's
brick houses in Camden. Surely the
Secretary is on the high road to
wealth.