Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-28
The ..snIc of Arms Deba.e.v


out debate, it has passed resolution ordering
its committee on expenditures in the war de-
partment to make full investigation of every
thing connected with the sale of arms by our
government; and the committee is authorized
to send for persons and papers, and directed to
conduct the investigation with open doors.
This is what the senate ought to have done two
or three weeks ago; and this is what it would
have done if senators had not been more intent
on political demonstration than eager to in
vestigate the matter that has furnished them
occasion for so much talk, This senate debate
has been conducted with more ability by those
who have assailed the administration than by
those who have defended it,with one exception
and vet it has clearly developed the fact that the
administration did nothing wrong in selling the
arms, and that the crusade against it, on this
point, is wholly destitute of good reason.
The facts Of the case are simple and easily
seen. In the first place, the secretary had been
ordered by an act of congress to sell the arms.
When the war ended, the government had on
hand vast amount Of arms and war material
for which it had no use To keep this on hand
until it should become entirely worthless, would
be great waste of public property. Therefore,
the secretary Of war was ordered to sell it, and
he did sell this property TO the amount of some
$4,000 600, or more. Meanwhile, the Franco
German war arose, very suddenly as we know
and both parties to this war, but the French
chiefly sought TO purchase the arms. The secre
tary cf war refused to sell them to agents of
the bellgerent parties, and sold only to the
highest bidders among other parties He adj
hered rgidly 10 this policy until the sale was
completed, as all parties admit.
Nevertheless, the senate debate began with
three distinct charges against the administra-
ton, namely: 1. That it had violated the neu-
trality laws by selling arms to France; 2. That
the war department received for arms 81 100000
more than was paid into the treasury 3. That
the French government paid three or four mil
lion dollars more for the arms secured by its
agents than the whole amount received by the
war department. The second of these charges
has been wholly withdrawn; it originated in
strange blunder of the accusers, in the matter
of dates, and even Mr.. Schurz now admits that
it is entirely destitute of foundation. 1t has
been made clear, also, and is admitted, that
the secretary of war did not sell arms to any
person known to be French AGENT but Mr..
Schurz has claimed that he did wrong TO sell the
arms to anybody who was free to sell them
again. This means, if it means anything, that
the secretary should have disobeyed the order OF
congress, and refused to sell the arms, until the
French and Germans should see fit to stop fight
ing. Doubtless, portion of the arms bought
of the government went TO Mexico; it is known
that some of them went to Germany.
If in this sale of arms our government had
actually violated neutrality, it would not have
been left for Mr. Schurz or any other senators
10 discover the fact, more than year after the
Franco-German war was over. Prince Bis
marck is not slow to see and do what his posi-
ton requires; and if there had been a violation
of neutrality in favor of the French, he would
have taken due notice of it. The truth is, there
was no such violation of neutrality. If there
had BEEN public opinion, in this country, would
have condemned it as sharply as Bismarck him
self; for American sympathy was mostly on the
side OF the Germans during that war. 1t was
felt that France was the aggressor, and, there.
fore, deserved humiliation. Under these cir
cumstances, reasonable men are not likely tC
feel that the administration is fairly and Justly
treated by those who accuse it of violating neutral
ity. We have several times criticised proceed
ings Of the administration or of those connected
with it; but we can not see that it has offended
in this matter.
The other charge is so absurd, that one can
not easily understand why it was made. 1t as.
sumes that the administration is responsible fol-
the frauds and robberies that have been perpe-
traied by French agents. There is nothing
wrong in the accounts of our government. All
the money received for arms sold has been paid
into the treasury. The secretary of war is no
longer accused even by insinuation, so far as
relates to the second charge But the French, it
appears, paid about 10 per cent more for the
arms than our government received for them
and here, it is insinuated, is something very
mysterious and terrible against the administra-
tion, something which demands invesiga-
tiou" 1t is well known that the French gov
erument was cheated by some of its agents
NJ. Place, who then served as French consul al
New York, was guilty. of rascality of this kind
for which he is now suffering punishment. But
what has The senate to do with these French
agents? Our government is not responsible for
their conduct, and has no authority over them
whatever. For long time it has been very de.
sirable that somebody should investigate, ex.
pose, and punish the New York Tammany and
Erie rings; but nobody has supposed that sena-
tors or anybody else connected with the nation
al government should undertake this business.
What, then. have senators to do with official
agents Of the French government? And how
can they allow themselves to talk as if the adj
ministration at Washington were responsible
for the conduct of those agents2
Those senators who have assumed in this de-
bate, TO be special champions Of the admins
tration, such as Conkling and Morton, would
have done it much better service by keeping ST.
lent So far as they have effected anything,
they have done the administration more harm
than good. Their spirit, bearing, and words,
have been intolerably offensive. 1t has seemed
that they were incapable of being candid and
conciliatory. Mr.. Morton's tone has been as ar.
rogant and lordIy as if the administration and
the republican party belonged to him by divine
right ConkliDg is always malignant and quar-
Telsome. No one could reasonably expect him
10 be otherwise on this occasion. So far as we
can see, lhe only really candid, manly and eff
ieetiye speech against the unfounded charges
is that delivered by Senator Frelinghuysen, Mon.
day. But the wise and quiet action of the house
has taken away all show of reason for contin-
ning this discussion in the senate. We shall
now have the investigation; aud should senators
keep up their stormy debate much longer the
investigating committee may finish its work and
publish its report, before they get through talk.
ing
Another novelty in railroad construction is
proposed by Pennsylvania engineer, who calls
it "a narrow gauge combination railroad sys.
tenn" His plan is TO lay two narrow gauge
tracks With a space between them equal
in width TO the ordinary railroad gauge
of four feet eight iuches. This road
will provide four different gauges, III,
narrow. Of three feet, the common, of four fee
eight inches, broader one Of seven feet egh
inches, ard one still broader of ten feet eigh
inches. The two first and the last at any rate
If not tho third, the protector proposes to use
For short distances and light work the narrow
gauge will be most available, but for bulky
heighis and high speed he thinks there will BIZ
found advantages i'm the broadest Bv bavino