Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-03
The Fatal Blow.


The GROWING act in the utter discomftur,
OF the Senatorial Observation-Disclosures
scheme, has just been furnished by the Ger
man Government ITSELF through its oiiicia
organ, the Zietung Of Berlin. That jouroa
emphaticaly declares, on behalf Of the Gov
ernment, that the sale Of arms was well un
derstood at the time that it was examined
by the German Government, aud that n,
ground of complaint was found. That orgat
goes still further. II asserts that Gen
Grants Administration has been recognized
all along at Berlin as peculiarly friendly tC
the German Government. And as if to ado
gall to the NORWOOD thus administered t
the mischicf.makers Of the Senate, it point
to the fact that Senator Summers sympathei
in the war were with France, and that {
French agent stands behind prompting aut
furnishing the material for this assault. 1
fails to discover that an attack with such {
backing is inspired by any regard for tn,
rights or the interests Of Germans
And even this is not all The official or
gan understands, as well as we do in thi
country, that the Senators who made this on
set are personally iuimica to the President
and it ntimates its opinion very plainly tina
the whole effort springs from that antipathy
Nothing could convey keener rebuke t,
Senator Schurz and his associates than thi
whole article. Ii tells them in the most dig
nifed and causlic way that Germans appre
catc their motives and contcmn their con
duct Mr. scburz especially must feel tn,
sting Of such declaration, coming from such
a source
Wecopy the material portion Of the article
" The last mail from the United States has
brought us an account Of the acrimonious debate
! thnt hns taken place in the American Senate at
| Washington, ON the motion Of Senator Sumner
"a distinguished member of that body, demanding
an investigation Of the sales of muskets and cart
ridges by the Government OF the United States
~ certain persons who afterwards turned ont Z,
he agents of the French Government, during the
war between Germany and France.
" Some OF last evenings papers have com
mcnted upon this account in n manner that would
seem tn call for an explanation ON the part OF tho
Imperial Government. We believe we are well
informed when we say that our Government take
no interest, or at most only negative one. in the
question which Mr.. Summer has brought before
the American Senate.
" When the fact of these sales during the wal
was brought TO the notice Of our Department o
Foreign Affairs thorough Investigation Of The
subject took place. and our Government arrived
at the conclusion that it would not be justified
in complaining of the course pursued by the au.
thorties of the United States in reference to thi,
affair. Irregularities, such as were alluded t.
during the recent debate in the American Senate
have undoubtedly occurred but they were Ger
minly not important enough 20 he regarded "a,
violations Of international courtesy, much less "a,
Hlgrant breaches OF neutrality. No complaints
Nere addressed, in consequence los our Govern
ment tl the Cabinet of Washington nt the time
when the transaction in question took pucc, and
none will be made now, especially MS che Govern
ment OF President Grunt has uniformly conducted
itself toward this country in a manner 50 friendly
and upright that the relations Of the two Gov
ernments have been, md are now, Of the most
cordial nature.
" There are two other points which should moi
be overlooked in forming an opinion upon tho
question brought up by Senator Sumner That
gentleman during the war took sides with France
and delivered elaborate addresses, full of yer,
hostile sentiments towards this Government. Iii,
present course we have no reason 10 believe to b
dictated by iriendlier feelings toward Germany
" MIR. Sumner is, however, a decided enemy Of
the present Administration of the United States
On account of his unlriendllness toward Pref
dent Grant he had to be deprived of the inauen-
tial position OF Chairman of the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign AfihiTs. and his present mOyemen,
IS again intended to prejudice the American pc. E
Pile against the President The Presidential
election takes place next fall in the United States
and everything is brought forward 10 prevent the
continuance oi President Grant in his present
position"