Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-08
From the Vermont Watchmar
THE FATAL BLOW.

The browning act in the utter discom-
future of the Senatorial French arms-in-
vestigation scheme, has just been fur
nished by the German Government it.
self, through its official organ, the lie
tang, of Berlin. That journal emphat
ically declares, on behalf of the Govern
ment, that the sale of arms was we'll I'M
derstood at the time that it was exam
ined by the German Government, and
that no ground of complaint was found.
That organ goes still further. 1t asserts
that Gen. Grants Administration has
been recognized all along at Berlin as
,ano,,l;a ,.l1 H. =, H. @ .--.-> ~ -
eminent. And as if to add gall to the
wormwood thus administered to the mis-
chief-makers of the Senate, it points to the
fact that Senator Summers sympathies
in the war were with France, and that
French agent stands behind prompting
and furnishing the material for this as
sault. 1t fails to discover that an at
tack with such backing is inspired by
any regard for the rights or the interests
of Germans
And even this is not all. The official
organ understands, as we'll as we do in
this country, that the Senators who made
this onset are personally inimical to the
President, and it intimates its opinion
very plainly that the whole effort springs
from their antipathy. Nothing could
convey a keener rebuke to Senator
Schurz and his associates than this whole
article. It tells them in the most dig
nifed and caustic way that Germans APP
preciate their motives and condemn their
conduct. Mr.. Schurz especially must
feel the sting of such a declaration, COM
ing from such source.
We copy the material portion of the
article
1.-The last mail from the United States
has brought us an account of the acri-
monious debate that has taken place in
the American Senate at Washington, on
the motion of Senator Sumner, distin-
guished member of that body, demand
ing an investigation of the sales of mus
kets and cartridges by the Government
of the United States to certain persons
who afterwards turned out to be agents
of the French Government, during the
war between Germany and France.
"Some of last evenings papers have
! commented upon this account in man.
ner that would seem to call for an expla
nation on the part of the Imperial Gov
eminent. We believe we are we'll inform
ed when we say that our Government
takes no interest, or at most only neg
ative one, in the question which Mr.
Sumner has brought before the American
Senate.
when the fact of these sales during
the war was brought to the notice of OH
Department of Foreign Affairs, a thor
ough investigation of the subject tool
place, and our Government arrived at thu
conclusion that it would not be justified
in complaining of the course pursued b,
the authorities of the United States il
reference to this affair. Irregularities
such as were alluded to during the re
cent debate in the American Senate, hav
undoubtedly occurred; but they were Ger
tainly not important enough to be re
garded as violations of internationa
courtesy, much less as fragrant breache
of neutrality; No complaints were ad
dressed. in consequence. by cur Govern
ment to the Cabinet of Washington a
the time when the transaction in ques
ton took place, and none will be mad
now, especially as the Government o
President Grant has uniformly conducte,
itself towards this country in name
so friendly and upright that the relation
of the two Governments have been, an,
are now, of the most cordial nature.
There are two other points whicl
should not be overlooked in forming al
opinion upon the question brought up b
Senator Sumner That gentleman dur
ing the war took sides with France, an,
delivered elaborate addresses, full O
very hostile sentiments towards this Gov
eminent. His present course we hav
no reason to believe to be dictated b
friendlier feelings toward Germany.
''Mr. Sumner is, however decide,
enemy of the present Administration o
the United States. On account of hi
unfriendliness toward President Gran
he had to be deprived of the Influential