The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-19
A Stupid Bigot.

Harpers Weekly publishes and Repub-
lican papers copy an article written by a
stupid bigot and signed Eugene Law
renee" charging the Democratic party
with being in favor Of paying German
bondholders in greenbacSs. and quotes Mr..
Pendleton as the Democratic party. If
the writer was an honest man he would
have quoted Ben. Butler, Pig Iron Kelly,
Thad. Stevens and other Republican
leaders who held the same doctrines as
Pendetou. But Pendleton is not the
Democratic party, nor Butler and Kelly
the Republican party, and neither party
has ever been in favor Of paying any ror-
ton of the government debt in anything
but gold.
The writer also tries very hard to con-
vince Germans that the Democratic party
was un.riendly to Germans in the late
Franco German war. The Democratic
party, as party, did not espouse either
side in the matter, and had nothing to do
with it. Individuals, in both parties, took
such view Of the matter as they thought
best. But the Republican party showed
Its friendship for Germany by selling the
French, through its administration AT
Washington, 100000 improved Spring
field rifles; $50 rifed cannon, and
81 million cartridges, to kill Germans
with. This was the friendship OF the
Republicans fol- Germans-furnish-
ing their enemies with arms and ammuni-
ton. People who want to know the facts
about that matter are referred to the
speeches of Carl Schurz in 1872 and to q
recent speech of Gov. Koerner of this
state.
Gen. Schurz, in 1872, then U. S.
Senator, in one of his speeches alluded
to the friendship of the Republican party
for Germany and Germans, as showC by
selling arms and ammunition to thei
enmeis to shoot them down. as follows:
THE FRENCH ARMS INVESTIGATION.
An investigation was demanded of thu
Franco-GermaD war. The men who advO
Gated the inquiry were held up as traitors
to the Republican party, as enemies o
their country, and monsters OF wickedDes
generally. Again, not one of those win
denounced the scandal was appointed
member of the Investigating Commute
The inquiry was made. The testimon
showed in the clearest manner that tn
laws of the country regulating such sale
had been systematically trampled unde
foot; that in direct violation OF the order
OF the War Department prominent officer
had INDUCED 10 indirect transactions witt
well-known French agents, aud that unds
the very eyes of the Department larg
quantities of arms had been delivered {
such agents after they had been disc5vere
Ian act recklessly endangering the inter
national standing OF the Government Al
this was proven so clearly that no sensibl
man could doubt it. And what does tn
Committee report? The officers OF th
War Department construed the law them
selves, and they knew best what was 10
the public interest, aud as to their direc
TRANSACTIONS, with French agents, they hs
right to do what they did do and nobOd
10 blame. 10 order to make so pleasant
conclusion possible we are told that law
may be violated, ifin the opinion of tn
officers the violation is more profitable tina
the observance, and a doctrine of inter
national law is set up which, if applied t
our Alabama claims, would throw US on
OF court amid the laughter of the universe
But at any cost the administration must b
protected.