The Portland daily press., 1876-10-30
THE CENTENNIAL.
Absurd Charges of a French Commis
siOuer,

Absurd Charges Of a French Commits
siOner.
NEW YORK. Oct 28.-A despatch says let
ter by M. Du Sommerard, chief of the centen-
nial commissioners from France, to a friend in
Germany, is copied In the Figaro newspaper:
The letter charges that the Americans set
fire to the buildings containing the empty cases
of French goods hoping to destroy the French
merchandise and articles for exhibition stored
in the galleries. A second attempt of the same
kind, he SAYS has been made within the last
month. Worse than this, the police employed
by the centennial board are pnrposely chosen
from the worst and most degraded elements in
the United States. He states that the keepers
are thieves without exception. They steal open
ly from exhibitors in the French department.
and others. There exists an understanding be-
tween these knaves and the judges. The latter
call up the rogues for hearing when COM
plants are made at hours unknown to the
complainauts, and as result,nO witnesses being
this. if such thing be possible, the thieves
count on the judges themselves to give them
the signal when to begin the pillage.
This outrageous epistle concludes with vile
attack on the virtue and manners of American
women. There is every probability that the
recall of the author and an Immediate explana-
ton will be insisted upon by the American
minister.
Flat Denial by Another French Com
missioner.
NEW YORK. Oct 81 Herald cable from
Paris THE following letter will appear in the
Figaro tomorrow:
To the Editor of the Figaro Sir, I have
read with profound astonlsnnent the letter of
M. Du Som to his friend in Vinna. l
was attached to the commission sent TO the
Philadelphia exposition aDo must say that in
that capacity as we'll as Frenchman receiv-
ed most delicate attention at the hands of the
American people. believe that all the COM
missioners will say the same. The accusation
that the Americans purposely set fire to a case
of goods ID the French department is so mon
strous that cannot allow it to pass without a
fiat contradiction. was in America when
that accident occurred and no people regretted
il more than the Americans. There was no ill
will, will answer for it, and if the fire had
been the work of an incendiary the whole
country would have proclaimed its indignation.
M. Du Sommerard should have drawn his in
formation from less partial source before ac-
cusing people with an act SO vile. Once more
my duty as o member of the French commits
sion compels me to protest against the imputa-
tons cast upon the American people by M Du
Sommerard. Accept, Mr.. Editor, the assurance
of my distinguished consideration.
(Signed) MARQUIS De TALLEYRAND.
Oct. %, 1876.
~ Americans in Paris Indignant
The indignation caused among the Ameri-
cans here by M Du Sommerard's letter is in
tense and will probably find vent in a public
demonstration of some kind. In the meantime
Mr.. Washburne has addressed strong letter
on the subject to the Duke De Cazes
The affair hasfcalled forth the following Off
cial note, which is published this morning:
IA letter speaking Extensively of great ma
ton holding friendly relations with France has
been published in foreign journal and repro
duced in French newspaper. The letter has
been attributed to high functionary represent
ing Frapce at Philadelphia, but the government
hopes it apocryphal. The government has,
however, demanded an explanation from the
person concerned, and is now awaiting his re.
ply in order to come to decision on the mat
ter"