The New York herald., 1876-10-30
THE SOMMERARD LIBEL.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TAKES PRo1pT AND
UNNIsrAKABLE ACTION.
ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD "a CABLE.
PARIS Oct 30, 1876.
The excitement In regard to the Sommerard libel
does not abate. 1t SIMPLE justice to say that the
feeling among the best citizens OF the Republic is
one OF deep disgust
THE GOVERNMENTS ACTION.
The Journal O0iciel, the government organ under
the Republic, this morning publishes the following
notice.
"A letter insulting to great and friendly nation
has been published in foreign Journal reproduced
In French newspaper and attributed to high
functionary who partially represented this govern
ment at the Philadelphia Exposition The govern
ment hopes that this document is apochryphal. 1t
has demanded explanations of the functionary in
question, who is at present absent from Paris. 1t
awaits his answer to pronounce decision on this
regrettable incident"
This Official notice fully confirms the opinion ex
pressed in a previous despatch that neither the
permit the letter to pass unchallenged.
Az EXPLANATION DEMANDED.
NJ. Ozenna, acting In the namc Of the Minister Of
Commerce, after comforting with tho Duke Decazes
tclegraphcd Saturday evening to NJ. du sommerard
asking him before rigorous measures adopted to
state whether tho Objectionable letter is authentic II
is said that NJ du sommerard has replied that is Is
apocrypna and is sincerely hoped that such is tho
case.
THE AMERICAN MINISTER LAYS THE LETTER
BEFORE THE FRENCH MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFyArRs.
LONDON, Oct. 90 1874
despatch from Paris to-day says
..Mr washburnc, tho American Minister, has drawn
the attention OF the Duke Dccazos to tho caumnious
insults contained in a letter attributed to NJ Du Som.
merard Chief Commissioner OF Franco to the Centcn-
nni Exhibition lie did not however, demand
the recall Of NJ. Du sommcrard, any
other measure but confined himself TO pointing out
tho matter leaving the French Minister Of Foreign
Affairs to determine what rcparation was due the
United s,ntes The manner in which tho Duke re-
ccived Mr. washburncs rcprcscn tations leaves no
doubt that complete reparaon will bc afforded and tho
affair will be satisfactorily arranged"
THE FRENCH PRESS ON THR suBJEcT-wHAT
THE "couRnIER" AND 'sMEssAoER" OF YES
TERDAY HAVE TO sAY-TwENTY-oNE PARIS
IAN POLICEMEN EN- ROUTE FOR THE GEN.
TENNIAL.
The Courier des Etats Tnis OF this city, in ITS Issue
OF yesterday, after publishing translation OF the
HERALD's despatch by cable concerning the Du SON.
merard letter, speaks as tollows:-
"Bcforco expressing our opinion the letter in
question we TO be certain that IL is authentic.
and also TO know its exact phrascoloSy. 1t is easily
conceived that letter which has passed through sew:
era transations and been condensed tclcgraphic
purposes is much altered from its original text Ad
hitting the worst and that the synopsis cabcd 10 the
HERALD is correct, would remark that the opinions
expressed are only those OF n. Du Sommcrard and Of
his informants. lie and they alone are responsible
In the same fashion certain journalists who infested
Paris wrote violent dlatribes against French morality
but this was not the fault OF honorable American ci
zcns residing in Paris We say nevertheless that
the publication OF such articles Is TO be regretted
especially when they from persons having
authority, because they arc made handle
by the cnemics Of democratic institutions
who are happy w.ien they wound the French Re-
pubic through the American Republic. There is
nevertheless, something TO be learned from these
criticisms, which nrc doubtless exaggerated but
ultogch her without orndation-thAt ~, small troubles
often vcxation than large caIanitics Thus
Il Is that many Instances OF neglect Phlia-
dcphia Exhibition could and should have been
a-oidcd IL Is also known that the burning OF tho
buildings containing French packing cases oc-
currcd through proper want Of surveillance,
and the fire not "coniincd TO the Turkish
section, or OF small Importance alleged. In
tact nearly all the French packing cascs dss-
troyed, representing small Of money, and in
addition TO th,s tho French Commission and many
French horses nave been forced send France
Tor experienced workmcn TO repair the loss. This
affair naturally caused many commentaries, and that
before the Du Sommerard letter appeared. Americans
ought bc sensible TO allow tho letter in ION
10 affect them They ought 10 support Just criticisms
and disow those which not knowing full we'll that
the French nation knows u!i we'll how discriminate
between lustinable complaints and prcjudgcd accugn
lions rs latter always tall back upon authors
In its issue Of yesterday the Aesaaer Franco Ameri-
cain, published In this city, statcs:-
The correspondent Of The HERALD at Paris has cablcd
over to the HExALp synopsis OF letter published In
the Figaro, ~ Paris, written by NJ. du sommersrd,