National Republican., 1883-08-09
THE MAN ON THE AVENUE.
smnn TnIk About nren and nIca.uros

whose arrest for conspiracy against tho
! government was mentioned in yesterdays
! dispatches from London, is an intormer, and
! that his arrest is a trick. lie is q conscious
less rascal, and has been suspected for three
! or four years of being an iniUrmer. Three
| years ago Michael Scanlan, the old Feuan
leader, notified the Irish nationalists in New
! York to be on their guard against McDermott,
as he was treacherous man. The
fellow has been one Of the lOudcst mouthed
patriots in the country, and while he was
talking loudest he was trading with the
/ British government to sell his country. OF
this have not the slightest doubt. He was
! in France during the trial Of the four Brook
| lyu Irishmen, who were given twenty years
! in London four weeks ago for conspiracy and
the 'invincibes' had reliable information
that he furnished evidence to convict them.
These four men were as good men and
as true Irishmcn as over breathed. When
McDermott visited Dublin about this
time several attempts were made
to kill him, and he fed to America to
escape assassination nt the hands Of the
avengers About two weeks ago he was shot
at while in a drinking saloon on Chatham
street, the bullet just grazing his head. He
was regarded with suspicion on every hand,
and on the twcnty-ifth he set sail for Eng.
land to escape the avengers at home. lie was
| followed by one or two 'invincibles from
Dublin and it was one of these who shot at
him through a saloon window on Chatham
street.
"If he had not fed from New York he
would certainly have been killed. The British
government arrested him on arrival ut Liver
pool protect him. 1t is possible the gov
ernment may put him on trial and convict
him of conspiracy, but the proceeding will be
q farce. If the government lacks evidence to
convict ho will furnish it himself. He is
compelled to resort to this measure to protect
! himself, but he is too late. His treason Is al
ready known to the invincibles,' and he is
among the doomed. He will be sent to join
Carey sooner or later.
"McDermott is reckless, daring spirit,
who has forced himself to the front in various
Irish movements, and although distrusted
from the first he would not be put down.
He gained the secrets of the leaders that he
might botray the cause, and in this he has
partially succeeded. He is thoroughly re
deemed from virtue, and is well worthy
| the description of moral imbecile. He
was member of the pope's brigade in
Italy, and was knighted by his holiness
for bravery in the battle of Spoletta. He
served in that famous brigade with Col. Cop
penger, Blaines son-in law, Capt. Keogh, who
was killed with Gen. Custer, Gen. Gleason
and many others who afterward served with
distinction in the union army, but after the
war he went to the bad, and he has been going
from bad to worse ever since. He was n
newspaper reporter in Chicago and New York
and was in Washington for several months.
He was in the employ of Al Daggett while
the latter was power in Brooklyn politics,
and proved a useful auxiliary of that shrewd
politician SO long as he was we'll paid
He has always professed the warmest Ill
legiance for Ireland, and during the fenian
excitement ten or fifteen years ago he was
sent to Chicago to aid Michael Scanlan, the
j fenian leader. 1t was then that the latter
learned to distrust him. and doubt the SINGER
ity of his blatant proclamation of patriotism
,t He has been q marked man for twelve months
but it is only since the conviction of the foui
Brooklyn Irishmen in London that his asso,
ciates have had the proof on him. You need
not have the slightest hesitation in printing
what 1 have told you. can back it up with
proof if put to the test"
~
The Philadelphia Record a few days ago
published q story of chow Gen. Grant was
sent to West Point which turns out to have
been fiction. The true and veritable history
of that interesting event u this The ap.
pointment was made on the application OF
Gen. Grants father and at the instance OF
Gen. Thomas L. Hamer one of the brightest
legal minds of Ohio, brigadier general in
the Mexican war, commander of Gen. Buffers
division at the storming Of Monterey, and a
member of the thirty congress
When asked by friend why he had
appointed Useless Grant to West
Point" he replied that he wa:
making men, not politicians, and the world
can never forget his deed. Information hav
ing reached the elder Grant that the regular
appointee from his district had failed to pass
the necessary examination, he at once wrot
Gen. Hamer, who was then in Washington
to secure the appointment for his son. The
letter was received twenty four hours before
the expiration of the existing session of con
gress. By quick work Gen. Hamer obtained
Une appointment Oh Ulysses .. NrauU 10 inc
military academy, thereby gratifying tn,
ambition OF boy and favoring an old friend
as well as giving to the nation a warrior ant
q statesmlu IA.
~
The reported shipment OF 100000 repeatin
or MAJ ri Q riff # American manufacture
to China II IN nds an old War depar men
official of h errible row raised by Car
Shurz AM other 10 ident German American
patriots over the sale by the American gov
ernment of a OF of small arms twelve year
ago to New York parties, who turned CUB Il
be agents of the French government.
"Schurz fairly tore the linen from hi
shou dcrs," said tho War department man
"The outrage seemed to him most heinous
1 do not hear his voice now. The cases ma!
not bo exactly parallel, but they are so nearl!
similar that if the arms sent to China were
consigned to nation at war with German.
big row would be raised instanter.
The intelligence of the movement Of mum
tions oil war across the Pacific has caused
intense excitement among Frenchmen resi-
dent in Washington and New York. Th,
, French government has been notified of tn
departure of the arms, cartridges, and tentin
materials, and it is understood in diplomati
circles that the French men of-war cruising
in Chinese waters will be directed t
| AIn ,.fn H.