The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-19
The ChancellOrs Arrogant and Insulting
Treatment Of the American Minister
and the Causes that Led to 1t.
His Wrath Aroused by Sargent's De-
fense of Naturalized Germans.
Circular from the Postmaster General Con-
corning the Leaves of Absence Which Are
To Be Granted the Letter. Carriers.
BISMARCK AND SARGENT.


The Ex-Minister Talks of the Cause of His
Troubles with the Chancellor.
Special to the Indianapolis Journa;.
WASHINGTON, July 18 -Ex- Minister Sargent
whose connection with the diplomatic corps in
Berlin is well known, has been here for day or
two, endeavoring to settle up his affairs with
the State Department before proceeding to Cali
fornia, where he will take an active part in the
Republican campaign.
The correspondent of the Journal met him
to-day at the Riggs House. and asked him for
some new facts regarding Bismarck, and his
troubles with the Iron Hog. Mr.. Sargent re-
Piled in substance as follows:
Bismarck will brook no attempts to cross his
will He imagines that every man with whom
he comes in contact should bow to
him in all things, and any diplo-
mat at the German court who refuses
to consider Bismarck first and his own country
afterwards can not remain long in Germany
The origin of my troubles with him was my de-
termination that native Germans who had been
naturalized as United States citizens should be
free from consumption or enforced military duty
insisted that the natives of Alsace-L Lorraine
should be equal, under the treaty, with the
natives of Prussia or Hanover Bismarck on
the contrary, held that the treaty between the
United States and Germany having been made
prior to the Franco German war, the provinces
of Alsace- Lorraine, having been acquired by
Germany since that period, were not included
in that treaty; hence, naturalized American citi-
zens born in the provinces could be forced to
enter the German army on their return to Ger
man SOIL fought this ruling fora long time, and
although Bismarck would not consent to admit
the point, / finally succeeded in securing the
trial of the cases at issue upon their merits
and won. This set Bismarck against me, and
created wonder and astonishment among the
older members of the diplomatic corps, who gen
orally succeeded in giving in to the viii of Bis
marck.n
Are the stories current in regard to Bis
marck's iron will truep'
N''Bismarck is q man Of wonderful mind Bis
marck is Germany, His will is almost the SUI
preme power of the land. The Reichstag, or
German Parliament, is secondary considera-
ton to Bismarck's will.p
do you consider him consistent in his ac-
tionsqn
He is consistent in his ends but entirely and
thoroughly inconsistent in his means of attaining
those ends. The case of Lasker is an instance.
Lasker was acknowledged to have been one Of
the most powerful men in the Reichstag
Bismarck frequently consulted him upon ques-
tions Of public policy. There was general
unanimity of opinion between the two men,
The only point of difference was that Bismarck
was protectionist, Lasker free trader. Bis
marck is opposed to the Catholic Church and
disposed to abbreviate the powers, rights and
privileges of the Pope in Germany Lasker, be-
ing Hebrew was in favor of the utmost liberty
in all religious matters. Yet Bismarck accused
him. after his death, with being the leader of the
Liberal party, and, therefore utterly at variance
with the government upon all public questions
Yet, after all this, Bismarck has made overtures
to the Liberal party and is engaged now in
offering all sorts of terms in order
to secure their aid for the gov
ernment branch of Parliament. Herein lies his
inconsistency. He denounces the party roundly
when it suits his purposes to do So When he
wants aid in defeating his enemies, he will in
vite the leaders to his house to drink beer or
wine with him. Bismarck, in short when he
has end in view, will leave no source untried
to attain that end
e'Do you consider that you were heartily sup
ported by the administration in your efforts to
secure the rights of Americansls
Il fought my fight for nineteen months
don't think that anyone appreciated the position
at first; but as soon as the case was understood,
had the cordial support of the administration.
One of the best pieces of diplomacy ever per
formed was that Of Secretary Frelinghuysen with
the Lasker resolutions. refer to his action in
avenging the insult to me by ignoring the Ger
man minister here and conducting his cor
respondence through the United States legation
in Berlin
Mr.. Sargent will devote the next few months
to active campaign work on the Pacific slope for
Blaine and Logan. He is confident Of Repub-
lican success this fall, and he believes that be-
sides Republican House, several Republican
senator's will succeed outgoing Democrats Mr.
Sargent undoubtedly has strong desire to sue
ceed Senator Farley in the Senate, and his pros
poets are good for doing so.
THE LETTER-CARRIERs.