Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-10
SARGENT AND BISMARCK.
A raik win tire Ex-siinis,sr a. to His Dim-
cuisfes In Berlin.

The New York Tribune publlshe, the
following interview with Hon. &. A. Gar.
gent. ex-MlnIster to Germiny. who arrived
in that city Sunday on the CITY OF R,nc
from Lfyerpooi;
"Wbat do you understand 10 have been
the csuse OF your difficulties at Berlinpo
"The principal cause is the new policy
of Prince Bismarck boxing TO the adyan.
tsce OF the iand-holdng interest. Pork.
rpislng Il great business In g Germany, and
was measuraby Improbable owing b
American competition. Hence he struck
down that competition ut a blow. I'm dis
tipct violation OF existing treaties, which
provide against determinations. To cover
This conduct with plausible veil he al
legged that our pork products are danger
Gus. which allegation was entirely false,
and is controyerted by the highest Ger
man scientific authority. / believe that
he knows the assumption 10 be false. but
perscveres in his policy from the original
motives. He prohibited American pork
only because we were the chef competi-
tors. and also because be wishes lust now
good relations with neighbOr1ng States.
and hence gives them some advantages in
the improved German market. He had
already excluded our potatoes from SINH
lar motives. and no shadow OF justlt-
cltIon. Then the blow fell on our
canned meats, and the Germln tariff
was so construed that our canned fruits
and similar article, were virtually eX-
cluded. thought 1t time that some atteu-
ton should be paid TO these things. and
acted accordingly. Imay have erred In sup
posing that | bad some other duty than
attending court festivals; but all the moves
OF Prince Bismarck, and all the utteraaceS
OF bis subsidized papers. led me to aelieye
that he would soon strike at our cereals IS
well, and / kept informing my own Gov
eminent " the facts ~ ] saw them. and
ielTlessly protested 10 the German Govern
ment."
"Was not the pu )lication OF your dis
patches the cause Of your troubles!"
Undoubtedly that gave an excuse or
occasion for the assault that was made on
ne in the official press. But Bismarck
knew by my notes and personal representa-
tions to his Government that | was opposed
TO his policy and doubted the good faith OF
bis pretences OF sanitary alarm, and he
iorgiYcs opposition from no source.
confess that | do not see why the repre-
sentative Of the American republic should
be expected to stand in humble acquics-
cence when his country is injured or i'm
poSed upon. II would be better to abolish
our missions entirely than to have our
ministers understand that they have no
other duties than to be agreeable at DIM
ner-table. or to compete for the gracious
spprOb8tion OF foreign officials"
IL, il not a novel thing for recognized
official newspapers TO abuse foreign min
ister?"
Eyes. It is an invasion Of his invioIa-
biity, contrary TO the laws OF nations, and
demanding the notice Of his Government"
What do you suppose was the motive
in your case! :"
"There were two motives. First, the
Liberal party papers warmly defended the
truth Of my statements, and there was
wish to make point against them in public
estimation. Second. ii was assumed that
might be a coward. and would lice the
country il the official press only hOwled
enough against me. / was bound, in SELF
respect, 10 defeat the latter calculation. |
left only when my Government nj last
honorably relieved me. The support OF
the leading press at home, and indeed
Of Europe, helped me to stand my ground
Bismarck knows how to work the press,
and have excellent reasons for believing
that he succeeded into getting into leading
American. Swiss, and other papers articles
falsely rejecting on me-articles Ostensibly
written by 'own correspondence But the
spontaneous uttcrances in my favor COM
pletcly defeated his Attempts 70 destroy my
reputation, or give a false coloring to my
actions"