The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-08
MINISTER SARGENT.
An Interview with Him as to His Relations
with Bismarck.

NEW YORK April IA cable special from
Berlin reports an interview with Minister Sar-
gent. Mr. Sargent was asked why he declined
the ST. Petersburg mission, and replied 'Be-
cause the action Of the President and of the
Senate shows that I may properly leave this
post, and gives me long -coveted opportunity to
retire without feeling OF deserving my duty or
of being guilty of cowardice I wished for an
end to a situation long painful and nearly intol-
cradle, yet from which could not see any way of
honorable retreat That way is now generously
provided for me. Therefore [ resign in perfect
good hu1nor, with thankfulness to my govern
ment for vindicating me. The sense of posses
sing the confidence of the American people is
all the reward 1 want So / do not value the
St Petersburg mission a straw in comparison
with these other considerations. need rest
after these prolonged excitements, and will
t AZ ffe as 3s rel f the Sah III
nets of Berlin and st. Petersburg make it likely
that Prince Bismarck might make your stay in
st. Petersburg unpleasant"
''Perhaps; but l think Prince Bismarck would
not descend to that Yet the man who would
not forgive poor Lasker in his coffin might not
forgive me in ST. Petersburg. 1t might be sug-
gested by somebody that minister who was so
intimate with the Liberals here might be with
the NlnlllStS tnere. oil ask Inc QueSuODt so L
speculate on the subject, but I am really under
no obligation to go to st. Petersburg, where the
climate is hard on strangers, and where it would
cost me more than can afford to establish my
self for perhaps single year.
eaF Were you especially intimate with the Lib
erals hereln
'FWhy, no. l had friends among them as
among the other parties. The fact that pro-
tested against the prohibition of American food,
and that the Liberals happened to be of the
1aIf
opinion that got my inspiration from them. /
needed no such inspiration Unlucxily for my
self, I came here at time when the commercial
policy of Germany toward America was chang
ing. Our potatoes and chopped meats were al
ready excluded without serious protest. When
the exclusion of pork arose | considered it only
as one additional step in an agrarian policy. l
at once sounded the alarm. My published dis
patch of Jan. l, 1888, was merely one of a
series. My action broke up policy which
l firmly believe was intended to reach
our cereals. Articles showing the inconyeni-
ence to German proprietors of American grain
competition have from time 10 time appeared in
the official North German Gazette, which never
published su6h things except as tentative to an
arranged policy. That action has led to such
fierce discussion, and the Justice of my repre-
sensations has been so fully indicated by IN
vestigation, as well as by the remarkable preva-
lenee here of stPichiniasis from the consumption
of native pork since the exclusion of American,
that the repeal of the prohibition is only CUES
ton of short time. / have had to bear the
i'll feeling resulting from these disappointed
plans which have rendered unpleasant post in
normal times agreeable"