Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-09-20
CAN'T FOOL GERMANS.
Carl Schurz Has Had a Previous
Attack Of Hysteria.
Raised the False Cry That Arms
Were Sold to France In the
War Of 1s7O-7l-Charge
DisprOved.

1t is singular with what persistency
the democrats try to impose on Ger
man.American voters with the cry OF
imperialism in view Of the poor
success they have had in similar at
tempts heretofore. Experience ought
to show that the Germans, instead OF
being easy victims of campaign trick
cry, are uncommonly hard people to
dupe or mislead. Touching this point,
it may be well to review little his
tory.
In 1872, when Gen Grant was a can
didate for q second term, a most in
sdious attempt was made to play on
the German voters, but with inglo-
rious results. Carl Schurz was the
leader in it, and, If it be frankly con-
coded that he was honest and sincere,
the lesson simply is that, badly in err
ror and the victim Of his own blum
der, not all his powers Of persuasion
could enable him to impose his mis-
take on the German-Americans, He
could delude himself, but not the Ger
man voters, for they remained strong
for Grant.
Schurz was then in the senate, and
in anticipation of the presidential CON
test he precipitated in that body a
most sensational charge against the
administration-that of secretly and
corruptly selling arms to the French
government for use in the Franco
prussian war. He made an elaborate
and sensational speech, setting forth
what appeared to be damaging facts,
and he then demanded an investiga-
ton. Senator Sumner who had grown
unfriendly to Grant, was induced to
accept Schurz' statements. He fol-
lowed in strong speech arralgning
the administration not only for Sc
cret and corrupt sale Of munitions Of
war, but for a violation of our obi
cations of neutrality toward Germany.
Here certainly was most formidable
move. The Franco-Prussian war,
which had ended only short time
before, had aroused the interest and
sympathy of all Germans in this coun-
try, as well as elsewhere, ana the en-
element of the struggle had not had
time to cool. 1t seemed little short of
dastardly to the Germans If the Unit
ed States had been secretly supplying
arms to the French during the war.
This was the assertion made to them
by such men as Schurz and Sumner,
both republicans. The democrats took
no part in the fight in the senate, and
at first the administration republic
ans were dazed and hardly knew what
to say or do, The whole thing came
on the administration men like the
springing Of secret nine, and not
few believed the German vote lost
to Grant, no matter what defense
might ultimately be made for him,
Taken by surprise, lne republican
leaders rallied quickly, but it seemed
as IL the German vote would be swept
away before the facts could be brought
out. Not so, however. Despite all the
authority of the names of Schurz and
Sumner, despite all the force of the
seemingly conclusive array of facts
and the naturally sensitive condition
of their minds in respect to the Fran.
co-prussian struggle, the Germans as
a class withheld judgment ana called
for a thorough examination into the
precise facts and motives of the ad
ministration. A few here and there
were led off in haste and excitement
but as a class the German republicans
stood unswerved and called for the
facts. These were supplied in time
but not until after a long, and, as il
seemed, an apparently fatal, delay
Nobody seemed prepared to meet the
issue on the republican side, SOME
wonderfully able speeches were mad,
In the senate by Conkling, Carpenter
Morton, Harlan. Frellnghuysen ant
others, but the underlying facts wer,
what the Germans wanted, and they
were not reached until after consid
cradle time spent in digging for them
1t was shown conclusiyely that Gen
Grant knew nothing personally Of the
sales of arms, but that they were ne
gotiated by the bureau of ordnanc,
in accordance with long.standing
policy Of getting rid Of the old gun,
used in the civil war. They were moi