Washington sentinel., 1901-03-02
NEUTRAIITYLAWS
ENFORCED BY GRANT AGAINST
FRANCE.
WAY NOT Against ENGLAND
BY M'KINLEY2
An Interesting Rtminiscenoe.

States, in furnishing provision
( and horses to England in her wa
= upon sthe Boe: Republics, which
have always been friendly to US
f recalls to mind the attitude taker
by the Republican Administration
under President Grant, during the
Franco Prussian war.
AT that time Vim. Worth Belk-
nap was the Secretary OF War, and
President Grant permit ed him to
sell more than nine million dollars
worth OF arms, ammu 'ition and
supplies to the French Govern
ment. This cold blooded violation
oil the neutrality laws naturally
created excitement IA Germany,
and much comment and indigna-
tion among German adopted citi-
zens, in this country. Baron Won
Gerolt, the German ambassador,
accompanied by Carl SchuIz (then
Senator from Missouri. called at
the War Departmen MT and protested
against the sale. Baron Gerolt
was informed on this occasion by
the Secretary that the same privIl-
ege OF purchasing arms would also
be accorded to the German Gov
ernment.
This reply vas oabled immedi
atelY to the German Government
by Ambassador Yon Gsrolt. and
Bismarck replied, "We prefer to
take such arms direct rom the
French instead Of purchaiiug
them" This settled the question
of the sale OF ammunition to Ger
many.
In the meantime the war con-
tlnued and this country also con-
tinued to deplete the arsenals of
cannons, guns and ammunition
which were sold and shipped to
France. On the asd oi January,
1871, the Editor Of the SENTINEL
(Louis Sehade), in passing by the
Baltimore & Ohio depo', noticed
United States soldiers in full uni
form transporting from the Arse
nal in this city large number Of
cannon and other m litarY supplies
upon trains. Curiosity prompted
him TO question several OF the sol
diers as to the destination of this
war material. He was informed
it was being shipped to New York
to be transported from there %
France. Thereupon he returned
to his office and, highly indignant
at the continued breach Of neu
traliy, wrote the follow ing peti-
ton TO Congress:
To tie honorable Senate and RoAse Of |
Sep yeSeHt1hOeSfR Congress assembled |
Your memoriaIlsts, citizens Of German
descent, and residents of the District of |
Columbia, respectfully repre- sent;
Whereas the United States OF America |
are not at war with the EmDiTe Of Ger
many; and whereas the United States
alsenals and srmories in the North have
been nearly depleted ol their arms,
ammunition aud accoutrer1ents, and
other implements OF war. and the arsenal |
in the District of Columbia is now also
being emptied OF its guns and war
stores; and whereas all those articles
amounting. up TO the a h oi January last,
to 617,3ss muskets. 3a,9Io carbnes.
5o9so revolvers. 94,747 $40 cartridges,
valued at 50 727, COO, besides large
quantity OF cannon and shells have
beer sold to the Government of France,
now at war with Germany, though our
authorities, by whom those war stores
we're first sold, knew well that they
were to be used against a friendly
power, and whereas the Uaited States
Treasury is not in such an impoverished
condition that those arms must be sold
just at this time, Dor does there exist
any necessity to get rid Of our detective
or surplus army stores at the expense
of loss OF national honor; and whereas
the Alabama only destroyed property
belonging to citizens Of the United
States, while those arms are now use d
for the destruction of hundreds and
thousands of men who have never done
any harm to the Government or people
Of the United States; on the contrary,
have always during good and evil times.
entertained the kindliest feelings for us;
and whereas it is unworthy Of this great
nation TO follow the contemplate ex
ample OF that perfidlous shopkeeper
nation, England, and try TO make money
out OF the misiortunes oil other nations,
ANONYMOUSLY screening itself behind
small, evasive municipal laws; and
whereas II is certainly a cruel task for
the German adopted citizens of this
countrY-numberiug more than six
millions, or more than twice as many
as the population ofthe six New England
States together, and paying fifth # not
the fourth, part Of all the taxes-to see
arms and ammunition which IN part
they have paid for out oftheir own hard
earnings, sold as fast as possible by the
Government Of the United States, and
used against their own German brethren
and relatives; and whereas it is now
generally acknowledged that but for the
furnishing OF arms by the United States,
the war in Europe would long ago have
been ended, the lives Of thousands ol
brave men on both sides would have
been spared, tens Oi thousands OF inno
cent mothers and children would mol