Washington sentinel., 1901-03-02
NEUTRAIITYLAWS
ENFORCED BY GRANT AGAINST
FRANCE.
WAY NOT AGAINST ENGLAND
BY M'KINLEN?
An Interesting R,mtnisoence.

FAh
The present Violati ms of the
neutrality laws by the Unite {
States, in iurnlsb ing provisions
and horses to Eng land in her wal
upon sthe Boe: Republics, which
have always been friendly to u.s.
recalls to mind the attitude taken
by the Republican Administration
under President Grant, during the
Franco Prussian war.
AT that time Wm. Worth Belk-
nap was the Secretary Of War, and
President Grant permitted him TO
sell more than nine million dollars
worth OF arms, smmu 7ition and
supplies to the French Govern
ment. This cold blooded violation
oil the neutrality laws naturally
created excitement in Germany,
and much comment and indigna-
tion among German adopted citi-
zens, in this country. Baron Won
Gerolt, the German ambassador,
accompanied by Carl Schurz (then
Senator from Mis- our) called at
the War DEPARTING 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
ernmenr.
This reply vas Cabled immedi
atelY to the German Government
by Ambassador Yon GerOlt. and
Bismarck replied, 1--WE prefer to
take such arms direct rom the
French instead Of purchasiug
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-
tnued to deplete the arsenals Of
cannons, guns and ammunition
which were sold and shipped to
France. On the aad OF January,
1871, the Editor Of the SENTINEL
(Louis Schade), in passing by the
Baltimore & Ohio depo', noticed
United States soldiers in full uni
form transporting from the Arse
nal in this city a large number Of
cannon and other m litarv 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 O
France. Thereup-n he returned
to his office and, highly indignant
at rhe continued breach Of neu
traliy, wrote the following pet-
ton 10 Congress:
To the honorable Senate and House Of
4 eb veSeHf7HVeSfH Congress assembled
Your memOrialsts citizens of German
descent, and residents of the District of
Columbia, respectfully repr, sent:
Whereas the United States OF America
are not at war with the EmDire Of Ger
many; and whereas the UnIted States
aIsenals and srmories in the North have
been nearly depleted Of their arms,
ammunition and accoutrsr1ents, and
other implements oiwar, and the arsenal
in the District Of Columbia is now also
being emptied OF i,s guns and war
stores; and whereas all those articles
amounting, up 10 thea h Of January last,
to 612,3Ss muskets, 32SIo carbines,
5o95o revolvers. "a, ,247 $40 cartridges,
valued at 50 727. 6o6. 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
were first sold, knew well that they
were TO be used against a friendly
power, and whereas the U1ited 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 perhdious shopkeeper
nation, England, and try TO make money
out OF the misiortunes OF other nations,
ANONYMOUSLY screening itself behind
small, evasive municipal laws; and
whereas it is certainly a cruel task for
the German adopted citizens of this
country-numbering more than six
millions, or more than twice as many
as the population OF the 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 last 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