Daily national Democrat., 1861-01-06
Bayard Taylor and Papaey.

The editor of the Union republishes from
the New York Journal of Commerce a letter
which is said to have been written by Bay
ard Taylor and prefaces it with the follow
ing remarks:
at was never n matter of much interest TO
US what Bayard Taylor thought Of the iRsti
tutions and government of the countries
through which he travelled, his writings be-
ing of that kind which derive their charm
from the beauty and force of the Imagination.
Hence, IL was oaly to rebuke the utterance
of sentiments SO ill-founded in fact and un-
worthy an American writer, that we noticed,
a few weeks ago, what purported to be his
declaration, that the Papal Government was
after all no despotism, but the mildest of
ecclesiastical monarchies. 1t now appears
however, that Taylor did not deserve the
reprimand, and that he has been strangely
misrepresented in fact according to his own
statenent(, that the letter copied by us was
downright forgery"
The candid Acknowledgment on the part of
slender appreciation of writings which de-
rive their "charm from the beauty and force
of the imagination" will of course establish
him in the confidence and affections of all
"eminently practical men.
As to the letter thus copied from the Jour-
nal Of Commerce, the Union does not seem
itself to be at all certain that it may not be
forgery, for it says, after copying it, "The
above letter, If genuine, releases Mr.. Tay-
lor," &C.
The letter is as follows:
INDIANAPoLIs, (lnd.) Nov 10, 1860.
friend has forwarded to me a copy Of the
Journal of Commerce of the 18th inst, con-
tanning an article headed, "Bayard Taylor on
Papal Despotism," purporting to come from
my pen with an elaborate editorial refuta-
ton appended. Whence the article referred
to originated, cannot tell but not one line
of it was ever written by me, 1t conveys a
totally false Impression, not only of my own
views, but of actual facts. have twice trav-
eled through tho Papal States (once on foot)
have conversed much and freely with peas
ants, priests and mobiles, have employed my
own habits Of observation with a sincere de-
sire to discover the truth, and it is my de-
liberate conviction that the Papal Govern
ment is one of the very worst in the world.
1t has not "a liberal Constitution, light taxa
tion, very little pauperism. an economical
administration, cheap and free education for
all classes o." etc, etc, as | am made to say.
No Government of priests ever has been, or
ever can be, good Government. Plus TX.
is kind, humane, honest man; but he has no
longer the knowledge, or even the power, to
do anything. The real Pope is the wolf of
the Appenines, Antonelli
Your remark, Eve fear that Mr. Bayard
Taylor does not know much about Rome, Z"
would be quite correct if l had written the
article in question. 1t is not the first time
that my name has been wantonly used in con-
nection with views which l never held, and
as, in this instance, the forgery has been
made the basis of judgment unfavorable to
my reputation as a correct reporter Of men
and Institutions, beg that you will give this
denial as conspicuous a place as the article
which called it forth.
| would refer any one desirous Of obtaining
a trEe picture of affairs in the Papal States to
the "Roman Question" of NJ. Edmond About
Yours, BAYARD TAYLOR.
We should like to notice, for the sake of
setting ourself right, the Unions illusions to
us, personally, in connection with the publi-
cation of the above letter, but the lateness of
the hour forbids. We shall probably recur
to the matter in our next issue.