The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-29
Tho French Mission and Mr.. James Cor.
don Bennett.

The offer Of the French mission by the late
President Lincoln to Mr.. James Gordon Ben
nett, and his declination of the offer upon the
ground that he could serve the country better
at homo, have been the subject of comment in
all the leading journals of this country and of
Europe, the HERALD alone excepted, and the
topic of gossip and discussion in the salons Of
New York, Paris and London-the worlds
three capitals-and of society everywhere that
the news has reached. We have not yet heard
from India, China and Japan; but we presume
that the papers and the courtiers Of those remote
regions are equally engrossed in this absorbing
bit OF information. Judging from the sensation
which the report has caused ut home and
abroad, Mr.. Bennett will soon have the pleasure
Of being carefully canvassed a. the EXTREMIST
points to which civilization extends, and let
ter or newspaper finds its way.
The journals and the gossips of course take
variously diverse views of the offer and of the
declnation. Some contend that the offer was
never made ut all. Others that it was made to
some other person Of the same name OF whom
the world never heard before. Some that it
was made and accepted. Others that it was
made and an answer withheld. Some that the
declnat.on was from this motive. Others that
the declination was from that motive. Thus
the most contradictory opinions, amusing to
Mr.. Bennett not less for their variety Chan for
their profundity, have been solemnly expressed
in editorials, fiippantly expressed in corre-
spondence, and wittily or charmingly expressed
-, ~ tha itolS Tn
the meantime the HERALD, which must be con-
coded to have the best sources of information
upon this subject, has said nothing whatever
about it. A brief editorial from the pen of our
old and tried antagonist Mr.. Horace Greeley
the author of "The American Conflict" and
the rival of the Emperor Napoleon and his
"Life of Cesar"-has been transferred to our
news columns without remark or endorsement,
merely to allow our readers to see what was
said of an event SO much talked about and
written about. Beyond this, which was due to
our readers as a matter of news, we have
maintained persistent silence.
The time to break that silence has not yet
arrived, but It will arrive shortly. The offer Of
the French mission was one of the last acts of
the great and good man who has been
taken from us, and it will remain as
part of his history and of the history Of
the country. AT the proper time the
public will be furnished with all the particu-
lars Of the offer and Of the decination, with the
full correspondence upon both sides. It is
true, as has already been suggested by the
tenor Of this article, that the offer of the
French mission was made by President Lin
coin to Mr.. James Gordon Bennett, the editor
Of this journal; and II is also true, as stated by
Mr.. Horace Greeley, that the offer was respect
fully declined by Mr.. Bennett, on the ground
that at this great crisis he could serve the
country better here than in Paris. This much
Mr.. Bennett is willing to have stated in order
to crafty and satisfy those who have devoted
so much time and attention to the thorough
calculation Of the subject. But for the partic-
ulars and the correspondence the journals and
the gossips will be obliged to wait little
longer. 1t is certain that the exceptional COM
pliment to an editor, to which Mr.. Greeley
called especial attention, was by no means I'M
appreciated In the spirit in which II was
intended.