The New York herald., 1876-02-10
MIR. JAY AND THE VIENNA SCAN
DAL.
To rnE EDlroK on rms HKRALp:-

To THE EDITOR % rnE HERALD
In your paper OF the 7th INST there appeared
other Of those lengthy Communications from Hon
John Jay IN reference TO our Centennial Exhbi-
tion which that gentleman has recently gratiled him
self by publishing AS the value Of his advice and
suggestions is not province offer opinion.
II they have been by the able gentlemen who
have our Centennial Exhibition in charge, they will no
doubt be estimated at their proper worth. We are
only concerned with the fact that these several
munications Mr. Jay has made point refer to and
dwell upon the scandal and disgrace which was unnec-
essariy brought upon the American Commission at
the Universal Exposition at Vienna in 1873 when our
country was, many think, unfortunately represented
by him as It's Minister 10 Austria That scandal ap-
pears have been mainly the result OF his efforts,
IN con JUNCTION those OF Mr. JewetL restaurant
bar keeper; and Il il eventually recoied upon
himself and ended IN invitation 10 retire from his
post 4 is only another example OF what has before
happened 10 those who pilot mischief "
HIS report OF H. made by himself Is in the archives
OF the state Department at Washington, and, accom-
panied by correspondence prepared by that department
il has been before the Senate Of the United States
which has carefully examined II, and. solely upon his
own showing and that oorrespondence, pronounced
Judgment upon him. and vindcated the Chief Commis
soneT whom he sought 20 asperse by appointing him
to the honorable and important office OF Consul General
TO Japan
II fell to our lot as a committee Of citizens Of New
Jersey 10 examine impartaliy that report Of Mr. Jay
IN 10 ascertain
upon which the scandal had been built up, and we feel
warranted in saying that, In opinion II had
sufficient oun ndatioD and that the action Of the Senate
and OF the Executive could not justly have been other
than II
Il is much 70 regretted that the statement OF Mt
Jaws report and the correspondence prepared by
the State Department and submitted to the Senate,
could not have been published; but il volumin-
ous comprising about six hundred large and closely
written folio pages that that course probably i'm
practicable.
II is true thai Mr. jaw in his last communication TO
your paper, says Of this statement that there elm
porant omissions IN IT, and that in other respects il
ls "curiously imperfect and inexact and master
piece IN illustrating how not 20 do IT, - If this
indeed so Mr. Jay should have whatever benefit the
supplying Of omissions defects would give him,
especially II the deplorable position in which he seems
have placed himself would be improved thereby.
With his widely distributed censures and criticisms
OF the President Mr.. Fish, and almost everybody else
himself and the crowned and titled hesds'' OF
Europe, who are the exponents OF all the virtues,
amenities and proprieties VIC have nothing TO do.
IL IS 10 be regretted, however, that Mr. Jay should
have 6 TO This unfortunate incident his
ended diplomatic career which, for the honor Of
the country and his own credit might well have been
allowed TO slumber in forgetfulness. We certainly
wish that could have been spared the necessity of
writing this communication, for II rs evident that his
mind is under the influence OF passion rather than OF
reason but his repeated assaults upon General Van
Buren, who is absent in Japan, in the OF the
country, and whose honorable conduct and integrity
believe 10 be above suspicion, seems TO demand
that should say much have now said; and
with this dismiss the subject, with the intention Of
not recurring TO again, for il has been wisely held 10
be useful TO society praise for their virtues
than to decry them for their faults.
SAML DRAKE SMITH.
w. r. VERMlLYB.
J. wYMAN JONES
EDWARD A. WALTON.
FEBRUARY g, 1876 C. N. JORDAN.