The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-15

ITO SECOND AVENUE,
NEW YORK, June s. 1877.
DEAR sIR-At tho last meeting OF the society read
the memoal OF late Mr. Motey prepared ny you ut
request and offered the usual motion 10 spread II
upon tho minutes TO this objection vas made on
the ground that tho paper contancd structures upon
tho government when IL would be improper for
society express such approval OF us an entry unon
our minutes would imply, and the document took tho
usual course OF reference to the Executive Commit
tee II viii be laid before them Tuesday evening. Tho
10Th inst, at their regular business meeting beg 10
ASIDE from your present active duties To prepare for us
tins sko,ch OF Mr. Motley, aud to express my regret
that II should have given rise TO uny difference OF
opinion III the society am, very truly, yours,
JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS,
Librarian and Secretary Of Executive Committee.
NIL JAY TO JUDGE KIRKLAND
kAToNAl n. ", June IL, 1877.
The Hon. Judge CHARLES r. KigKLAsD, Chairman of
tho Executive Committee OF tho New York HIS
My DEAR sR-I received yesterday the Enclosed
note from Mr.. John Austin Stevens Librarian and
Secretary OF your committee advising mo officially
that the tribute to the memory OF Mr. Motley winch
! had been asked TO prepare for the society ana
which Mr.. Steve5s in my absence had obiginsly
rcau at the last meeting, hai been objected TO- ION
the ground that that paper contained structures on
the government which the society could no. properly
Iudoiso by recording upon the minutes, and that
the memorial had been referred 10 tho Ex-
ccutvo Committee. Your committee wHl aud, on
a scrutiny OF the paper. that there has been mis-
take In the ground on which II was referred to them
II contained no structure on lie government which
the society would inGcrsc by lis record, but simply
brief narrative or the facts and historic statements
including quotation rom the elaborate defence put
forth by the government, on which Mr. Motley rested
his appeal 10 history. share the regret which
think your committee VIII ieci at the position IN which
the objection TO the recording OF the memorial has
placed tho society before the world.
THEN AND NOW.
That our venerable association, which had welcomed
Mr.. Motley with mucn OF eul0gy, ana had claimed
Tor country his coquepce and his diplomatic tane
should now refuse husty aud groundless suggcs-
ton to accept tribute 10 his memory anu 10 transmit
It his children stands IN resre'abe contrast to the
readiness Of foreign lands TO do him honor. The cu-
turc of England, represented oy oxford and Cam
bridge. mourn their adopted son; learned societies
throughout Europe lament their honored
ca.c, aud the French Institute looks sadly
II is In his own land, vi tho treatment
by whose government he complained when living, that
the New York Historical Society seems TO turn codly
from his appeal history aud 10 the great his
torian and diplomat:sl only ian oilcia the proprcty
OF whose treatment by the government wnatcvsr that
project from structure. ut seems TO me-" was tho
language OF Mr.. Benedict reported Oy tho World,
oDjecting to the tribute, ITO be improper for the
ccly TO incorse such structures ~ are there made
upon the action oil the government toward us officials
IL has been suggested 70 me that It would relieve your
committee ana the society from their dilemma II
conscnt 10 strike from tho memorial to Motley
all reference to his career as dplomatst and his
treatment by the departments OF President johnson
ana General Grant have always been glad TO serve
the society," but such thing could consent thus
TO trio win historic truth would at once impoact tho
honor the society deame the memory oil The dead
asked to prepare the memorial on the ground that
my relations with Mr. Motley personally, and us his
II nttiug that should perform that duty The mo
reasons demanded that tribute should state truth
fuiiy the incidents OF his diplomatic career, ana
peciaiy OF tho dlsmissls by which that career was
twice arrested. avoided comment ON the facts which
recorded leaving those facts to speak Tor them
selves that there might be no apology Tor renewing
against the memory OF Motley the charges ana
aironts which had emo.ttercd his life and bclttled
his fame. But am by means prepared 10 adopt
the theory which 10 lie at the basis OF Mr. Bcne
diets objection, that Mr.. Motley, as the American
Envoy nc Vienna and nj London, commanding respect
tr M md
the craftsmanship, bearing and culture. the high
bred courtesy, cordially aud tact which 90 70 form
the successful diplomat,s Is not entitled ~ historic
justice at our hands, Tor the reason that he
was ian Official" Would not this idea 10 imply
OF inraIlibity that American historical societies
must not question, and that ofc'as" we're class OF
beings with rights which either governments or
historical societies were bound to rcspccty The
ernments OF johnson and Grant have passed. uto his
tory, and like those oil Washington and Jefferson down
Buchanan and Lincoln, subject TO ITS nexorabc
verdict. That tho treatment OF Motley by President
Johnson upon the charges preferred by McCracKen,
which Motley denounced as .'laise, caumn lous aud
emptiblc that the treatment OF Motley by tho
government Of President Grant, as developed by the
official orrespondencs and poraneous evidulce,
may not be alluded to nor quoted IN u memorial To
Motley because they sound TO tender and sensitive
like structures the government, is doctrine which
trust the Historical Soccty OF New York vii not DO
DEAD rlpLosAvsr--DgAp ADMINISTRATIONS
That historical societies should avoid unnecessary
moddng with the current questions oil The day aud
the politics OF the existing government rs being be-
You'd Their Office Is entirely proper hut why the dead
questions OF n dead government, when recurring IN
mem or ial TO man like Motley should DC listened 10
with such uneasiLess that historic statements mis-
taken Tor structures aud referred to committee, IS
question not easy 10 reconcile with the fearless anu
independent exercise OF the sacred duties that belong
to history We have TO lament, us did Mr. Webster IN
hs day. the prevalence, 'noL OF munlncss, inucpcn-
dcncc and public spirit, but OF complsance oil inds-
crmlnalc support OF executive measures, OF plant sub
servlcncy and gross adulation."
But Mr.. Webster never alluded to the possibility Of
historical societies being called upon To guard IRON
Investigation tho conduct OF expired ADMINISTRATORS
by suppressn and conceang their historic acts OF
ruling the appeal TO history OF an historian Ike
Motley, Tor ioar tho facts might imply structure
..upon the action OF the government toward IT'S OH
c,as In the case Of Mr. Motley and President Graut
latter should be tho last TO complain OF justice be-
ing done 10 the dead dplonatis against whom alter
the send OF his mIssion," his government continued
an unequal contest Read In the letter to MI. Moran
he elaborate defence by tho President OF Motcy's
call from London. When hc assigned the death OF
Lord Clarendon, on the 9Th OF June, the event
which determined the time tor Mr. Molieyis recall
the LIST oil july aud when he assured Mr.. Secretary
Moran that IN the "hlstOrical iact' Recorded By
Motley that his recall followed close on the defeat OF
the St Domingo treaty, Mr. Moran's recent
CHEF rescmDled Dickens two old women. Mark
how the government iurnshet TO Mr.. Moran al tho
same tImc cuiogy upon The President, IN whose
name and by whose authority the instruct on was
gwen than whom, saiu the President through tho
State Department., mo man living ~ moro tolerant OF
honest aud manly differences OF opinion, is more single
ana sincere III his desire Tor the pubic welfare, IS
more disptercstad or regardless OF what concerns
himself, Is more frank and conldng,' &c, &c. That
letter. Win Us lis statement J
facts and assignment OF motive, lis illusions 10 sum
nor aud -. Domingo. its impeachment OF Motley aud
is commentator OF Grant, was m appeal 70 the pub
lac oil the worlI in ayOr OF the President
ana his Cabinet aud against Motley II was letter TO
which the displaced Minister could not iitngly reply;
and now that Motley has ended his mlaslon aud his
life General Grant could not properly object TO any
iar scrutiny Of tho conduct OF his Cabinet. 10 tho
development OF any cts that 80 10 yindicute the DIP
lomatiC fame OF Motley
OPENING GRANTS EyES
Indeed, the great General, whose mistakes In tho
char OF state all England to-day iorscls recalling
his services In the held, has himself his last Meg
sage, frankly confessed ms mistakes and appealed to