The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-01
A Model Minister.

The case OF GEORGE F. SEWARD, Minister
20 China, is far worse than It appears to be
even In the eliminating report presented to
the House. There is, perhaps no other ex-
ample in the whole history OF our foreign
affairs where the authority Of the depart
ment has been so persistently exercised n
In this instance TO screen fraud, embczzle-
ment and peculation in Office and to pro-
tect guilty Official against the penalty Of
his career Of crime.
GEORGE F. SEWARD, nephew Of the late
Secretary Of State. and first cousin Of FRED
ERIcK w. SEWARD, now Assistant Secretary
Of state, WIS appointed 10y his uncle Consul
at Shanghai when he WIS barely OF age. He
organized the consulate to suit himself and,
favored by the lack Of strict scrutiny dur
ing the war and the Partially Of the de-
partment. he exercised unlimited power,
nsed all his opportunities for personal profit,
extorted money In variety Of forms under
the name OF fees, and acted the despot IN his
treatment OF American sailors and citizens
without protection. AS q necessary conse-
quence he became rich.
Three years ago he was promoted from
the ConsulateGeneral to tho mission at
Pekin, and found it necessary TO prepare for
that change so that his successor should
know as little as possible Of the past opera
tions. o. b. BRADFORD, the Yice-Consul
at Shanghai, WAS confederate Of SIwARD's,
and while he remained in that position he
was bound by self-nterest to his former
chief, as they had had various speculations
in common. In leaving Shanghai SEWARD
took away with him the blotters, cash
books journals, and ledcers containing
original entries OF fees and charges. lie en-
tered on these books some OF his household
and personal expenses, with view to divcst
them OF their public character, and to screen
himself from future charges Of larceny.
Mr., JOHN c. MYERS Of Reading was ap-
pointed Mr.. SEwARD's successor at Shang-
hal. Soon after he had iamiiarized himself
with the duties Of the Office he discovered
that it had been prosttuted to venal uses,
that BRADFORD continued the outrageous
system which SEWARD had established, and
that In his capacity Of postal agent he
had opened private letters passing through
the mails. and committed other crimes en-
titling him to a cell in the ponitentinry,
This discovery led % quarrel, and BRAD
FORD appealed 10 SLwARD at Pckin for aid
and comfort SEWARD responded promptly
by suspending MYERS from office, without
the least justification for that arbitrary act.
Mr.. EvARIs upheld SEWARD, and MYERS was
forced to return home He presented charges
against BRADFORD and SEWARD TO the de-
partment, but they We're filed away without
notice; and then he appealed to the House
Of Representatives,, which ordered an inves-
legation Of SEwABDs acts.
After some delay, q. WILEY WELLS. n
member OF the last Congress from Missis-
Eipp, was appointed to succeed MYERS. He
was personally instructed to investigate the
charges against BRADFORD, but 10 let SIW-
ARD alone, who was his superior in Office,
lie tried BRADFORD in the Consular Court
end convicted him Of several penal offences,
but suspended the sentence, IA order to give
him an opportunity to apply lor n pardon
at Washington Instead Of a pardon, Mr..
EyARTS issued an order removing BRADFORD
out OF the jurisdiction Of tie court by order
Ing him home. and thus relieving him from
any further prosecution for the same offence.
But this was not all WELLS wa, re-
moved for performing faithfully the duty
which the department had Instructed him
b. discharge. He was honest and thorough.
whereas Mr., EvARTs had expected white
washing report, and no more than n mild
censure Of BRADFORD SEWARD knew that
II WELLS investigated the conduct oil BRAD
FORD uprightly. he himself must suffer