The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-21
SeWard's Case.

The case Of GEORGE F. SEWARD, Minister
10 China, near kinsman Of the Assistant Sec
rotary OF State, and now under charges OF
corruption and malfeasancc in office, draws
10 close before the Committee OF Foreign
Affairs OF the House, which has been pur-
suing that investigation. SEWARD was long
Consul at Shanghai before being transferred
TO his present place at Feiin. II ls OF COM
mon notoriety that he acquired wealth in
the Consulate, and the belief has obtained
that he became rich by abuses of his Official
trust.
When Mr.. ]. c. MYERS succeeded TO the
Shanghai Consulate in 1876 he found OLIVER
b. BRADFORD in charge, who had served
under Seward as Vlce-Consul, and who was
publicly accused OF being associated in the
jobbery OF his chief. BRADFORD did his
best to mako the place uncomfortable for
MYERS, who was soon superseded By G..
WILEY WELLS OF Mississippi. BRADFORD
was arrested under the Consular regula-
tions and convicted OF various crimes, for
which he was imprisoned. He was sus-
tanned throughout by SEWARD, who went
from Pekin to Shanghai to manifest his sym
pathy and support.
charges against SEWARD which are now
under investigation. and they were upheld
by WELLS, not only In his Official CORE
spondence but by his personal testimony
before the Committee. Among other things,
MYERS swore that one Of the consular books
In the possession OF SEWARD would estab-
lish the charge Of extortionate fees aud
false returns to the Treasury. SEWARD was
called as a witness, and asked as to this
charge. He refused to answer except
through his counsel, and to q demand for
the book in question no return was made.
Consequently, the Committee must report
him to the House. and the House must hold
his person. unless sufficient reason is shown
to the contrary. until this book is produced
Of course the penalty cannot extend beyond
the Sd OF March, but the moral stigma Of
Imprisonment for such q cause will endure
for lifetime. No plea or pretence that
may be put forward by the ingenuity Of
counsel can remove the impression from the
public mind that Mr.. SEWARD. in refusing to
meet the requirements OF the Committee,
had reason wholly inconsistent with in
nocence; or else he would have been too
glad, even II this book was personal, and
nv oHlclul Vt heull-ohlClal, 10 nave brought
1t forward, if it could have in any way saved
him from the imputation Of venality and
dishonesty.
In seeking 10 shelter himself behind tech
nicalities, instead Of answering frankly and
manfully, he has forced the conviction that
the substance Of these dshonorng charges
against him is true. Trusted with too
much power, freed from scrutiny dur
ing tho war and subsequently, and petted
by the department. MIR. SEWARD was
led away by temptation, and fell. The
passion for jobbery found a victim in his
person and that Of his confederate in the
Consul's Office at Shanghai. They saw it
practised in all the departments and in
Congress at home, and doubtless concluded
that the privilege and the benefits were not
confined to this side OF the Pacific. Hence
their ventures and hence their disgrace.
Nothing that HAYES or EvARTs can do
now will restore this stained Minister to
confidence or respect. They may outrage
decency, offend public opinion, and insult
China by sending him back 10 Pckin. but the
record cannot be elHaced, nor can his guilt
be relieved by any acts Of personal or
official favortsm.