Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1879-10-07
American Corrup sion tn Cbina-A
sequel.

We have been at pains to keep
our readers informed of the peculiar
developments concerning Mr..
George +. Seward, at present
United States Minister to China.
Hon. G. Wiley Wells, of the law
firm Of Brunson Il Wells. of this
city, attended to the Seward branch
Of Chinese malversation. Mr..
Wells was sent 4out to China in a
highly responsible position. and it
is to his extreme personal credit
that, during his official residence
In that country, he responded to
nothing but the demands of duty.
Finding that Mr.. George F. Seward
was peculator and disgrace to
the diplomatic service of the United
States, our present fellow citizen,
to his honor be it said, pursued him
In the interest of the public service.
We have heretofore told the story
of Mr.. Stewards appeals to Mr..
Wells to be let alone. They were
not appeals, merely, but were ac-
companied by inducements which
would have operated powerfully
with q man of less integrity than
Mr.. Wells. Minister Seward went
SO far as to offer to resign the lucra-
tive and honorable position of
United States Minister at the
Court of the Brother of the Sun and
Uncle of the Moon, and to have Mr..
Wells appointed in his stead, pro-
vided only that the latter would
prostitute his conscience and make
report generating Mr.. Seward
from the grave aud. "a inquiry
proved, sustained charges which
had been made against him.
AS result of public mans con-
scientious, intelligentand energetic
performance of his duty, we find
that Mr.. Wells felt himself COM
PEELED to leave the diplomatic SER
vice of the United States with dis
gust. Not only that, but we find
Mr.. George F. Seward continued in
position which he had disgraced,
and that the Hon. VIM. M. Evarts,
Secretary of State of the United
States, has chosen to convert himself
into sort of ''pal" of venal and
Infamous diplomatic agent of the
United States. Nothing could
more demonstratively than an Incl
dent like this show how diametfi-
cally opposed the practices of the
members of Mr.. Hayes's admins.
tration are to their professions.
After conduct involving so much
moral and official turpitude
~ this, Mr.. Evarts could we'll
gather his lordly mantle about
him, and HE himself to New York,
to make speeches in favor of A. B.
Cornell, his. bette noir and con-
temptuous opponent, and man of
good deal of personal manliness
withal, for Governor of New York.
The one circumstance involves
Mr.. Evarts's morals, the other his
self-respect; and of neither, we feel
compelled to say, does there seem
to be q shred left.
So much by way of introduction.
This disgraceful episode, like one
of Dumas's novels, has sequel of
which one David H. Bailey, pro-
NOTED from the position of United
States Consul to Hong Kong to be
Consul-General of the United
States in China, resident at Shang-
hal, the position vacated" by Mr..
Wells, is the hero. A Washington
dispatch of the 25th ult. to the New
York San tells the story SO com.
pletely that we reproduce it entire:
1t is a we'll understood fact here
that the State Department officials
are doing all in their power to pre-
vent the exposure and punishment
of the Consular Ring in China, of
which George f. Seward, United
States Minister at Pekin, is the
head. For the last two years Sew
ard and his dishonest associates
have been defending themselves
against charges proved before an
Investigating committee of Con-
gress, and believed by very great
majority of the English-speaking
residents of the Chinese Empire.
William M. Evarts has been one of
Stewards strongest hackers in
Washington. 1t may be that the
regard Mr.. Evarts has for the Sew
ard family induces him to look
leniently upon George f. Stewards
misconduct. Possibly the influ-
ence exerted by Fred Seward, the
Assistant Secretary of State, is suf-
ficient to keep Minister Seward in
the diplomatic service, notwith-
standing majority of a committee
of the House of Representatives
found him guilty of stealing and
recommended his impeachment.
In letter which Gen. Mostly,
Consul at Hong Kong, recently
sent to friend in Los Angeles,
Cal, the downfall of another mem
Der of the Seward Ring is predict
ed. David HI. Bailey, Consul at
Shanghai, is the victim. Several
months ago Mosby ascertained that
Bailey, who was promoted to the
Shanghai Consulate from Hong
Kong, had appropriated about
$4,000 OF government fees while
acting Consul at the last named
port. Mosby, in his letter received
by the last China steamer, says
that before the name of Bailey was
sent to the Senate for confirmation
as Consul to Shanghai, Mosby's