The Evening critic., 1884-04-29
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

General Badenu Charges IL with
Grave DereIictiOn of Duty and with
PursuIng n VacilIating and IgnO.
minious Policy, etc.
General Adam Badoau, ex-Consul. General 10
Cuba, has written a letter, In which he says
"Haying resigned my position as Consul
General at Havana, beg leave to state my
reasons for this act. Under our democratic
system even the Government is amenablo to
those whom II represents, and subordinate
whose charges OF delinquencies against his su.
periors are disregarded may appeal to his
countrymen to secure their rights iu his own.
We are even now approaching the moment
when the present administration is to ask for
n verdict upon Its course. Tho time Is, there
fore, hitting 10 throw some light upon the con.
duct OF one OF the Departments which compose
that Administration.
"on February 90 and again on March ~ last
addressed the President, protesting against
tho action OF the State Department In persist
time negotiating an Injurious and improper
treaty with Spain. on April 4, having received
no reply beyond bare acknowledgment, l
telegraphed to the President requesting % DO
ordered 10 Washington TO eubstantiate my
charges. To this also received no reply. on
April 0 ! again telegraphed In theso words: Il
have the honor TO tender my resignatIou, to
take eject Immediately. can be ordered to
Washington for the purposes already OK
planned
~ lubu TtCBlNbu u ulbputSu NY thUlO lIOh
the Secretary OF State announcing that the
President did not think 1t advisable for me 10
return to Washington, as my services were re.
quired at Havana. Immediately replied; Il
unwilling TO serve under department whose
policy disapprovo, and which consider has
treated me With injustice ana indignlty; l
mediately.' To this got no reply, and again
telegraphed to tho President: Il shall appeal
TO the people tomorrow unless l hear from
WfthIn hOnrq tho
came: Resignation accepted, as requestci.'
Grave Charges Against the DE part
menf.
VI now charge the State Department " ith
grave dereliction from public duty; with gross
and continued neglect OF Injuries and insults
put upon American citizens, American seamen
and American trade in tho Island OF Cuba;
with vacillating and ignominious policy, Ne
quiriDg often TO be stimulated into the defense
or protection OF Americans, and even II some
times assuming an honorable and becoming
position, abandoning II as n rule before the
resistance OF Spain, and yielding more than
once Just before Spain acceded to Its Just do
mnnds.
"I charge II with negotiating n commercial
agreement with spain SO manitostly improper
and ill.coneidered that In six weeks aftor II
was signed II had TO be abandoned and n new
one concluded, in which two of the original
eoven articles were omitted altogether, while
two others must be submitted to the decision
OF the Spanish Cortes, not yet elected
~ charge that the stipulations of this agree.
ment are I'M rious to the interests and honor
OF the country and a reproach TO It's dlplom-
| acy, for 1t provides that the United states
shall abandon TO Spain duties amounting an
nually to sG,500,000, while Spain gives up to
us only S1,70O,OOO In return. IL provides
| that American custom-houee ofllcials shall re
| port TO Spanish consuls in order to enable
cuban authorities to enforce vigorously their
| exactions on our own trade, and this as II
| stands Is the whole OF the agreement to-day.
~ charge that this agreement was 10 reality
treaty, and not submitted TO the Senate ir
In sN..F
| the pretense that II was commercial agree
ment,' important stipulatlons with forelgr
| government were entered into without the
| sanction OF that branch OF the Leglslatur,
| whose consent 10 Indispensable. Two Import
| ant provisions In the treaty of January . were
| thus altogether illegal and unconstitutional
the custom'houses OF the UnlteC
States shall furnish to Spanish con
suls, whenever they may reques
them certificates OF the cargoes OF sugar ant
tobacco brought from the Antilles, ami tn,
| other-far moro grave-es tablishiug 'pertec
| equality OF treatment between the Spanish
| provinces and tho United States anu romov
Ing all extra duties 'or determination no
| general as TO tho othor countries having th
| treatment OF the most favored nation. Tht
| Executive had no more right 10 mako this en-
gagement without the sanction OF the Senate
| than had.
| ~ charge that this agreement was scrupu
| lously concealed In all its points from thl
chief representative of the United States OF
the Island which Its stipulations almost OK
clusively affect.
| ~ charge the Department, Simultaneous
with these other dellnquencies, with screer
Ing and supporting corrupt consular clerl
| whom repeatedly reported for violation {
orders, gross characterization and abstractlo
OF public and private moneys.
~ hold myself ready TO substantiate ever
one of these charges, and call upon the stat
Department tn publish every dispatch tht
has passed between itself aud me since Nc
vember % last, tine date OF my arrival at IN
post, without one word omitted or one lin
mutllated. / declare OF my own knowledg
that no legitimate interest, public or privat
can suffer from this freedom, and that no OF
will be hurt except those who should not /
| screened"