The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-05-02
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

1
Bsdeau, Consul General at Havana, was
made contsmporansous with IN intimation
that he had grievance which would soon
see the light and 1t appears now In the form
Of letter Published In the New York Tri-
tme. The tone Of the letter Is bitter; IL
betokens the righteous indignation Of one
who believes he has suffered until endurance
ID no longer possible from . grossly repre-
hensible policy BY the State Department, Of
which he was the representative, or that he
is boldly forcing quarrel with the admins
trstion At critical time for Political effect
without sufficient grounds TO sustain his
grave accusations. Badeau Is man of &C.
live temperament and strong convictions and
has had sufficient experience in the diplo-
matte service, having been Secretary of the
American Legation 10 England, to under.
stand we'll whereof he speaks. While We
have - yet had only his presentation Of the
case 1t Is hot fair TO accept the charges a.
conclusive or the circumstances of which be
complains incapable Of being satisfactorily
explained; neither 10 II fair to dismiss them
without consideration, or the earnest hope
that tue administration will deem them
worthy Of attention. He 10 not, IS he eI.
plains 1t, playin the role of soured or dis.
appointed office-seeker, has deliberately, and
Indignantly laid down commission of honor
and emolumsnt As . resentment Of policy
he feels Is humilaLing and wrong to him and
TO the country; still the close Of the letter
shows a personal grievance Ia not having
bssn consulted In the matter Of the agree
ment.
Coming at this time his action aud letter
are susceptible Of being construed as for po-
litieal effect and will be so attributed by
many. The conditions are peculiar. Bsdeau
Is the devoted friend of Grant whose rels.
tions with Blaine are not cordial aud an At
tack on the administration just at this time
Is apparently in Blains's interest, especially
IS the radical, foreign policy be was devel-
oping when Secretary of State was diamet-
really the reverse of that adopted by Arthur.
Further than this, the Tribune, which Badesu
has made the medium for his communica.
ton, has within the past few days showed Ito
hand pretty strongly for Blaine but Badesu
waited until after the New York State con-
yention and tho disaster TO Arthur before of
fering his letter. The occssion for its ap-
pearance now may be fairly justified on the
grounds Of calling public attention TO tho
matter before this alleged disastrous agree
ment Is consummatsd. Taking all these
facts together the action Of the ex-Consul-
General can be fairly defended from the &C
cusation Of being for political effect,
There Is no disputing the fact that Presi-
dent Arthur procrastinstes important execu-
tive action till the last moment, and that his
administration Is not of the sup and . CON-
ing" order. We had an instance of II In the
delay In appointing q successor TO JUICE
Conser, and there have been and are three or
four Territories awaiting Governors In the
same way. la the instance of the Cuban
matter Badeau alleges the administration Is
As lax in it's foreign policy and has not met
with sufficient frmness the aggressive de-
mands Of Spain. Taking this In connection
with our German complications 1t would
seem that 1t is fortunate for the country, es-
pecially with Mr.. Frelinghuysen as Secretary
Of State, that no very grave question of for
sgn policy has had to be dealt with In q res
dilute, aggressive and prompt assertion OF
national will. The administration 10 more
open TO just criticism In these respects than
any other, and they have materially ds,ract-
ed from the Presidents strength In the pend
might pursue . course most moderate and
pacific without giving the country . mo-
ment's concern. 1t would know he would
rouse In lion-like majesty at the proper time
but with an untried administration 1t occa-
sions some solicitude. Unless the charges
Of Badesu can be dissipated, 1t looks IS
though change In the State Department
would have TO be made, and 1t will not be
difficult to choose . statesmen who, less
dangerously aggressive than Blaine, will be
more assertive and resolute than Freling-
huysen.