The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-29
THE KELLEY CASE.

| INTO martyr udS Ialleu, rs muSt the eIOfI 10
make party capital out of the fact that he did
not prove acceptable to Italy or to Austria.
The administration admitted that Italy's
grounds of refusal were good, and withdrew
| the appointment, thereby acknowledging
that foreign power had the right to
| say who was and who was not ac-
ceptable. Mr.. Kelley was as much a
| representative American then as now, or when
he was commissioned to the court of Vienna.
| If typical American may not be rejected by
| any power to which he may be accredited,
there was casus bell when Mr.. Kelley failed
to receive an exequatur from the Italian gov
ernment. If any difference Austria had
| greater reason to decline to recognize linn
than had Italy. There is little
doubt that this Nation would feel
free to decline to receive any
minister from any foreign country, and for
any reason that the administration might
deem adequate. Claiming this most reascna-
BILE of all privileges, it must be accorded 9TH
ers. Few, if any, are deceived by the plea
put forward that Mr.. Kelley was rejected be-
cause his wife is Jewess, and because the
marriage ceremony between them was
a civil one, aud not blessed by
the church. These facts might have
resulted in making it very unpleasant
| for the minister and his wife in Vienna social
circles, but, as is shown, it would not stand
in his way as an official representative of the
United States. He would be afforded every
| facility for the transaction of whatever busi-
ness might come up, and more than this could
| hardly be asked There are two ways of avoid
ing unpleasantness in such things one is to
wisely make an appointment that will prove
agreeable; the otheris for the diplomatic, unfor-
tunate enough to be sent to socially unfriendly
court, to make the best of it, and to exercise
the great North American privilege of loftily
letting royal snobs severely alone. In this
country man doesn't go where he is not well
| come; and If he knows he is not welcome he
does not make fool Of himself by applying
| for mandamus to compel welcome The
American popular idea of equal rights does
not contemplate such an unusual method of
getting Oh in society. The rule has been
| found to work well at home. 1t should be
applied abroad.
If the administration had any intention of
making capital out of the refusal of any power
to accept, "unsight and unseen" any man
that might, by the lottery of politics. be dele
gated to it, it was a mistake to fix on man
like Mr. Kelley. Had he been in truth rep
resentative man, noted for any good or patri-
his country, or had he served it faith
fully in the halls of legislation, the
peoples indignation would have been
quick to respond to any slight that might
have been shown him. Had Mr.. Kelley only
been decent, patriotic private citizen, man
as proud of his country as he was of his par
| ty, or even man not ashamed of the govern
ment under which he lived, it would have
been easy to work on the feelings of the peo
pie and the people would have been glad to
have had him honored in some other way asa
compensation. Public sentiment might
have been wrought up to indorse
the President in his resolve not
to send minister to Austria. But none of
| these conditions was present Mr.. Kelley is
known throughout this country because Of
one remark, repeated and emphasized, that
the Union Of the States, as preserved by the
Boys in Blue, is "a bloody usurpation." This
sentiment was not given utterance to in the heat
of war, when Incorporate exclamations might
be excused, but within the past year. If the
Austrian court had insulted him personally,
and without any intention to offer disrespect
to the United States government, it would be
presumption to ask the American govern
ment, which he despises, to champion his
cause.
There is as much patriotism to-day as there
ever was in the history Of this country. But
it is wise and discriminating love of coun-
try. 1t appreciates the meaning of war, and
is not going to rush into or be rushed into it
needIessy. 1t doesn't believe in buster, nor
does it care to take it out in whining. When
the people have real cause for war, and we
would have were any Americans rights not
respected anywhere, they will need no arous-
ing to get their patriotism to the fighting
point. We have or we have not a grievance
against Austria. If we have, it is not enough
to illuminate state letters to the American
people without doing something If an Amer
lean diplomatic has been insulted, and the case
| IL