Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
OUR MINISTER TO Sc. JAMES.
Prof Phelps Talks interestingly on Sew
eral i;2'portanV Subjects.
Froln liz Ne1n J


at $50 he sailed for his post on the North
German LLOYD steamship Elbc, accom-
panied by his wife. sembarking at
southampton he will 20 direct to los
don. AS soon as possible after bis presen-
tation TO Queen Victoria and the British
Cabinet he vii; relieve Prof. James Rus
sell Lowell, the present Minister TO Eng
land, and enter upon tie discharge Of the
duties Of his higu position.
His departure has been unaV0idabiy de-
laVed for some weeks. Personal and pro-
fesslonal business as well as an engage
nent at the Law School of \ tale College,
where he has been lecturer, have kept
him In America. Minister Lowell tas re-
NAMED at his post awaiting the am ival Of
Mr.. Phelps ard will not sail for home I'M
til June 10, although his departure a
month earlier has been announced. Mr..
Phelps has arranged to take the residence
now occupied by Prof. Lowell at No. 81
L0wndes square, London.
a y OTid reporter was very COurtcOuslV
received by MIR. Phelps. 1.-The mission
was offered me without any solicitation"
be said. 81 did not seek nor expect that
or any other Office. | assure YOU that !
leave America not without strong mis-
elyings as to my fitness for the place with
which have been honOred. l do notu
derestimate its Importance. 1t is a great
nation of the American continent at the
court Of the greatest nation in Europe.
But | shall devote my whole time and en-
ergies 70 the affairs of my mission. Moth
ing else shall be attempted. There may
be occasions that will arise when it will
be trying position, but let US hope not.'
"Ihe American people generally will be
glad TO know your views regarding meas
ures that should be taken in reference to
the recent dynamite explosions and the
treatment of Instantaneous suspect ed
Of crime in Great Britain" suggested the
reporter "Haye you any objection toeX~
pressing opinions Oh the subjects?
"N henever an American citizen,
whether naturaliZed or native-b0rn is
prosecuted in foreign country for
crime" said Mr.. Phelps, sit is the duty
Of the gOVernment-and it certainly is the
inclination of the present administration
TO take such measures as may be neces-
sarv to secure for the person indicted
fair trial and see that all his legal rights
are respected The Minister should take
such steps as will enable the government
70 be fully Informed as to all the acts. If
fair trial, according 10 the laws of the
LAND where the trial takes place, is not
accorded, then case would arise for the
proper Interference of the government in
behalf Of its citizen. But where a fair
and just trial does take place and man
Is fairly aud properly convicted OF crime,
as any citizen OF that country would be
convicted under the same circumstances,
then do not see how his American citi-
zenshIp either can or ought to afford him
any immunity.
at is certainly, in my Judgment, the
last privilege OF American citizenship
that honest men will desire to assert, to
engage in the commission Of crime in for
eign countries, and the last privilege that
we should ever allow any other nation to
assert against us. And still less Can we
allow this country to be made a base of
operations for the organization Of crime
TO be cOmmlttel abroad
"Wba- do yOu thinl of the prospects Of
a war between Russia and Engiand?"
"Ihe prospect OF continued peace grows
more and more flattorng. j do not see
how two great nations like those could af-
ford to 20 to war. If the trouble is not
settled between them amicably ! should
not be surprised if arbitration was re-
sorted to. Perhaps the United States
might be called in to assist in adiudicat-
ing the trouble. / would deplOre a war
that would so seriously affect such great
nations. In time if it was protracted it
wOuld affect the United States, and | can
see no good that would result to us. l
know that many imagine that great
European war would benefit us, hut do
not agree with tn m. War, such as that
which has seemed imminent, would have
the same feet as great cOnilagratOu.
IT might stimulate trade Of some kinds for
time, but the effects Of this intiatiOn
would soon wear of. II would be by no
means healthy prosperity or gain"
The attention of Mr.. Phelps was called
to the publicity g1Yen TO his connection
with the Emma MGe affair. On this point
Mr.. Phelps said:
''rhere has been some misrepresentation
in respect to ny connection with the
Emma Mine litigation some years ago.
My sole connection with that business
Was as counsel Tor the sellers OF the mine
whom they w r. ade defend ants IN an
acton brought agains' them in the United
States Circuit Court In the city Of New
York. This original purchasers OF the
mire never claimed u have been de-
irauded and never brought any suit and
their testimony YVES strongly relied on by
the defendants. The suit was brought by
parties who had purchased the stock on
speculation alter il bad reached low
figure in the London market. The case
was CXhaustiVcly tried on the merits he
fore Judge Wallace and a jury, the trial
lasting nearly i've mouths. The late Mr.
Stoughton and Mr.. F0ulkee, OF the Eng
Ish bar. were counsel io- the plaintiffs,
and tap late William a. Beach and l.. T..
Chittendcn and were Tor the defendants.
Every possible latitude WAS given 10 the
plaintiffs ia their efforts to impeach the
transaction, aud the Judge in his charge
loft the whole ease to tie jury to deter
mine whether there WAS fraud or not. The
jury returned verdict for the dciandants.
A motion tor a new trial was elabnratcly
argued before JUdse Wallace and denied,
md the case is reported ia Biafchford,
where the grounds on which il proceeded
can he seen. ! think the verdict Of the
jury was completely justified by the evil
dcrcc, end belicyetu mine iteeli. which
- still being worked, VIII some day justify
all that was ever claimed for IL.
1T was undoubtedly an error Of judC-
meat OF the part Of Gen. Schenck, which
bee subsequently regretted, that he had
cry connection with this or any other
business matter in Engiaud while he was
Minister there. But nothing could be more
honest or honorable than Gen. Schenck's
conduct In the TRANSACTION itself When
b. turned cut unfortunately he was natur-
allv strongly criticized for having had
anything 10 DO with IL and many incorrect
sntoments as TO his conduct were made
pebble"
Mr.. Phelps spoke very feollngly Of the
Kindness shown him by Minister Lowell
IN remaining IN England until be could
assume the Gutios ~ h,s rev position.