The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-15
SECRETARY BAYARD.
A Leading Illinois German Paper Thoroughly
Disguised with the Secretary of State.


The Illinois Stats Zetung, the leading Ger
man newspaper of the Northwest left the Re-
publican party and went over to Cleveland in
the presidential campaign. That it has had
about all 1t wants Of Democratic administra-
ton is evident from the following translation
of leading editorial published in its columns
on the 9th inst. under the caption of bay rd:"
However the Cleveland administration may
yet turn out, its first two months have estab-
lshed one thing beyond dispute-that the eleva
ton of Mr. Bayard to the head of the State
Department was a deplorable blunder This
man had enjoyed renown altogether dspro-
portionate to his capabilities. 1t was the result
Of untiring putting particularly on the part of
praise any one who expresses himself,
however dull in phrase, against the rob
Der tariff" as great and wise statesman.
Thus by the grace of newspaper puffs Bayard
Mr.. Cleveland. no doubt thought he was doing
the best he could by placing this much-praised
statesman at the head of the Cabinet
1t is very probable that he rues it to-day--at
any rate, his regrets would be very justifable.
For all the well-founded censure which could
have been heaped upon the new administration
thus far has been brought down upon it by Mr..
Bayard. 1t is doubtful whether any other prom
inent Democrat could have documentcd
such awful incapacity in the selection of the dip
lomatic representatives of the country as Bayard
did. Among his appointments of ministers
there is really but single one entirely proper.
and therefore approved of by friend and foe
that of Pendleton. All the others are more or
less mischievous blunders. So is that of the
Vermont copperhead and infamous defamer OF
Observation-Disclosures place of the best, wcrthiest,
and most highly respected representative
the United States has ever had
in England = James Russell Lowell.
So is that of the not yet amnestied rebel General
LawtOn, who, however--more decent than the
similarly situated appointee sent as minister to
Mexico, Jackson-declined the appointment in
order to save the President from embarrassment.
So is that Of the thick-sknne3 Kelley who,
after Italy had refused HIM, was sent to Austria.
To Russia most extensively unknown Mr..
Lothrop, of Michigan, is sent; to Switzerland
goes political nobody from Kentucky, by the
name of Winchester. Indeed, it looks as if Mr..
Bayard had searched, by the aid of stable
lantern, the darkest hooks and corners of the
Democratic party to select from them the ma
terial for the representation of the United States
abroad. The fearful lack of good taste and inca
pacity he demonstrated in doing SO, stamp old
Frelinghuysen, on reflection, as q great man.
How miserably he has acted toward the Ger
man Democrats they can tell best. Lincoln ap-
pointed three Germans ministers Bayard
has not thought single German worthy of the
honor: In his aversion to them he has even dis
regarded all party usage. According to this
usage P. V. Deuster, who was three times elect
ed to Congress from Republican district had
an undeniable claim to an appointment as min
lister. Beside him, a Secretary of State desir-
Gus OF recognizing the Uerman OemOcratS WOulO
have offered diplomatic posts to such prominent
men as Ottendorfer and Stalio. no matter wheth-
er they had indicated any desire for them or
rot. Had they refused them it would have been
at least graceful compliment. But perish the
thought Three consul generalships have been
awarded to the Germans--tho poorly appoint
ed one at Vienna, that of Berlin and that of
Frankfort on the-Main. On the
other hand the capable, competent, and expo
rienced consul Cansius, at Apia, has been re-
placed by green young man. And this is all
the German Democrats have obtained from Mr.
Bayard.
No wonder, then, that the old German Repub-
licans can ask their Democratic brethren, iron
ically and gleefully, whether these be the great
reforms they had so cheerfully expectedl'
Mr.. Cleveland must have more than Christian
patience if he quietly submits to all these inca
pacities of his Secretary of State The best
thing he could do would be to reform the Secre-
tary of State himself out of the Cabinet, aud
place the excellent Allen Thurman of Ohio at
the head of it. That step would be greeted with
unfeigned pleasure by nine-tenths of the Demo
Gratis and by nine-tenths of the Republicans, and
would restore the confidence in the Cleveland
administration, now shaken by Bayards follies,
anew and strengthen 1t.