Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-26
Mr.. KEILEY'S CASE.
WHO HIS ENEMIES ARE.

Hon. A. Nj. Kelley, the American
Minister to Austria, is expected to ar
rive in New York tomorrow on the
Rheinland. The New York CORE
spondent Of the Baltimore Sun of yes
terday gives the following interesting
facts
The Belgian steamer Rheinland,
which is expected to arrive at this port
on Thursday, has among her passen-
gers Mr.. A. NJ. Kelley, Of Richmond,
the United States Minister TO Austria
for, though rejected by Austria and
recalled by his Government, he is still
Minister to Vienna, and may remain so
as long as Austria maintains her pre-
sent attitude, provided Secretary Bay
ard decides to take this method Of ex-
hibiting to Austria the fact that the
United States will not accept as
a valid reason for rejecting one OF
her ambassadors any objection based
on race or religion. The case of Mr..
Kelley is an international reproach
without precedent in the history of this
country. 1t may be interesting, there
fore, to present some new and old facts
in his case, as viewed from the stand
point of his friends. A gentleman OF
rare culture and refinement, fitted in
every respect to represent abroad all
that is best in the American character,
Mr.. Kelley has been the victim of a Sc
ries of circumstances which have placed
him in most embarrassing position,
and which have been made the
occasion of criticism and ridicule
Of the Administration. Yet, with the
exception of his brave but indiscreet
speech at the Richmond banquet, Mr..
Kelley has conducted himself in man
ner that entirely justifes his appoint
ment as ambassador. But his enemies
have been more active than his friends.
The latter have relied on his proved
honesty and scholarly attainments as
sufficient in themselves to disarm criti-
cism, and it is to be noted that in all
that has been written concerning this
remarkable case not a single attack has
ever been made against his purity of
character. Mr.. Keiley's enemies
may be divided into three classes.
The first, and by far the most
numerous, is composed Of po-
litical or personal opponents Of Secre-
tary Bayard, and who are willing to
make Mr.. Kelley the victim OF per-
sonal attack on Secretary Bayard. The
second class is made up Of one or two
who failed 20 receive the
with which Mr.. Kelley
has been honOred. The third class is
composed ofseyeral European diplomats
to whom Mr.. Kelley personally Is no.
thing. but who for national ends are
willing to break him on the wheel Of
continental diplomacy. Every newspa-
per article printed in the United States
adverse to Mr.. Kelley, including the wit
ty paragraphs which mean little here ex-
cept the smartness of the editor, have
been translated and printed in the chief
Italian and Austrian newspapers as in
dicating that Mr.. Kelley is not sup
ported by his own country. None of
the many articles favorable to the Vir-
ginia statesman have been thus copied
and printed. There is an animus in
this which cannot be attributed alone
TO the official disfavor of Mr.. Kelley on
he part Of the Italian and Austrian
Governments. 1t is very freely charged
here that the man who has been most
prominent working up the sentiment
against Mr.. Kelley both in this country
and in Europe is no other than Mr.
W illiam Henry IIurlbut, former editor
Of the WOrld, but who was a
prominent and confident candidate for
the Italian mission. 1t is scarcely
credible that a man of Mr.. Hurlbut's
rare gifts and social attainments would
be guiltyof such breach Of good taste,
10 say the least, as to take part in
to injure successful rival
FOR political honors. Those who know
Mr.. IIurlbut would suppose that, being
defeated in his aspirations, he would re
ire gracefully and let his more fortu-
nate rival stand or fall on his own
merits. But nevertheless the report is
uTrent that Mr.. Hurlbut has been in
lustrious in spreading every paper and
Every report unfavorable to Mr.. Kelley,
md it is also said that he has inspired
many of the attacks upon him, and
supplied the Italian and Austrian Jour
lals with generous extracts from the
American newspapers who have criti-
Used and ridiculed the appointment.
But it must be said in Mr.. Hurlbut's
,ehalf that the appointment Of Mr..
Kelley was a sore disappointment to
lin. He had been sure Of obtaining
he coveted place for himself. His
amily, it is known, residing in
Rome, began making preparations
o sustain the dignity Of
,lenipotentiary extraordinary. His
wife, it is said, informed Mr.. Hurlbut's
Roman bankers that her husband was
o he the American Minister, and asked
hem to cancel the lease of the quarters
he family then occupied and secure the
entail Of the palace vacated by the late
Minister, Mr.. W. ". Astor. 1t is said
hat visiting-cards bearing the name of
Ir. Hurlbut and the title of his ex-
,ected diplomatic position were actually
printed. Mr.. Hurlbut must naturally
rave been much embittered by his dis
appointment.
But this explains only part of the
hostility to Mr.. Keiley's appointment.
'lr. Kelley was appointed on the very
recommendations, but he has
'een regarded as personal appoint
nent by Secretary Bayard, and the lat
or has many political opponents, in
S well as out Of his party, who are
Iuick to seize any opportunity to create
apital against him. Take, for in
tance, the attitude of the World. The
elations that exist between Mr.. Hurl-
'ut and the present editor OF the
v orld preclude the idea that the for
ner has had any influence in directing
he policy of the paper in the Kelley
ase, yet it is fact that the World has
ost no opportunity to ridicule the APP
ointment, and the only reason that can
g assigned for the action Of this prom
nent Democratic paper is that it is dis