Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-18

- ~f~e s-~
citizens. -
On MAY 4sh Secretary Bsyard m
formed the Austrian Minister ~ wssu,
iprton that the President had appointed
Mr.. Kelley to succeed Mr.. Francis Is
Minister 10 Vienna. On May 9Th the
Austrian Minister handed to Mr.. Bay
ard the translation Of telegram from
the Austrian Minister for Foreign Al.
fairs, in which Il was declared thai
"the position Of . foreign Envoy
welded to . Jewess by . civil mar.
riage would be untenable ana
even impossible in Vienna" mus
put the objection upon . BASIS Is
instinct as il Was narrow. The oojec-
ton was to the religious belief OF the
wife Of the commissioned Minister. AS
Mr.. Kelley was on his way to vienna
when this message was presented TO the
Secretary of State, there was neither
opportunity to delay his departure, nor
for him TO act as 10 the former case, oy
resignation, had he been so disposed.
Under these circumstances the Secre'
tsry Of State proceeds to discuss the
main question. ,,,
tits not party, it is not Q POLITICAL
question. With regard to it Freling-
huysen would have taken precisely the
position taken by Bayard. 1t is the
American position, and it is sustained
by Secretary Bayard with equal ability.
dignity, and firmness. 1.-THE question:"
he says, ERASED by your 1.-THE Aus
trian) Government involves principles
of the greatest importance, and has
no precedent as yet discoveraoie
TO me in modern times and
in intercourse between friendly ma
tions." Austria is informed that the
ground Of rejection of Mr.. Keiley-the
real or supposed entertainment by his
wife OF certain religious faith--cannot
be assented to by the Executive OF the
Government of the American people;
that the supreme law Of the land ex-
prcssly declares that "no religious test
shall ever be required as . qualification
to any Office or public trust under the
United States" and Congress- shall
make no law respecting an establish
ment Of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof.
That which the Government Of the
United States will not do in this behalf
it will not permit any foreign Govern
ment to do; with this qualification, that
it cannot exercise its sovereign pewer
in the matter of an exequatur. "Re-
ligious liberty" the Secretary goes on
to say, "is the chief cornerstone OF
the American system of government,
and provisions for its security are EN-
bedded in the written charter and in
tcrwoven in the moral fabric of its
laws" This is indeed common learn
ing in this country; it is grateful to
find it so clearly acknowledged and so
admirably enforced. The Secretary
continues the argument in an animated
and patriotic strain, and in a tone which
commands not only the respect, but the
highest approval of every intelligent
American citizen. And he concludes
by conceding and claiming the right of
Governments to decide whether Min
lister shall or shall not be received.
There seems to have been some shut
fling on the part of the Austrian Gov
eminent as to the grounds Of its rejec-
ton of Mr.. Kelley, all Of which was
promptly disposed Of by Mr.. Bayard,
who recited the allegations made, and
said "These conditions are simply in
tolerable, and are in the case of the
United States not only inhibited
by the plain letter of our Constitu-
ton Of Government, but are incon-
sistent with that decent self-respect
which forbids q nation Of sixty millions
of free men to accept the position Of q
diplomatic dependency of the friendly
Power whose behests appear to have
been acquiesced in and carried out by
Austria Hungary in the present in
stance"
Mr.. Kelley resigned his position. In
this whole business the Secretary Of
State has placed himself, waving any
question of the nomination in the first
instance, upon undeniable principle; hi
managed his cause with equal calmnes'
and force the subject-matter has beer
disposed of in a manner satisfactory Il
the Judgment, the conscience, and tn,
lust pride of the country. We can at
ford to allow it to remain in its presen
state.