The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1885-03-27
THE NEW MINISTER'S.

Surprise Caused by the eAppointments-Pol-
iticians Not Prepared for Them.
WASHINGTON, March A.-The president
sent to the senate the following nominations:
To be ENJOYS extraordinary and ministers
plenipotentiary of the United States:
Edward J. Phelps, of Vermont, to Great
Britain.
Robert NJ. McLane, of Maryland, to
France.
George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, to Germany.
Henry R. Jackson, of Georgia, to Mexico.
The senate in executive session Immediately
confirmed all the nominations. When the
list was given to the public the politicians
were perhaps more surprised than at any ap-
pointments yet made by the president. With
the exception of Pendleton, not single one
of the men has been prominently mentioned
in connection with the office to which he was
appointed. Ex-Gov. McLane has perhaps
been talked Of in casual way, but none OF
the people who were most interested in these
places have deemed his appointment to first
class mission probable.
The nomination of Edward J. Phelps to
England was the greatest surprise OF all, as
he is comparatively unknown in Washington.
The politicians moan over the fact that SO
great mission as the English should be given
to the Republican state of Vermont
1t is said that the reason that Mr.. Pendle-
ton is sent to Berlin instead Of to England,
which he would have preferred personally, is
because Secretary Bayard regards the Berlin
mission, in view of all the surrounding cir
cumstances, as the most important of all the
missions. The German government has ex-
cluded our pork from its market, and is
about to adopt tariff which will exclude
our wheat. These two great interests of the
west demand the presence OF most skilful
and able man at Berlin, one who is familiar
with the west and its great business interests
It will be noted that every one of the men
appointed is a descendant Of distinguished
ancestry. Mr.. Bayard evidently thinks none
the less of man because he has grand
father back of him of historical fame and
position.
The politicians are all at sea in trying to
explain the motives behind the nominations.
From high and trustworthy source CORE
spondent has learned the reasons for the diff
ferent appointments. Mr.. Phelps appoint
ment is personal one Of Mr.. Bayard's. Mr..
Bavard lives next door to Senator Edmunds,
and the two have been very intimate as men,
bers of the Judiciary committee. Mr.. Phelps
has frequently been a guest here of Senator
Edmunds, and while here became quite well
acquainted with Mr.. Phelps. Then the faith
ers of the two gentlemen were very intimate
when the two seniors were in the senate. No
one criticses the character of the appoint
ment. but the politicians never will recover
from the giving of such an import mission to
Vermont The president had no acquaint-
ance with Mr.. Phelps and has never seen
him. He merely followed Mr.. Bayard's sug-
gestion.
McLanes nomination is credited first to
Senator German, who desired to get McLane
out of Maryland so that he would have
walk-over for reelection. McLane was the
only candidate in the senatorial field against
him Then, in addition to this, as has been
stated in a previous dispatch sketching Nc
Lanes career, Mr.. Bayard was naturally in-